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The Fire Time Podcast

Tim Reed

Are you tired of presentations that are only half relevant to your business? Many speakers are not practitioners of their material, simply teachers—not so with The Fire Time Podcast. This podcast is for the hearth industry and by the hearth industry. Host Tim Reed has over a decade of experience in the hearth industry, making conversations with guests relevant and extremely practical. In Season One, Tim speaks with twelve hearth industry leaders and provides content relevant to any position, whether on the retail or manufacturing side. Hearth companies everywhere are lost because the landscape of business has changed dramatically in the last ten years. They are trying hard, but they just don’t know what to do. The Fire Time Podcast equips hearth companies to win by sharing ideas and innovation from the best minds in our industry. This podcast will give you the tools to move the needle in your company and win in the changing landscape. This podcast is the first of its kind—specific to the business that you work in every day and simple enough to teach you what’s needed to succeed. Do not miss out on The Fire Time Podcast, available for Apple and Droid devices or at www.itsfiretime.com/podcast. The simple and repeatable steps provided will empower you to grow the bottom line of your company and inspire the team that you lead. ABOUT: Tim Reed is the Retail Sales Leader at Fireside Home Solutions in the Pacific Northwest where he helps his team members make it so stupidly easy to buy from them that there is no excuse not to. Starting as individual salesperson in an empty warehouse, he has grown Fireside’s Retail division by millions (after cutting his marketing budget by 90%). Tim has been invited all over the country to teach companies how to market effectively to their customers and sell more than ever before. His YouTube videos, sales blog, and “Fire Time Podcast” have become a resource for the industry and are actively helping thousands of people rethink their paradigms so that they can grow their businesses in the changing landscape. Tim learned “just enough to be dangerous” about sales, marketing, web development, and leadership from years of playing guitar in a failing punk band—which he swears has uniquely qualified him for his job today. Now considered one of the most innovative minds and compelling communicators in the industry, Tim uses his platform to serve others, helping them create clear messages that are wildly compelling to their audiences. Tim lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Jessica, two children, Olivia and Luke, and his 90 pound Golden Retriever, Walter. He still plays guitar in a failing punk band. CONTACT: tim@itsfiretime.com | www.itsfiretime.com

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  • 29 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 51 min
  • English
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  • S17 · E6
    Yesterday · 1 hr 3 min

    Corey Anthony - Conquering the Fear of Selling High-End

    "Most people follow up about two times. But there's stats out there that prove purchases above ten thousand dollars only close on the fifth and sixth follow-up—or later." In this episode, Tim sits down with return guest Corey Anthony (Sales Manager, Stûv) live from the Compact Appliances open house in Atlantic Canada. Corey was employee number five at Stûv North America, and he's spent nearly a decade winning dealers face-to-face—now he's teaching an entire sales team how to do it without him in the room. In this episode, Tim and Corey cover: - Why step two of the sales process—understanding the customer's problem—is the step salespeople rush through most, and how Corey spent twenty minutes with a customer before mentioning a single product - The refrigerator analogy that wins the coffee table battle—how simple, true stories beat a brochure full of factoids every time a couple sits down to make the final decision - Corey's add-three-zeros trick for matching firebox size to square footage—a dead-simple formula that works across every brand and keeps customers from getting lost in the world of BTUs Don't miss this conversation on conquering the fear of selling high end—because the difference between losing the sale and winning it often comes down to one more follow-up, one better question, and one story the customer can't forget. —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Pro: http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fKKSBj2bXSM Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S17 · E4
    October 6 · 1 hr 11 min

    Mastering the Sales Process in Your Company

    "Sales is communicating wisdom to bring someone to the point of a decision." In this episode, Tim shares a class he taught at the HPB Expo in New Orleans called Mastering the Sales Process in Your Company. It's a solo deep dive into the seven-step framework he wishes someone had handed him 15 years ago—back when his sales training amounted to four double-sided pages of questions and a seat next to whoever happened to be on the floor. In this episode, Tim covers: - Why "my team are naturals" should terrify you—pilots and doctors follow checklists, and salespeople without a process are running on dumb luck that can't be taught, trained, or coached - The magic question that gets every customer to sit down with you—plus why you should never ask for a customer's name during the greeting, and what it means when they offer it anyway - How explaining your process in three simple steps makes the call to action take care of itself—and why a close rate that's too high is actually a red flag that your team is sandbagging estimates Don't miss this one if your showroom is full of order takers instead of salespeople—Tim lays out a complete, repeatable roadmap from greeting to gratitude that he says will boost your sales 30 to 50% in the next year, and he makes a convincing case that he's right. —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Website: http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XgEQsfU0E8o Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S17 · E4
    September 29 · 56 min

    Gideon Honeycutt - Specialty Installation is Your #1 Asset (Part 2)

    "The most expensive labor your customer pays for is the labor they have to do twice." This week, Tim sits down with Gideon Honeycutt (Sales Rep for Valor and Blaze King) for part two of our mini-series on specialty installation. Products are sold through more channels every year, and labor has become the one thing big box stores, e-commerce, and AI can't take from a hearth dealer. Tim and Gideon explain why installation deserves the same care as the rest of your business. In this episode, Tim and Gideon discuss: Why a dealer can survive losing its top manufacturer, but losing its installers could end the business. How treating labor as a commodity or a "line on the invoice" leads to price objections, and why you can price match on product without price matching on labor. How average installed price ranges, bundled quotes, and detailed scopes of work help you sell labor with confidence, and why salespeople should earn commission on the whole project. Don't miss this conversation about turning your installation department from an afterthought into your biggest competitive advantage and profit center. Links from this episode: Part One: https://itsfiretime.com/2026/09/22/episode-360-specialty-installation-is-your-number-one-asset-part-1/ —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Pro: http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zfnLXuWOrVI Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.co

  • S17 · E3
    September 22 · 1 hr 28 min

    Specialty Installation is Your Number One Asset (Part 1)

    "Service and installation is your moat—and I can't cross it." That's a direct quote from an AI agent when Tim asked how specialty retailers stack up against big box and e-commerce. In this episode—the first of a two-part series on the value of specialty installation—Tim shares a class he taught for the North Central HPBA in Wisconsin, making the case that installation isn't a necessary evil or a line item to tack onto a quote. It's the single most important asset any retailer in this industry has. In this episode, Tim covers: - Why retailers lose jobs four-to-one to indecision over competition—and how a seamless baton pass from showroom to estimator to install crew closes that gap - The 20% rule—most customers will pay up to 20% more for a service that's less of a hassle, which means you don't need the best price, just a competitive one - How to build a value wedge—something important to your customer, unique to your company, and objectively defendable—that makes your business impossible to shop against Don't miss this one if you've ever treated installation labor like a commodity—Tim lays out exactly why your install team, not your product line, is the thing big box and e-commerce can't replicate, and how to price, schedule, and sell like you believe it. —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Pro: http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/824ip58vNag Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S17 · E2
    September 15 · 53 min

    Shelby Kardas - Build a Business Bigger than Yourself

    "It kills more people every year than HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined." In this episode, Tim sits down with Shelby Kardas (Executive Director, StoveTeam International) to talk about the smoky-kitchen crisis affecting half the world's population—and why supporting a cause bigger than your bottom line might be the smartest business move a hearth retailer can make. Shelby joins from Cuenca, Ecuador, where StoveTeam has helped install over 80,000 clean-burning cookstoves across Central America since 2008. In this episode, Tim and Shelby cover: - Why a $250 stove changes everything for a family in rural Guatemala—and how the hearth industry has already funded more than 2,000 of them through the 1,000 Stove Challenge - How supporting a cause wins the "coffee table battle"—when customers compare brochures at home, over ninety percent will choose the business that stands for something beyond profit - Why taking your team to stand in a smoky kitchen—or offering an extra week of vacation for volunteer work—builds the kind of committed employees no training seminar ever will Don't miss this conversation if you've ever wondered whether generosity actually moves the needle for your business—Shelby and Tim make the case that doing the right thing and doing good business aren't just compatible, they're the same thing. —— Links from this episode: StoveTeam International: https://www.stoveteam.org/ WhyFire Fireplace AI Visualizer: http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hFIFLkQfiso Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S17 · E1
    September 8 · 1 hr 4 min

    Jonny Holsten - Learn to Sell Across the Bridge

    "Do you want them asking those questions to ChatGPT or their buddy who's a contractor—or do you want them asking you?" In this episode, Tim kicks off Season 17 with Jonny Holsten (Owner and Sales Trainer, bridgeselling.com), author of Fix Your Broken Sales Calls. Jonny built a six-step framework that helped one company grow from $3 million a month to $30 million a month in a single year—and he breaks down exactly how it applies to selling fireplaces, complete with a live role play that shows the difference between asking two questions and asking seven. In this episode, Tim and Jonny cover: - Why "shadow the top rep" isn't training—80% of companies have no sales playbook, and it's costing them deals they never even see slip away - How addressing sticker shock early with a simple price range turns the rest of the conversation into the buyer justifying the value—instead of choking on the number at the end - The "three next steps" formula that makes your follow-up plan impossible to ghost—my step, your step, our step together Don't miss this one—if you've ever asked "how many square feet?" and walked straight to the showroom floor, Jonny's framework will show you exactly what that shortcut is costing you and how to fix it before winter buying season hits. —— Links from this episode: Get the FREE Book "Fix Your Broken Sales Calls": https://www.bridgeselling.com/book https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyholsten/ WhyFire Website: https://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/my89ONkB6Nw Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S16 · E66
    September 1 · 25 min

    What's Your Return on Luck? (FTM Rapid Reaction Series)

    While we prepare Season 17 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. This week, Tim closes out the series reacting to an article he wrote titled, "What's Your Return on Luck?" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠September 2023 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠)⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Watch this podcast on YouTube: ⁠https://youtu.be/zHWgsvOqgP4 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S16 · E65
    August 25 · 19 min

    Tomorrow's Customer (FTM Rapid Reaction Series)

    While we prepare Season 17 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Peter Parsons titled, "Tomorrow's Customer" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠March 2026 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠⁠)⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0k9by8widxE Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S16 · E64
    August 18 · 24 min

    "3 Tips for Increasing Throughput" (FTM Rapid Reaction Series)

    While we prepare Season 17 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Zack Estes titled, "3 Tips for Increasing Throughput" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠January 2025 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠)⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qww9sUsJwnU Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S16 · E63
    August 11 · 18 min

    "Enjoy Being Wrong" (FTM Rapid Reaction Series)

    While we prepare Season 17 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Gideon Honeycutt titled, "Enjoy Being Wrong" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠May 2026 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠)⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eH5UjHyObGU Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S16 · E25
    August 4 · 25 min

    "Build Careers, Not Just Crews" (FTM Rapid Reaction Series)

    While we prepare Season 17 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Dave Anderson titled, "Build Careers, Not Just Crews" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠February 2026 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠)⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/20FLyJLvKC8 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S16 · E24
    July 28 · 20 min

    "The Revenue Triangle" (FTM Rapid Reaction Series)

    While we prepare Season 17 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Casey Harvey titled, "The Revenue Triangle" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠December 2025 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠)⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/owkiavo_JFs Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S16 · E23
    July 21 · 23 min

    "Wisdom from the Warehouse" (FTM Rapid Reaction Series)

    While we prepare Season 17 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Allen Newby titled, "Wisdom from the Warehouse" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠February 2026 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠)⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BvRYJKv5v-Q Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S16 · E22
    July 14 · 22 min

    "4 Ways to Get a Higher Return on Your Marketing Dollars" (FTM Rapid Reaction Series)

    While we prepare Season 17 of the podcast, Tim will be giving weekly rapid reactions to audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. In this week's episode, Tim reacts to an article by Clay Dennis titled, "Four Ways to Get a Higher Return on Your Marketing Dollars" (released in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠June 2026 issue of The Fire Time Magazine⁠⁠)⁠.⁠⁠⁠ ------ Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VPYc1089JDU Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join Want to get more fireplace leads for your company? Check out: https://findmyfireplace.com

  • S16 · E21
    July 7 · 1 hr 1 min

    Season 16 Finale - Q&A Episode

    "You'd think eight out of ten people walk out with an estimate. Once you actually track it, it's under twenty percent every single time." In this episode, Tim closes out season 16 with the show's traditional Q&A—answering the sharpest questions listeners submitted while he was on the road teaching, including some real pushback on the systems he preaches. It's the practical, put-it-into-practice cap on everything the season covered. In this episode, Tim covers: - Why customers wander the showroom pointing at random fireplaces—and how nailing step two makes those distractions vanish - The case for never correcting a customer who asks for the "wrong" product—because being right isn't the same as making the sale - How to give a firm installation date on-site even when you're at the mercy of back orders and outside trades—and why "yellow zone, red zone" keeps your crew from ever going home early Don't miss Tim's raw take on why door swings are his favorite metric, why AI now makes tracking them effortless, and the Stephen Covey fish-tank lesson that explains how he juggles a full plate without letting the big rocks get buried—listen for the honest admission that his discipline exists precisely because he doesn't have it all figured out. —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Fireplace Al Visualizer: https://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/s_4bXhz2wiw Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

  • S16 · E20
    June 30 · 1 hr 2 min

    Dan Bonar - Win Business Through Relationships and Trust

    "We are the immovable number two. And it's okay being the immovable number two." In this episode, Tim sits down with Dan Bonner (Vice President of Residential Sales, ICC Chimney) to unpack how a privately owned chimney company turned restraint into its sharpest competitive edge. Dan's spent the last six years steering through a pandemic boom, a workforce that doubled, and tariffs that erased two weeks of work overnight. In this episode, Tim and Dan cover: - Why chimney *should* be a commodity—and how ICC deliberately makes theirs anything but by refusing to sell through hardware stores or big box. - The "boss versus leader" image Dan keeps in his head, and how he kept a frustrated team from walking out when every tariff solution got scrapped a day later. - Twenty-plus years of distributor relationships built entirely on handshakes—zero written contracts, anywhere in North America. Don't miss Dan's masterclass on the value wedge and the discipline of staying the "immovable number two"—a clear-eyed argument that constraints don't starve a business, they focus it, and that chasing every opportunity is how good companies die of indigestion. —— Links from this episode: Marketing Warfare: https://a.co/d/07Z9jdqN Fire Time Podcast Q&A Episode: http://itsfiretime.com/ask —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/y3-1wAHxxbA Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

  • S16 · E19
    June 23 · 1 hr 11 min

    Matt Bradley - Hiring and Inspiring Gen Z (Live from HPBExpo 2026)

    "The most depressed, anxious, addicted, and self-destructive generation in American culture—we created this world." In this episode, Matt Bradley (Partnership Manager at WhyFire and Editor of The Fire Time Magazine) makes a provocative argument from his 2026 HPBExpo class: the reason you can't hire or inspire young workers isn't pay, schedules, or time off—it's a culture that's stripped them of meaning. He traces the problem back to Nietzsche and offers an ancient antidote. In this episode, Matt covers: - Why higher pay, flexible schedules, and more paid time off won't fix your hiring problem—and what young people actually crave instead. - The "fortitude formula"—moral purpose times sources of strength—and how Viktor Frankl found meaning in a concentration camp. - Concrete interview questions and shop-floor practices that work, including why you should drop the sarcasm and never assume Gen Z is lazy. Don't miss this one if you've ever caught yourself blaming "kids these days"—Matt argues that mindset is just an easy way to let yourself off the hook, and he hands you a practical playbook to mentor the most capable hires you've been overlooking. —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Fireplace AI Visualizer http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nBRD5lY_m7k Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

  • S16 · E18
    June 16 · 1 hr 26 min

    Dane Harman, Karen Harman-Smeltz, and Peter Parsons - Cultivating a Mindset of Innovation and Excellence

    "I can't sell Harman because there's a dealer too close to me, but I'd donate a kidney and my firstborn to get it." In this episode, Tim sits down with Dane Harman, Karen Harman-Smeltz, and Peter Parsons to trace how a burn pot rooted in anthracite coal became the backbone of one of the hearth industry's most beloved pellet stoves—and what it takes to keep innovating decades later. Dane built Harman Stoves into a legend, Karen carried its values forward, and Peter built a pellet market from almost nothing on an island ninety miles out in the Atlantic. In this episode, Tim, Dane, Karen, and Peter cover: - Why Dane's 1991 Pellet Pro feeder still works today—and how a coal-pushing block evolved into a laser-cut slide plate that runs entirely on temperature. - The real difference between a private company's "right" decision and a public one's—and why a profitable model can still get killed to protect a stock price. - Whether tightening EPA regulations actually force better stoves or just strip the fun out of innovation—and where diminishing returns turn good intentions into expensive ones. Don't miss the moment Dane explains why deciding—truly deciding—pulls a whole team behind you, because this conversation about fire, family, and pressure-fueled innovation will change how you think about building anything worth keeping. —— Links from this episode: Big Enough: Building a Business that Scales with Your Lifestyle https://a.co/d/0e8WRuD7 Fire Time Podcast Q&A Episode http://itsfiretime.com/ask —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nXru0bLymCQ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

  • S16 · E17
    June 9 · 1 hr

    Kyle Titsworth - Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You're Young

    "Core values allow us to lead to a standard—without those core values, things can slip." In this episode, Tim speaks with Kyle Titsworth (General Manager and Partner, The Fireplace Showcase) about transitioning from manager to owner in a family business. Kyle shares insights from his journey taking over partial ownership while serving on the Northeast HPBA board, leading a team where most employees have decades more experience than he does. In this episode, Tim and Kyle cover: • Why setting core values becomes crucial when you're a young leader managing seasoned veterans—and how it prevents business standards from becoming "wishy-washy" • The power of simplifying customer choice through strategic showroom design—like Kyle's "remodel wall" that presents just three fireplace replacement options instead of overwhelming customers • How weekly sales meetings and forcing salespeople to track their own metrics transforms behavior better than any manager-generated report ever could Don't miss Kyle's take on why manufacturers need to stop speaking in industry jargon and start organizing around customer situations—because nobody walks into a showroom asking for a "zero clearance fireplace." —— Links from this episode: WhyFire Website: https://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rZ4lSOzYNAs Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

  • S16 · E16
    June 2 · 1 hr 2 min

    Tim Reed - How to Create Marketing Messaging

    "It can never be too long, it can only be too boring." In this episode, Tim shares a class he taught in Denver, Colorado at AES Dealer Days, where he explores why most marketing messages in the fireplace industry fail—and reveals a simple framework that can triple your leads without spending a penny. Drawing from real examples of businesses that position themselves as heroes instead of their customers, Tim shows how to craft messages that actually resonate. In this episode, Tim covers: • The three deadly sins of marketing—making your business the hero, cramming too many things into one message, and focusing on products instead of customer problems • The PEACE framework for creating sound bites that cut through noise and make prospects turn their heads—from articulating problems better than customers can to showing genuine empathy • Why "family owned for 50 years" belongs in tiny print, not your headline—and how companies waste tens of thousands on beautiful websites that break fundamental messaging rules Don't miss Tim's breakdown of real fireplace company websites that demonstrate these principles in action—plus the exact tagline changes that could transform your lead generation overnight. —— Links from this episode: Whyfire Website: http://whyfire.com —— Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k5mqmLpLZe0 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-time-podcast/id1433804268 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vHdzg48bE5qFf0KjMeMej?si=7b6cae3923d348f2 Read The Fire Time Magazine: https://www.itsfiretime.com/magazine Subscribe to The Fire Time Magazine: https://itsfiretime.com/subscribe Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.itsfiretime.com/join

Showing 1–20 of 29 episodes