Contact
On today’s episode of To The Point, we welcome John Bowman, vice president of F.F. Hitchcock, a multi-generational home services business that has gone from a general store to a $20M powerhouse.
Hosts Chris Yano and Chad Peterman talk to John about the company’s over 150-year history, and how he’s helped transform it through branding, technology, and making connections at RYNOx. Listen now!
Turning a Wagon Into a Bus
F.F. Hitchcock started out as a general store all the way back in 1870. The company still has receipts from the early days for things like wagon wheels and clothes. As technology was invented, like indoor plumbing and HVAC, the company evolved alongside it to offer those services. John’s family purchased the business in the 1970s, and fast-forwarding to 2006, John was fresh out of college.
After playing football and leaving just shy of his degree (he went back and finished it two years ago!), John ended up working for his father in the business. 2008 hit them hard, and their reliance on commercial work made them pivot. After several years of struggling but staying above water, John made several big leaps of faith that paid off in spades. From rebranding with KickCharge and implementing ServiceTitan to attending RYNOx and becoming a customer of RYNO with a fresh new website, he would see his efforts turn into growth for the entire organization.
- The storied history of F.F. Hitchcock dating back to 1870
- John’s journey through the trades
- Pivoting the organization during the 2008 economic crash
- Working with family and navigating taking over the business
- Learning how to delegate and become more of a head coach
- Attending RYNOx and winning the RYNO Charge award
- Switching strategy from commercial to residential service
- Adding multiple verticals and entering roofing
- How John is utilizing social media to entertain and strengthen the brand
- Adding e-commerce to home services and John’s fuel delivery website
- And more!
Now, F.F. Hitchcock is just north of a $20M business operating out of Connecticut and offering HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fuel delivery, and recently entering roofing and solar. Even in 2024 when other businesses struggled, they continued to grow. We’re excited to see what the future holds for John and the company!
Evolving Into a Head Coach
After years of trying to do everything on his own, John is now learning that he has to trust his team and delegate things out. F.F. Hitchcock is adding layers of management, and the current stage of John’s journey is taking him back to his days of college football. He knows that instead of playing multiple positions, he needs to take a step back and be a head coach — drawing up the plays and watching it all unfold out on the field.
Until next time … NO. ZERO. DAYS.
