The Kitchen Table

From Correctional Officer to Storm Chasing Queen: Taylor Baires on Building a Roofing Empire

Episode Summary

Taylor Baires shares her remarkable journey in the roofing industry, from childhood memories of distributing door hangers in neighborhoods to becoming a successful business owner and consultant. Growing up with a general contractor father in the Chicago suburbs, Taylor learned the value of hard work early—even sweeping commercial parking lots to earn money. After exploring law enforcement as a correctional officer, Taylor returned to her roots in roofing and construction sales. She discusses the fundamental differences between retail and storm restoration selling, emphasizing why retail experience creates superior storm chasers. Taylor breaks down the psychological advantages women have in door-to-door sales and why the industry needs more female representation. The conversation explores the current state of insurance restoration, particularly in Florida where regulatory changes and rising deductibles are pushing the industry toward retail sales models. Taylor offers practical advice for anyone looking to break into roofing sales and explains her consulting approach for helping companies maximize their potential in both storm and retail markets.

Episode Notes

Guest: Taylor Baires

• Owner: Varadero Roofing Group
• Founder: Solutions Beyond the Storm (Consulting)
• Background: Construction, Law Enforcement, Roofing Sales
• Location: Florida (travels nationwide for consulting)

Key Discussion Points:

• The psychological advantage women have at the door
• Why retail training makes superior storm chasers
• Growing up in a GC family and learning work ethic
• Transition from law enforcement to roofing
• Partnership structure and business ownership
• Current state of Florida insurance market
• Rising deductibles and their impact on the industry
• The future shift toward retail roofing
• Self-insurance trends in Florida
• Importance of continuous training and education
• Building reputation in storm restoration consulting

Memorable Quotes:

• "Sales is more of a lifestyle than just a job"
• "Nobody's coming to save you—you have to earn everything"
• "Storm chasers after retail training is like being in a candy store"
• "Women either do door-to-door or they don't—when they do, they crush it"

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 

00:42 - Meet Taylor Baires and pronunciation guide 

01:00 - Taylor's roofing company: Varadero Roofing Group 

01:27 - Storm chasing consulting and recent South Carolina trip 

02:15 - Women in the roofing industry discussion 

02:30 - The unfair advantage women have in door-to-door sales 

03:30 - Why homeowners trust women at the door more 

04:18 - Taylor's origin story: Born into the industry 

05:00 - Growing up on construction job sites 

05:12 - Father's influence and learning hard work early 

06:20 - Sweeping parking lots and earning money as a kid 

06:55 - Father's GC business and local market focus 

07:30 - Growing up hating storm chasers 

08:00 - How Taylor became a storm chaser herself 

08:40 - Current consulting approach and client relationships 

09:20 - Consulting services: Training vs. hands-on work 

09:50 - Why fresh storms are "like a candy store" 

10:15 - Retail training makes storm restoration easy 

11:40 - True retail selling vs. offering cheap alternatives 

12:40 - Getting retail vs. storm experience first 

13:05 - Taking over Varadero Roofing Group in 2020 

14:00 - Previous career as correctional officer 

15:00 - Why construction welcomes people with any background 

15:40 - The future of insurance restoration 

16:05 - Florida's insurance crisis and rising deductibles 

17:10 - Self-insurance trends in Florida 

17:30 - How to connect with Taylor for consulting services 

18:00 - Importance of investing in multiple training programs 

18:30 - Contact information and social media 

19:10 - Closing remarks