Suburban Life - Main Line/Philadelphia

zoom_in

SL_PROFILE_Rathgeb Painting_0324 - edit_Layout 1 4 / 2 / 24 3 : 43 PM Page 1 that stage . They get so overwhelmed that they want to give up , and trust me , I thought about quitting a bunch of times at that stage . ” Yet he fought through the doubts and faced every challenge . “ Eventually you’re able to hire people and you learn to delegate and to systemize things , ” he adds . “ It’s been quite a journey and sometimes I don’t know how I got through it , but it was really just waking up every single day , doing the little things behind the scenes , and never giving up , no matter what . ” Those lean years are long gone for Rathgeb , who in two decades built Rathgeb Painting into a flourishing business . He recently joined forces with a national partner and rebranded his company under the name Groovy Hues . Devoted to “ spreading positivity through paint , ” Groovy Hues provides an array of painting services — interior , exterior , and commercial , as well as ancillary services such as power washing . Although his business is now part of a larger overall home - services corporation known as HorsePower Brands , Rathgeb owns 100 percent of Groovy Hues Greater Philadelphia . His enterprise will act as the flagship location of the painting division and be a model for other franchises across the country . “ We’re taking the systems and processes that we’ve implemented and have made us successful locally , and applying them on a national stage to support franchisees who are opening painting businesses throughout the country , ” he says . “ They’re going to follow our model , which is customer - centric and uses software , technology , and CRM to make The Artist it a more pleasant experience for the client . “ Other than a few exceptions , there haven’t been a lot of professional painting models in the industry , which is why we wanted to support other franchisees , ” he continues . “ It’s been awesome for me to be in a position to offer them help to grow their business . They reach out to me all the at Work time with issues they have day to day , and I help coach them through it . ” here were many points along his journey by M AT T CO S E N T I N O The fact that Rathgeb is now guiding to becoming a successful entrepreneur photos by N I N A L E A P H OTO G R A P HY others is a testament to his own work ethic when Matt Rathgeb easily could have and a credit to the mentors who helped foster given up on his dreams . Even now , as his success . He learned the values of a blue - T he looks back on his path to over - After building a highly collar career while growing up in the Lawncrest coming addiction , only to struggle with getting section of Northeast Philadelphia , but he got his then - fledgling painting company off the successful painting business sidetracked by substance abuse and home - ground , he’s not sure how he survived . lessness . After fully committing himself to his in the Philadelphia area , But Rathgeb is nothing if not persistent . recovery , he was attending an addiction His tenacity , creativity , and positivity enabled Matt Rathgeb expands his meeting one day when he was introduced to him to beat the long odds stacked against a fellow recovering addict in painter’s overalls . him . customer - centric blueprint That man , Bob Morrow , took Rathgeb under “ In the beginning you’re wearing every his wing and changed his life . single hat : the estimator , the salesperson , to the national stage with “ I could tell [ Morrow ] was a great person , the person who answers the phone , and so I started asking him for help in the the painter , ” he recalls . “ It’s tough because Groovy Hues . recovery space , ” Rathgeb recalls . “ His you’re doing every single job , and that’s demeanor and how he carried himself as a why most people don’t make it through SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 15 ISSUE 7 38 |

view text

zoom_in

SL_PROFILE_Rathgeb Painting_0324 - edit_Layout 1 4 / 2 / 24 3 : 43 PM Page 2 guy coming off the streets who wanted to fruit for other franchisees as well . change his life was exactly what I wanted . “ I’ve spoken to Josh multiple times The painting was a secondary thing that overthe last decade and have always looked later became a passion . ” up to him , ” he says . “ Aside from his impres - Rathgeb started working for Morrow’s sive career , which speaks for itself , our painting business , which was based in core values have always been the same . It Chestnut Hill . At the time , he was a high wasonly a matter of time before we naturally school dropout with few marketable skills , connected in the business world . It’s been and he lacked a clear direction for his career . amazing so far . “ I really learned from [ Morrow ] how to “ I’ve been blessed to have great support live right , but he was also teaching me and mentors , ” he continues . “ I thank God painting simultaneously , ” Rathgeb recalls . “ I every day for the Bob Morrows , Josh Skol - had nothing to fall back on , no education or nicks , and Mike McCanns of the world . anything , so I treated the painting industry From the guidance of people like them , like it was the only shot I had to obtain any I’ve learned immeasurable life lessons . type of success . That was a blessing at the Now , I can pass them on to others . What time , because I went all in with it . ” a gift ! ” Rathgeb absorbed as much he could Who can blame Rathgeb for his opti - from Morrow , read widely about how to mism ? His rise to becoming not only a suc - build and operate a successful business , and cessful business owner but also a family consulted with business coaches . Once he man with four children proves that almost felt ready , he went out on his own and anything is possible through hard work , steadily built a strong customer base . He positive thinking , and guidance from a few ultimately got to the point where he was trusted mentors . landing major projects for interior and exterior “ I travel a couple of times a year jobs in high - end neighborhoods , which he throughoutthe country to speak at painters ’ saw as necessary growth that enabled him conventions , and I always say that painting to expand his team . was the perfect symmetry between where In addition , he developed important rela - I was at in my life and trying to get my life Rathgeb attributes much of his success to vital tionships with people such as renowned together , ” he says . “ The work itself saved relationships with mentors such as renowned Keller Williams Realtor Mike McCann . KellerWilliams Realtor Mike McCann . McCann my life , because it calmed me down . I had started referring his own clients to Rathgeb , low self - esteem , but painting gave me a which he continues to do to this day . purpose every day and I loved everything franchisee , Rathgeb shares the business “ I met Mike at a real estate conference , about it . As I got better , not just at the skill philosophy that fueled the success of his and we hit it off right away and became itself but the business , it gave me so much owncompany : Nothing matters more than great friends , ” he says . “ He’s been an incred - confidence to keep moving forward . And thecustomer experience . With Groovy Hues , ? ible mentor to me , not just in growing my that’s what I’ve been doing ever since . ” clients can expect informative , no - pressure business but in helping me invest in real sales calls , free color consultations with a estate . ” designer , quick and convenient scheduling , Likewise , Rathgeb’s relationship with zero - percent financing options , and clear Josh Skolnick , the entrepreneur behind communicationthroughout the duration of HorsePower Brands , led to his role with the project . Groovy Hues . Each time he speaks with a Rathgebbelieves those values will yield ? Groovy Hues of Greater Philadelphia 2424 E York Street Unit 100 – p Philadelphia , PA 19125 mrathgeb @ groovyhues.com Rathgeb with his family SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 15 ISSUE 7 | 39

view text

input

view_module

keyboard_arrow_left

keyboard_arrow_right