Last week, members from all over Minnesota’s housing industry gathered for a night of networking, learning, and business growth. Over 120 Housing First Minnesota members gathered at the North House in Minneapolis for drinks and small bites, plus an industry expert panel.
Mark Williams of Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, Danielle Yegge of Style & Structure, and
Morgan Molitor of construction2style delivered industry-specific tips for collaborating with
competitors.
“The housing industry is more powerful when we lift up each other’s successes,” stated
Williams. “So why not celebrate other people? There are a lot of opportunities to partner with
people in our industry.”
A piece of advice the panel continually stressed was getting involved in the housing industry. They encouraged attendees to say ‘yes!’ to every opportunity —which leads to more doors opening down the road.
“We love the Parade of Homes and make it a lot of fun,” said Yegge, “We have our entire team
present at our model and make it a month-long party.”
Style & Structure’s biggest secrets for success on the Parade of Homes are hosting events, using
unique social media marketing, and making their model memorable.
“Some people visit 20 Parade Homes in a day,” Yegge says, “They’re not going to remember
yours unless you do something to make it memorable.”
All three speakers have planned events around their homes in the Parade of Homes or Artisan
Home Tour to get people excited to visit. Williams’ favorite event involved balloon art for kids
(and adults!).
The three speakers ended their presentation with an emphasis on creating sharable content. One
of the best ways to create buzz around your business is posting personable stories, behind-the-
scenes, funny videos with your team, or a favorite feature of a home design.
“Celebrate with your trade partners,” said Molitor. “Tag the people you’re working with,
mention your partners, and create content that shows off everybody’s hard work. That way, other
businesses get a shoutout and can easily reshare your post.”