Case Study: Hometown Restyling Sees 60% Jump in Sales with Socius
Background
Hometown Restyling, based just outside Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been a trusted name in home improvement since 1986. Specializing in windows, doors, siding, decks, sunrooms, and remodels, they pride themselves on using only in-house labor, ensuring quality control and providing full-time employees with benefits like paid vacation and 401(k). After decades of steady growth and local recognition, the company saw an unexpected boom during 2020–2021, growing from $9 million to $20 million in annual revenue almost overnight.
The Challenge
With rapid growth came increased competition. Major national brands began targeting the Cedar Rapids area with deep-pocketed marketing strategies. Although Hometown Restyling had long relied on its reputation, referrals, and some in-house efforts like sweepstakes and TV ads, the influx of new players made it clear that they needed to evolve their marketing approach to stay ahead.
“We were getting buried online,” said Dave Wilslef, Director of Marketing and one of the company’s five co-owners. “I was doing everything myself and realized we couldn’t keep up with the competition without a strong digital presence.”
The Solution
Dave turned to Socius Marketing after hearing consistently positive feedback from one of their dealers. What began as a modest engagement evolved into a full digital strategy partnership. With a deep understanding of Hometown Restyling’s brand and market, Socius customized a plan focused on increasing their online visibility—initially for windows, doors, and bathrooms, then expanding to additional services.
When asked about his Socius Account Manager, Dave said, “She’s amazing to work with. She did her own research… and basically came up with a budget and a plan of what she thought would make Hometown successful.” Her commitment, responsiveness, and analytical approach helped build a trusting, productive relationship.
The Results
In just two years, Hometown Restyling saw major improvements in online performance:
- Leads attributed to Socius jumped from 169 in the first year to 252 in year two
- Sales grew from 35 to 56, with net revenue increasing from $750,000 to $950,000
- Significant gains in online visibility, calls, and form submissions
- Improved review collection process, incentivizing hundreds of 5-star Google reviews
“Now I’m hanging with the big boys,” said Dave. “Yes, we’re pumping money into marketing, but the return is there. Socius makes it easy to track what’s working, and we’re seeing real, measurable results.”
Socius also stepped in to improve their Google Business Profile, which had been underperforming. Within two months, the Socius team had turned it around.
Final Thoughts
“I’ve worked with a lot of marketing companies. Everyone says they have the best product. But with Socius, the numbers speak for themselves,” Dave shared. “It’s not just some national agency working with a small hometown business… I feel like I have a real partner. And again, the results show it.”
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