What They Don’t Tell You About Scaling a Trades Business with Mitch Smedley

Most plumbing business owners are stuck chasing leads, stuck in the field, and stuck wondering why their online presence never seems to move the needle. But not Mitch Smedley.

Mitch is the owner of Smedley Plumbing in Blue Springs, Missouri, and the co-founder of Trade Wins, a movement helping tradespeople finally master their marketing without losing their identity in the process. In just a few short years, Mitch has grown a respected, recognizable brand in his local market all by showing up consistently, telling the truth, and turning job sites into storytelling opportunities.

In this feature drawn from his appearance on Marketing Without Rules, we break down exactly how Mitch went from running calls to building a business that attracts customers, talent, and trust… all without big ad budgets or marketing gimmicks.

Whether you’re a solo operator or managing a growing crew, this is your blueprint for building a brand that works while you sleep.

“The content you post today is the trust you get paid for six months from now.”

This show is sponsored by Blue Crocus Solutions, a web design and SEO agency focused on helping home service companies grow.

The Courage to Start Without a Net

Before Smedley Plumbing ever opened its doors, Mitch had a secure job running massive commercial plumbing projects. He was well-paid, respected, and managing multimillion-dollar builds. But he felt the pull to do something more personal, something he could call his own. So he did what most only dream of. He walked away from the security and started his business from scratch, with just his name, a phone number and a deep belief in delivering quality work.

That kind of leap takes more than confidence. It takes clarity. Mitch didn’t wait until he had the perfect business plan or a full crew. He just started. And from the very beginning, he did something most contractors don’t think to do: he began documenting his journey on social media. The posts weren’t flashy or scripted. They were real. Raw. Unfiltered. And that’s what made them powerful.

If you’re at the beginning of your journey or struggling to gain traction, the most important move you can make today is to stop waiting. Pull out your phone. Share what you’re doing. Talk about the values that guide your work. You don’t need perfect gear. You need a willingness to be seen.

“I had to market like I was big before I actually was.” – Mitch Smedley

The Power of Putting Your Face on Your Brand

One of Mitch’s boldest moves was putting his face at the front of his brand. Most contractors default to hiding behind logos, trucks, or templated marketing material. Mitch took the opposite route. He looked directly into the camera and said, “Here’s who I am. Here’s what I believe. And here’s how we treat people.”

That personal connection made a huge impact. Customers started to feel like they already knew him. And when they finally needed a plumber, it was an easy decision. His videos had already earned their trust.

If you’re hesitant to be the face of your business, remember that trust comes from familiarity. Every time someone sees your face, hears your voice, or watches you walk through a project, that’s one more deposit into the trust bank. You’re no longer a faceless company. You’re a person they feel connected to. That connection turns into conversations, then jobs, then referrals.

“People want to do business with someone they feel like they already know.” – Mitch Smedley

Turning Job Sites into Marketing Gold

Mitch has mastered the art of turning every job site into content. He’s not setting up professional shoots or hiring expensive crews. He’s simply documenting what’s already happening and using that as fuel for his marketing. A quick walkthrough of a finished job. A short explanation of a unique plumbing challenge. A shoutout to his techs on a well-done project.

Every one of those moments is a chance to tell a story and build trust. When your audience sees the quality of your work consistently and sees your pride in that work, it changes how they think about hiring you.

If you want to implement this, pick one job a week to feature online. Snap before-and-after pictures. Film a short 30-second video explaining what you did. Share why it mattered to the homeowner. Doing this weekly turns your feed into a running portfolio, and you’ll never run out of content again.

“You don’t need content strategy. You need content habits.” – Mitch Smedley

How Trade Wins Started—and Why It’s Taking Off

As Mitch’s online presence grew, other contractors began reaching out. They weren’t just asking plumbing questions. They were asking how he was getting such strong visibility in his market. Mitch saw a gap in the industry—there were very few people helping tradespeople market themselves in a way that felt honest, sustainable, and effective.

That’s where Trade Wins was born. Mitch co-founded the company to give contractors the tools, mindset, and encouragement to stop hiding and start showing up online. Trade Wins isn’t about hacking algorithms or writing scripts. It’s about teaching real business owners how to share what they’re already doing in a way that creates trust.

If you’ve ever felt like marketing just isn’t your thing, it might be because no one showed you how to do it your way. Trade Wins is built for people who work with their hands, lead teams and care about quality. You don’t need to become an influencer. You just need to start telling the truth about the work you do and why it matters.

“We built Trade Wins because every great contractor has a story—they just don’t know how to tell it yet.” – Mitch Smedley

Attracting Talent by Marketing Culture

Marketing isn’t just about finding customers. It’s about attracting the right people to your team. Mitch uses social media not only to promote his services but to showcase what it’s like to work at Smedley Plumbing. He highlights employee wins, shares team photos, and talks about what they’re building together.

This culture-first approach has a compounding effect. Job seekers see a company that values its people. They see a place where hard work is recognized and where team members are proud of what they do. That kind of visibility attracts people who want to grow, contribute, and stick around.

If you’re struggling to find quality hires, start marketing your culture. Celebrate your team publicly. Share what makes your company a great place to work. Even short clips from team huddles or shoutouts after a tough week can send a powerful message. The team you want is out there but they have to see what you stand for.

“Your brand isn’t just how you get customers. It’s how you build a team that wants to stay.” – Mitch Smedley

Consistency Over Chaos

Most contractors only post when things slow down. Mitch posts especially when things are busy. That’s how he keeps momentum going while others fall off the radar. He treats marketing the same way he treats payroll or truck maintenance—non-negotiable and essential to the business.

This is where most companies fail. They start strong, post a few videos, and then disappear when jobs start rolling in. By the time they need more work again, their visibility has vanished. Mitch avoids that by building marketing into the rhythm of his week. It’s not an extra. It’s part of the system.

If you want to follow that lead, carve out one hour a week. Schedule your content. Delegate a few posts to a team member. Pre-record a video if your week looks slammed. Whatever you do, make sure your market never forgets you exist.

“The worst time to market is when you need work. The best time is when you already have it.” – Mitch Smedley

You Don’t Need a Fancy Brand. You Need an Honest One.

What Mitch Smedley has built isn’t flashy or overproduced and that’s the point. It’s built on honesty, consistency, and showing up. He’s created a brand that works for him even when he’s not working. Customers feel like they know him. Technicians want to work for him. And other contractors are following in his footsteps.

The lesson is clear. You don’t need a big budget or a viral strategy. You need to be willing to show up, talk about what you do, and do it consistently. That’s what creates long-term trust. That’s what turns a name into a brand.

If you’re ready to take the first step, don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start now. Record a short video. Share a win. Talk about a lesson you learned this week. One small post at a time, you’re building the kind of brand people remember.

“The guys who win are the ones who keep showing up—even when it’s quiet.” – Mitch Smedley

Want to Learn More from Mitch?

If you’d like to follow Mitch, check out Smedley Plumbing and Trade Wins.

This Podcast is sponsored by Blue Crocus Solutions, a marketing agency offering website design, branding, AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services for Home Service businesses.

To see more episodes of the Marketing Without Rules Podcast, visit the podcast here: