729: How to Start a Solar Company that Customers Rave About | Hunter Trenary of Sun Collectors

Deciding where and which customers to focus on can make or break a business. How do you go about choosing one market over another? Furthermore, how do you build a business in an otherwise overlooked market that makes the nation’s largest solar company, Sunrun, take notice?Hunter Trenary, co-owner of Sun Collectors, recently shared his journey of establishing a solar company in Peoria, Illinois. Starting from scratch in a market with untapped potential, Trenary and his partner navigated the complexities of local regulations, brand building, and sustainable growth while being self-funded. By doing things the “hard way”, Hunter and his team have managed to not only educate the community about the benefits of solar but also establish a reputation for delivering premium installations in house earning them rave reviews from their customers. No surprise, Peoria is now the home to Sunrun’s 2nd IL office (I wonder what took them so long!?) In this episode, you’ll discover:How Sun Collectors navigated the challenges of growing a solar business in a market with little existing demandSun Collectors community engagement initiatives that keep the flywheel turningThe strategies Hunter and his team employ to make solar accessible and affordable for its customersBy focusing on one market and investing heavily in the local community, Sun Collectors has built a thriving business that stands out from the competition.If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalusMentioned in this episode:CPS July 2024 V2