![]() Strano’s father Frank started a home remodeling supply company about 40 years ago, and it later evolved into a hardware store in the early 1980s. “If I want to get a new product out there that I think is exciting, it’s easy to snap a photo and share it to get other people excited about it, too.” “I prefer Instagram for my personal use, so I’m familiar with it,” he says. Their account is still growing, but Strano says he benefits from his personal use of the platform. The latest addition to the Ambridge social media family is Instagram, which Strano launched in 2016. “We gain about 500 followers each year only through these kinds of contests,” Strano says. He uses donated products from vendors, so the contest itself doesn’t cost too much. During the holidays, he runs a 12 Days of Christmas giveaway. Customers post pictures of their pets, and whoever gets the most reactions wins a prize. In the spring, he hosts a pet photo contest. Strano also uses seasonal contests to gain followers and bring in new customers. Strano says it wasn’t easy or fast to grow the company’s followers on social media, but by posting consistent, relevant content and engaging with customers, he has been able to bring in nearly 8,000 followers. ![]() A lot of people shared that post, which broadens your reach and gets your name out to more people.” “We got a lot of questions and feedback on that post because people like to engage with that. “That post drove people in right away,” he says. After New Year’s Day, for example, he posted on Facebook that all holiday decor was 70 percent off-and he says the return was immediate. Strano also uses Facebook to drive same-day sales. Customers like to see pictures of their favorite employees.” ![]() We use it to recognize employees’ birthdays and work anniversaries. “It’s not sending a flyer where you have to plan for months in advance,” he says. Strano says managing social media and growing followers is a balancing act between planning out content while also being ready to connect in the moment. “I understood it, and it came naturally to me, so I made a page for the business in 2010.” “I was one of the pioneer users of Facebook when it started,” Strano says. One of the tools partner David Strano has used to help spur growth is social media. As far as independent home improvement operations go, Ambridge Do it Best Home Center in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, may be considered young, but that hasn’t stopped the operation from growing through a challenging economy in a small town.
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