Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers

Bontempo Plumbing & Drain Cleaning owner relies on word-of-mouth advertising and a solid network of colleagues to drive his company’s success

Jun 20, 2023 | by Giles Lambertson |

Jetters Northwest Kohler Co. Milwaukee Tool Moen Incorporated Picote Solutions Rheem Mfg. Co. RIDGID Business Strategy Word-of-Mouth Advertising Source One Environmental (S1E)

Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers — The staff at Bontempo Plumbing & Drain Cleaning includes, from left, Chris Bontempo, owner and master plumber; Allison Bontempo, Chris’ daughter; Melissa Wittliff, office manager; and Zach Bajewski, apprentice.

Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers — Chris Bontempo uses a Clog Dog, a high-speed milling machine, and a Milwaukee Pipeline Inspection System to see what blockages remain in the sewer lateral of a home in St. Francis, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers — Zach Bajewski brings in the company’s Clog Dog to clean the remaining roots out of a sewer lateral at a home. The Clog Dog product was purchased by RIDGID and is no longer manufactured in this form.

Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers — The company often uses a Jetters Northwest Eagle 300 jetting unit to clean the sewer lateral of residences.

Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers — Bontempo uses a RIDGID SeeSnake camera to look at the inside of a pipe as he cleans it out.

Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers — Chris Bontempo, owner of Bontempo Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, stands near one of his service trucks at a job site near West Allis, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers

Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers — Apprentice Zach Bajewski cleans the old wax ring off before a new wax ring and toilet are installed in a home in Cudahy, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Contractor Builds Mutually Beneficial Work Referral Network With Fellow Plumbers — Chris Bontempo started his company in 2010 and worked out of his home, a garage and a storage unit for many years. He finally moved into an office and warehouse space in 2021.

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Thirteen years into running his own business, Chris Bontempo is so busy he doesn’t bother to advertise. No website. No ads. A little social media. “We can barely keep up with work,” he says. “I’m a firm believer that word-of-mouth advertising is going to serve you best. It works.”It clearly is working for Wisconsin-based Bontempo Plumbing & Drain Cleaning. There may be several explanations for the success of the company, but it all begins with Bontempo being a hard-working entrepreneur. From the launch of his company in 2010, he says he was willing to burn candles at both ends to meet

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