July 2010 – Top Fastest Growing Private Companies of Denver – by the Denver Business Journal
Referrals, referrals referrals. Sure, plenty of business owners stress the importance of one satisfied customer spreading the word about their service. Vivax Pro Painting has really taken that concept to the next level. Just recently Vivax was informed of a 6th generation referral! All were obviously happy and satisfied customers who felt strongly enough to refer a family member, neighbor or friend. That’s how the business was formed and how it still continues to thrive 7 years later. Of course business comes from a lot of different places but what’s better than a customer saying, “I love my paint job. Vivax was professional, punctual and personable. Here’s their phone number!”
That referral concept is one of the necessary tools that has helped Vivax become one of the fastest growing private companies in the Denver area. The Denver Business Journal (DBJ) recognized Vivax with a nice write-up in the July 16-22 issue entitled, ”Client referrals keep Vivax Pro Painting growing“. When the economy took a turn for the worse, people we’re cutting back and stretching their dollar as far as it could go. Vivax still was able to grow…very significantly. In Flight IV of the DBJ list of fastest growing Denver-area private companies, Vivax finished No. 2 with a 535% revenue growth from 2007-2009. Owner Jeremiah Owen, also known as Hey Paint Paint, attributes a lot of that growth to loyal and satisfied customers.
“We’ve doubled every year, or tripled, for the last three or four years and the way that’s possible…we generally get a couple of referrals from every house we do,” according to the DBJ article. “So every house that we do turns into a couple more jobs. So if I paint more houses, that turns into us painting more houses down the road.”
More houses painted means more happy customers.
To check out the full article visit the Denver Business Journal
Sometimes in order for a business to grow, a community must feel support and strength from them. That’s certainly a priority for Vivax.
May 11, 2010 – Vivax Pro Painting Honored by Small Business of the Year Nomination
For Vivax Pro Painting, being recognized with the best of the best is important and fitting. With the hard work put forth by President Jeremiah Owen and his dedicated staff it has paid off in the form of a prestigious nomination—South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year. To qualify, each of the 14 nominees must meet the criteria of a company with 5-100 employees and be in business five years or longer. And according to Chamber, these awards spotlight the best of them. For the past 7 years Vivax has wowed the residential and commercial communities with vibrant paint jobs and unparalleled integrity. The business continues to grow exponentially because of the satisfaction of it’s thousands of clients.
“The past year has been extremely rewarding for us. We’ve been able to establish ourselves further in the community and this award clearly highlights that,” said Owen. “I’m honored to not only be associated with the Chamber, but to be nominated. I’ve been able to watch this business grow every year and couldn’t be more excited for the future.”
Now heading into the busy season Vivax will build on last year’s goals and look to impact the metro Denver area even more.
July 17, 2009 – Vivax Pro Painting is named one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in Denver by the Denver Business Journal.
Jeremiah Owen knows his residential painting company isn’t providing unique services. That’s why his strategy is to do the job so well, Vivax Pro Painting is invited back to the neighborhood.
“Everyone can do an OK paint job,” Owen said. “But if you get treated well, I think it makes you excited about referring us.”
Relying almost entirely on referrals, Vivax has grown the number of houses painted from 30 in its first year, 2003, to an average of 50 homes per week this summer, its peak season.
“When we get into a neighborhood, we generally paint 10 or 15 houses in a one- or two-block radius,” Owen said. “Each client turns into three or four more.”
Average clients are homeowners in south metro Denver who want the house exteriors repainted. Owen said that when the economy allows for more new construction, he’d like to strengthen relationships with builders and expand into the new-construction market.
He also said companies that work primarily on new construction and try to expand into the residential market have trouble competing.
“They don’t understand what it takes to take care of the client; they don’t understand how to keep the property clean; timeliness is lacking,” Owen said. “We promise that even if we’re running even a minute late, we call.”
Vivax’s prices are in the middle of competitors’, Owen said, and even on the low end if discounting young companies, independent painters and companies with inadequate insurance.
After a 477 percent revenue increase from 2006 to 2008, Owen expects his 2009 revenue will be around $4 million, up 266 percent from 2008. He said the economy hasn’t affected business at all.
Visit the Denver Business Journal to read more
Fall 2008 – The Best of Denver – Painters Category
The U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) recognized Vivax Pro Painting’s efforts in the Best of Denver Painter’s category in 2008. The USLBA’s focus is to promote local businesses through public relations, marketing and advertising. Each year they identify companies they believe have exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category.
“We do a lot of things that other house painting companies don’t do,” said Derek Baldwin, one of Vivax’s marketing strategists. “We do a lot of things that you wouldn’t even expect from a painting company at all. Marketing is so important to our company’s success but also to better serve our customers.”
Since the company was founded in 2004 by Jeremiah Owen in 2004, Vivax still remains locally owned and family operated.
Like the USLBA says, “Supporting local business is good business.”
