Chattanooga’s Atmar Thompson & Andy Cooley at The Brothers that just do Gutters
Establishing your reputation is everything, and it can’t happen without a solid team. Atmar Thompson knows this well as an entrepreneur and franchise owner of The Brothers that just do Gutters in Chattanooga, TN. After running his own business for 10 years, it was the brand’s transparency and existing infrastructure that helped make his decision to enter franchising.
“I'm awfully proud of the reputation we have…I consistently have customers say they had our guys come out, and they did a great job.” — Atmar Thompson
As a semi-absentee owner, he attributes much of the location’s success to his general manager, Andy Cooley, whose background is in business administration and legal studies. With 15 years of management experience in the food and beverage industry, he was no stranger to overseeing staff, managing inventory, and marketing.
Atmar also relies on his daughter to manage the back-office operations and keep him informed about financing. The rest of the team consists of skilled trade workers who are not only well compensated and receive benefits like paid vacations, but can also count on their job security long term. One of the most rewarding parts for them is watching employees grow alongside the business.
“Being trades guys, they’re a little different. You kind of take those guys under your wing. Building those relationships and watching some of those guys grow over the years has been impactful.” — Andy Cooley
That same camaraderie extends beyond the team, and it shows in their charitable work and involvement in the local community. They sponsor a charity golf tournament for Volunteers in Medicine, local baseball and football leagues, and participate in events like the Fourth of July parade and JFest. They’re well recognized, and it’s thanks to this that they get a lot of business through word-of-mouth referrals.
It’s a testament to their commitment to grassroots marketing, which takes time and patience to build a local presence. It was right around the first quarter of year three that Atmar recalled seeing a significant uptick in customer reviews. Their hard work was paying off.
They bolstered their efforts with digital marketing services, but had some inconsistent results with another vendor. After learning about Online Image at an annual conference, they made the switch and began seeing stronger results across organic search, local service ads, and social media. The partnership has also provided valuable guidance along the way.
“Online Image has been great. I really value their expertise and knowledge.” —Andy Cooley
The Chattanooga location has grown every year since it launched, and this year it is projected to surpass $2 million in revenue. As some employees reach their five-year tenure with the business, Atmar is looking forward to celebrating these milestones.
It’s not all about work, though. They also spend quality time with their families and enjoy their favorite pastimes—like traveling, going to concerts, and rooting for University of Tennessee sports.