Branding Insights With the Curious Builder Collective & LAB Mpls

In the ever-changing world of custom home building, branding remains an essential aspect. Our brands shape how we connect with our ideal clients and therefore affect every part of our businesses. Understanding this, we recently held a Builder Collective event at LAB Mpls focused on professional development with all things branding! This event offered an opportunity for Minnesota builders to deepen their understanding of branding and use it to their advantage.

The Power of Branding

Many business owners, including those in the construction industry, tend to overlook the importance of good branding. At this Builder Collective event, we got to learn how every company creates a brand, whether that’s done intentionally or not. Because of this, it’s crucial for builders to actively shape their brand to align with their business goals and attract their ideal clients.

Mollie Windmiller, a respected branding expert, led the attendees through a comprehensive branding exercise. Over the course of three hours, custom home builders were encouraged to reflect on their brand identities and explore how these could be better integrated into their marketing strategies, service offerings, and overall build process. The goal was to create a more intentional brand that not only resonates with clients but also drives the kind of business relationships that the builder community wants to cultivate.

Key Takeaways

While the event was packed with insights, the standout takeaway was the universal truth that every builder has a brand. Whether you're consciously shaping it or not, your brand is there, influencing how clients perceive you. We learned the importance of taking control of that narrative—harnessing the power of branding to work for you, even when you’re not in the room. By understanding and shaping their brand, experienced builders can better align their marketing and service delivery with their business objectives.

The session also highlighted the significance of consistency in branding. A successful brand consistently engages with its audience through clear, compelling messaging and professional visuals. Consistency builds trust, which in turn fosters loyalty and long-term client relationships—critical components in the competitive building industry.

Insights like these are what make our collective events so powerful and practical!

Sponsors and Collaboration

This event was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of several building industry pros, including All, Inc., Pella Northland, Promotion Select, Rivercity, and Adaptive. Their support shows the supportive community that is essential in the building world—where we will always embrace collaboration over competition! Learning together at these collective events helps push us all forward!

Looking Ahead at The Design Collective

Building on the success of the Builder Collective, the same venue at LAB mpls will host the Designer Collective in September. This upcoming event will mirror the format of the Builder Collective but will focus on a different audience—design professionals. Attendees can expect to dive deep into branding exercises tailored specifically to the design industry, offering them the tools to shape their brand identity and connect with their ideal clients more effectively. It’s going to be an invaluable resource!

Embrace Branding

The Builder Collective event at LAB Mpls was a powerful reminder that branding is not just a logo or a color scheme; it’s the entire experience your clients have with your business. By dedicating time and resources to understanding and shaping your brand, you can create a more intentional and successful business that attracts (and keeps) your ideal clients- setting you apart in the crowded Minneapolis building market!

For those who missed the event, the insights shared are a crucial reminder: Your brand is your most powerful tool—use it wisely.