Don't Forget the Basics 8/13/2012 10:26:24 AM 
Efficiency with accuracy is a major component to business success. As the economic climate has changed and more business owners broaden their skills to bring in more revenue, the focus on this key component sometimes gets lost. But oftentimes, falling back on the basics can keep efficiency and accuracy in your projects.
In Diane Shattuck’s latest article, she shares advice on how to care for finishes. It’s back to the basics. “Sure there are hundreds of polishes and waxes on the market all claiming their purpose and fame, but all of these came well after good old soap and water,” she writes. Caring for a finish is as simple as caring for a baby’s face, Shattuck adds.
Relying on manufacturer guidelines is another basic process to remember, says David Jackson in his article about sealers. “The most important issue is how the manufacturer recommends the products are used. Manufacturers test their products in recommended finishing systems,” he adds.
Ignoring the manufacturer’s recommendations can create more headaches for you, and remove the manufacturer from any liability, Jackson says. Use the basics to guide you and let the manufacturer advise you on which direction to go to minimize setbacks or issues.
John Howell also discusses best practices for maintaining good quality of work especially when the project is on tight deadlines and something goes wrong.
“Having been in the restoration/refinishing business for many years, I’ve had to strip furniture many times and it’s never much fun. There are techniques, however, that can make the process less horrible than it may first appear,” Howell says.
Focusing on the basics and best practices will help you to move projects along efficiently and accurately, allowing you to bring in more projects. Sometimes, it can be easy to get distracted by the new and shiny products that promise to make a process better, but it’s often the basics that prove to be the best route for success.
