May 15, 2017

Meet Daniel Latos of Atlanta Demolition Services

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Latos.

Daniel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Basically, I have been doing marketing work all my life: social media, search, advertisements on Google and Social Media…you name it! Although as an individual I have worked on larger global projects, what I really like is helping the local business owner get off his feet and get ahead of the competition. So lately I have been focusing on the promotion of local businesses online.

Atlanta Demolition Services is one of the companies that is being worked on at the moment, and since I assumed my position (which was less than a year ago to be frank) it has taken off. The company would only get small residential demolition requests that – as you can imagine – don’t have the profit margins larger projects do and it ties up a lot of the business’s work time.

So, when I was hired for the position, my goal was to pull in larger deals, implosion demolitions and basically take the business to a new other level. On top of that, and as a result of my marketing work online, I was even able to hook up Atlanta Demolition Services with the city so it can bid on projects offered to private companies. That was kind of the highlight of my work so far, and the business owner is extremely excited about it. He has been in business for over 20 years, and never even heard from a city representative. And in a few months of getting things launched online, not only did he hear from them but was able to participate in the bidding process on a few projects.

Competition in Atlanta for this industry is fierce. You have many other demolition companies that are basically doing anything they can to get leads or get ahead of competition (and I mean anything.) So, it isn’t exactly a walk in the park. If I were to mention a challenge we have had in the process, that would be the “attacks” conducted by a couple of our competitors that are very unhappy that we are chewing into their profits and have even sent over threat letters (both legal and physical) that of course don’t have any substance and are a result of their poor performance and inability to compete.

Although nine months is considerably a very short period of time for marketing and promotional efforts, it really makes all the difference in the world in this digital age we are in. I have seen so many people go out of business because they can’t stay competitive online (and this is not hype.) Whether we like it or not, competitors will become better and better: that is both the blessing and curse of the free world we live in. So, if you don’t advance your product, speak loudly about your company and do anything you can to serve the local community, you will get crushed. I am sad to say that some demolition companies will be facing serious problems in the near future. And not because I am such a super rock star marketer that will put everyone else out of business: but simply because there will be more and more people like me. Businesses (regardless of industry) that still rely on marketing efforts applied 20-30 years ago, will get crushed in the competition.

So, to kind of sum up: we have a lot of work to do here at Atlanta Demolition Services. The business is really taking off, and we are getting the larger projects. So, the challenge now is to offer a great end result, competitive pricing and ultimately help out commercial/residential building owners that are in distress and looking in the dark for an honest, reliable and responsible demolition contractor in Atlanta.

Lot of work to do both on my end, and on the end of our contractors. But we are moving along at a steady pace and will get there.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It really has not been a smooth road as I briefly mentioned before. This company has been in business for over 20 years and now the son of the original founder is the owner/manager of the company. Aside of the common struggles demolition companies need to deal with (like heavy equipment breaking down and driving up operational costs) you also need to deal with little legal things that get in the way that aren’t necessarily serious or of a big concern, but are an extra headache.

A fresh example of a struggle with our equipment was last November where one of our bigger bulldozers broke down and we had to cough up $20,000 for repairs, in a month that wasn’t very good from a financial standpoint. That was roughly the time that I got involved with Atlanta Demolition Services and part of the reason the owner decided to scale the marketing campaigns online.

But of course, we have had our share of legal threats and people trying to piggy bank off a demolition company trying to get on its feet. Names won’t be mentioned for obvious reasons; however, we did have a demolition company try and claim that our business was operating under a trademarked name (which was false of course.) Basically, the more we progress online and the more business we get from the Internet and people looking to demolish their homes or commercial properties, the more attention that draws and unfortunately people get really creative when it comes to finding a way to take you down. But everything is good – so far so good!

Other than these small bumps along the way though, we have been truly blessed. Our business is growing more than ever, but most importantly we are capable of offering a lot more value to customers. Our progress allows us to introduce more innovative techniques and demolition approaches that ensure a more cost-efficient deconstruction project.

Please tell us about Atlanta Demolition Services.
So Atlanta Demolition Services focuses on the demolitions of residential and commercial buildings in Atlanta, GA but also offers more services such as pool removals, implosions etc. Basically, whatever comes first to mind when you think of a demolition company, that is pretty much what we do. On top of that, some excavation work is also included (mostly if we have handled the demolition process before the excavation.) And of course, some other services offered are sewer & water, land leveling, debris cleanup and all that fun stuff.

We don’t really specialize in something specific. You can never predict what the market needs and you do need to be flexible. But I could safely say we focus more on demolitions than other deconstruction services. That is the core of our work and what we love doing the most.

If there is one thing that I would be proud of when it comes to our company, that is our consistent growth. Although I didn’t start working at the marketing aspect of the business until September of 2016, I have known the owner for quite some time and payed close attention to the work and their progress through the years. The best signal of a successful business, is consistent growth. Many people will shoot for the stars, and once they get there, they won’t look at the next level. We don’t really like that kind of thinking. If you look way back in 1995 (when the company was founded) and up to this day, you will see something consistent. Nothing dramatic, and no big jumps but just something steady that you can rely on year in and year out.

Although we are not fanatics about quick and rash growth (because sometimes you can’t preserve that) we do consider the marketing efforts to be somewhat of a new chapter for us. Not because we are a part of the trend, but rather because we are getting all this value for which we needed to really sweat back in the day. Now it just makes our lives easier, and allows us to bid for larger projects and maybe even be selective and not take on all projects. I mean you do need to have priorities (considering that you got employees you need to pay) so it really has given us a menu from which we select the best option (if that makes sense.)

Likewise, what sets us apart from everyone else I would say is our innovative approach both on the deconstruction site and in the way, we operate our business. We employ great talent and always rely on other people’s opinions within the company. Although there is a founder/owner of the company, it really is a combination of each one’s talent being put to work.

So, for example, Tom may be an expert as a bulldozer operators which will ensure satisfied customers, Nick may be good and safe with the implosions (which satisfies the city) and Daniel may be an expert in pulling in more business. It all works life a fine-tuned machine. Each person knows his role in the company but also respects the role and contribution of his colleagues. There isn’t “one leader” but rather certain people that will of course have the final word after everyone’s opinion on a matter has been heard and discussed thoroughly.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
This really reminds me of a discussion I had with the owner of the demolition company a couple weeks ago. Basically, flexibility is the key I think. If you can’t adapt and adjust at a fast and consistent pace to changes and everything that is taking place around you, you will find yourself holding the bag – you will be left behind.

When the company started out doing demolitions in Atlanta, it pretty much followed what everyone else was doing. Similar type of work, similar costs, similar marketing slogans. But what’s the point there? Do people really need to listen to another cliché commercial or the same quotes over and over again? What’s the need of competition then if everyone pretty much offers the same thing?

And don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting business owners try and be super innovative and always try the “new thing.” That can also get you in trouble. But when you pay attention at other business models, other businesses as a whole and you see some approach works great for them, it is a good idea to at least experiment with that in your business. And this is kind of the advice I would give to anyone starting out as a business owner: you can be in completely different niches/industries with your best friend, but always try and learn more about what he/she is doing to improve. Sure, that friend of yours may be in healthcare and you may be in construction. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get ideas from there (from operating the business, to customer care, to reaching more clients.)

So, to sum up: we would have liked to have been more flexible in our early days and been more innovative and adaptive to change. I really hope we are there now, because if not…bad news!

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