In this feature, three brothers and co-owners of BlueThread Plumbing share reflections on continuing their family business and serving the Knoxville, Tennessee community in the plumbing industry.
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Can you tell us how your involvement in the business began and what the transition was like from your father’s leadership to your own?
We each started helping out when we were teenagers, mostly sweeping floors or stocking materials after school. Our dad never pushed us to take over, but over time, it just became clear we were ready to step in. When the moment came, we didn’t do anything flashy.
We kept his systems in place, but slowly added things like tech upgrades and streamlining the scheduling side. It wasn’t about changing everything. It was about tightening what already worked.
What kinds of changes have made the biggest difference since you three took over?
Mostly, just getting organized. We introduced a shared calendar system so jobs don’t overlap, updated our online presence, and got more consistent with follow-ups. People assume growth means expansion into new markets, but for us, it meant improving our internal systems first. That alone made it easier to take on more work without sacrificing quality.
What makes your team dynamic work, and how do you handle disagreements?
We’re all different, which helps. One of us is more detail-oriented, one’s a natural communicator, and one’s the go-to for troubleshooting on-site. We don’t always agree, but there’s trust because we’ve worked together for so long. When something’s off, we talk it out and move on. That part’s easier when you know everyone has skin in the game.
Have you noticed any changes in how customers interact with the business since the next generation took over?
For sure. More people find us online now. We didn’t even have a Google listing a few years ago. Now, between photos, scheduling tools, and even a few customer videos, folks show up already feeling like they know who they’re hiring.
We’re still a word-of-mouth business at heart, but having a digital presence has helped validate that for people who haven’t worked with us yet.
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What keeps you motivated to grow without losing the core of what the business was built on?
The name. It’s our family name on every invoice and every truck. We owe it to our dad and to our customers not to let that get diluted. Growth doesn’t mean doing everything, it just meant doing more of what we do best, and letting people find us in ways that work for today’s world.
