Welcome to our blog!

With colleges and universities gearing up to face the challenges of COVID-19, we thought “back-to-school” season was the perfect time to highlight some of the various paths into tradework. But before we do, we know that most of our community knows how they got into the trades.  This blog isn’t to tell you something you already know, it’s for your children, nieces and nephews and family friends who might be the next rock star plumber, electrician or HVAC technician that could use this information to build an awesome life for themselves.

Things have been heatin’ up across the nation -- literally. From our home base in Denver, temperatures this July have been reaching over 95 degrees daily and we’re lucky compared to other places. With most of our sidewalks hot enough to fry breakfast on, the heat and how to stay healthy/safe in it continues to be top of mind for Truewerk and our customers. We’ve rounded up the resources, tips and facts you need to do just that. 

We’re not experts on the importance of hydration at Truewerk, so we talked with someone who is. Dr. Missy Albrecht is the owner of Invincible and a doctor of physical therapy focusing on helping people move better from the outside in and inside out through self care, education and movement. 

The struggles of sunscreen on the job site? All too familiar, but the sun is a significant threat for those that work and play outside, so protection is crucial for living a long, healthy life.  We sat down with Brian Ciciora, Truewerk's Founder and President, who also leads product design, so he could share the inspiration for the T.5 WerkHoody and the nearly two-year journey in finding the perfect fabric to create the piece we sell today that embodies the nature of what you do and what it means to be an industrial athlete.

It’s officially that time of year. When the sun’s heat seems to taunt our every move outside, sweat starts dripping down your forehead before you’ve even arrived at the job site and cold showers are suddenly a welcomed luxury...yeah, we all know the feeling. Say hello to July, which according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the warmest 31 days for most of the country. In 2019, July was even the hottest month on record for the entire planet.  Those types of high temperatures come with an ample amount of obstacles to staying healthy while working outside. Obstacles that--if not prepared for--can leave a lasting impact long after the summer’s heat recedes. 

To join us in celebrating National HVAC Tech Day, watch our video and read the full Q&A below to meet Michael Flynn, a lead installer and field supervisor. We chatted with him virtually to share his insight with all of you!  

Take a quick cruise through what’s trending on twitter or the explore section of instagram to find evidence of what seems like an almost daily phenomenon of a new trending national something. We’re not immune, recently for National Sunscreen Day we promoted swapping sticky sunscreen for the UPF protection of our T.5 WerkHoody. While some of these national “holidays'' of awareness may spark a good laugh (we’re looking at you, National Talk Like a Pirate Day), others grant us the opportunity to talk about subjects on this blog that are at the foundation of Truewerk’s mission to protect, promote and empower the trade community...

...we’re all prone to feeling a little off sometimes and that’s OK. With Coronavirus pandemic being an unfortunate catalyst for this awareness and May being recognized as Mental Health Month, it presents a unique opportunity to talk about a subject that can be painful, frightening and feel like a very solitary experience.  It’s important to keep in mind that mental health is just one facet of something much bigger - behavioral health. 

In honor of what was supposed to be Small Business Week, we chatted virtually with Ken Ballin, trade professional and owner of Skyro Floors, to get insight on his business and share what’s helped him find success in the trades. Check out the video (fair warning, the quality is a bit rough) or read the Q&A.

Many of our customers are owners or employees of small businesses and they’re an integral part of the economy which is why for more than 50 years America has been celebrating National Small Business Week. The Small Business Administration (SBA) typically kicks off the annual event in honor of entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country the first week of May. This year it’s been postponed until further notice due to... you guessed it, Coronavirus, but we think because of COVID-19 it's more critical than ever to talk about the importance of small business

To join us in celebrating National Hug a Plumber’s Day, instead of hugging a plumber (please don’t hug anyone during the COVID-19 pandemic), watch our video and read the full Q&A below to meet James Wood, a licensed plumber, electrician and the owner of Form Construction, a contracting company based in Denver, CO. We sat down with him back in early March - don’t worry, it was from a safe distance and no hugging was involved - to learn more about his work and the impact it’s made on him and his customers.

While it may be “business as usual” for many essential services, business is anything but usual as stay-at-home orders have created new obstacles for keeping your business thriving during these uncertain times. To help navigate these tough circumstances, we’ve gathered trusted resources, timely tools and organizations to empower you to make decisions which may affect your business, employees, loved ones, customers and community.