Marketing Metal

Marketing Metal Our stupid-simple process gives job shops a killer online presence that wins them high-paying jobs.

One of the biggest trade show mistakes we see?Companies subconsciously saying: “we don't want to talk to you.”You’ve pro...
05/27/2026

One of the biggest trade show mistakes we see?

Companies subconsciously saying: “we don't want to talk to you.”

You’ve probably seen them too.

Walls of tiny text on their displays, trying to explain every detail of their service. Table blocking the aisle. Sales reps engrossed in their own conversation, or worse, staring down at their devices.

Ideal customers walking right by without stopping.

And they're spending thousands of dollars just to be there!

We only exhibit at one show every year: the Advanced Manufacturing Expo. Even though our booth is generously sponsored by Creston Industrial Sales, we still pay for hotels, meals, and swag, and it takes a lot of time to set up, tear down, and be present.

So, we obviously want to make the most of it!

And our number one goal is to make our booth welcoming and attention-grabbing.

Open space, comfy chairs, and lots of fun swag.

Emily even brings pink velvet chairs and cozy rugs from home to make the space feel less like a trade show booth and more like a place people want to come hang out.

And guess what?

Our booth stays busy throughout the event.

Because trade shows are not about making visitors read everything about your company (which they could just as easily read on your website).

They’re about creating REAL human connections.

Heading to AME this year?

Plan to stop by and see us (next to Creston)!

If you want help creating a conference experience people actually remember, book an intro call with Emily: link in our bio

And if you're a shop owner and you want to get your story out there, sign up to be interviewed as a guest on the Radical Job Shop Show: (Insert link to book)

We don’t need months of your time to build a brand that finally feels like you.We need one focused day with your team. W...
05/21/2026

We don’t need months of your time to build a brand that finally feels like you.

We need one focused day with your team. We promise it can even be fun!

Marketing Metal has built 40+ brands for job shops and small manufacturers, and more than half of those have been with this current crew.

So when we say we know how to pull the good stuff out of your shop fast, we mean it.

⚡ Emily leads the big-picture brand strategy.
⚡ Taylor shapes the visual direction so your shop actually looks like you.
⚡ Gabby keeps the whole thing moving and makes sure the final pieces come together.
⚡ Alison brings the quality eyes, catching the details before they become problems.

It’s fast because it’s focused.

We designed it to feel less like a branding project you have to survive and more like a focused sprint with your team: part strategy workshop, part shop therapy, part creative jam, and part “wait… that actually sounds exactly like us.”

Our process was created under the same principles that make great shops: reduce waste, tighten feedback loops, keep the right people in the room, and focus on what actually moves the work forward.

You show up ready to tell your story, share your legacy, and give us a real look at what makes your shop unique.

We bring the structure, the questions, the strategy, the design, the writing, and the team to turn it into a brand you’re proud to use.

That’s not magic.

It’s process, experience, and a crew that knows job shops inside and out.

Curious what your shop could look like with the right brand behind it?

Book an intro call.

05/19/2026

“Turns out maybe some engineers aren’t so great at marketing.” 😂

Engineering skills are one piece of the puzzle.

Then you realize you also need to figure out: hiring, sales, branding, customer relationships, leadership, operations, marketing, and about 47 other things

Jason shares his perspective as a mechanical engineer, aerospace professional at Click Bond, and owner of Erikson Racing.

A lot of shop owners will relate to this one.

Full episode in the comments. 👇

05/08/2026

Want to hear the story behind the Machining Summit?

Hear it from the guy who decided that the chairlift was a better place for conversations than the conference room.

“When you’re stuck on a chairlift for a few minutes, you talk.”

Episode 1 with Al Whatmough is live.

04/27/2026

Emily took manufacturing conversations to new heights––9,000 ft to be exact.

We've got another teaser for you from the chairlifts at Mammoth Mountain during Toolpath's Machining Summit.

No scripts.
No agendas.
Just real talk with the people who are building this industry.

From scaling shops to rethinking systems to… life-sized stormtrooper helmets? 💀

Stay tuned for all-new, special episodes of Radical Job Shop Show!

Pre-registration for next year's summit is open!! Sign up here: https://toolpath.pulse.ly/axvanjngvg

04/21/2026

We've been hearing this from customers for years.

Anytime they get a prospect into their shop for a tour, they're surprised by the extent of capabilities... even though it’s all on the website.

AND they almost always get the order.

This phenomena is exactly why we launched the Shop Tour series.

To help our customers bring this magic to a broader audience.

Check out our latest episode with Steve Johnson at Teltron Manufacturing in Taunton, MA to hear how they've set themselves apart as a full integrated manufacturing partner.

04/02/2026

A lot of shops tell me they “don’t have a niche.”

Gary said the same thing when we visited Spectrum Machine & Design.

But he’s wrong.

His niche is solving insane manufacturing problems that most shops won’t even quote.

A $1M+ part that hogs up a massive machine for weeks?

🤯 Talk about risk!

But they don't even bat an eye at it because they have the right equipment, processes, and mindset.

And that is a solid niche.

We just dropped a new Shop Tours Edition of the Radical Job Shop Show showing how Gary Poesnecker and his team built the entire business around that reality.

• ±2.5 tenths is the norm, not the exception
• 100% inspection on everything (even 20,000-piece runs)
• Automation that moves parts machine-to-machine
• Tooling + fixtures built in-house because that's how they started
• A young, cross-trained team that can adapt fast

This is what happens when you build your operation around serving a very specific niche, implementing key aspects like:

• AS9100 + NADCAP certifications
• Massive 5-axis machines that barely fit in the building
• A fully paperless systm to eliminate friction and mistakes

Everything points to the same thing.

👉 They’re not trying to be everything to everyone
👉 They’re built for the jobs that actually matter

That’s the difference between a shop that competes on price…

…and the only one they think to call when the stakes are high.

We just launched their new website to reflect exactly this positioning.

Find it at https://wemachine.pulse.ly/pptwyjdlmj

Yes, really 😎

Watch the full episode in our Youtube Channel

03/31/2026

“No niche.”

That’s what they said.

The shop tells a different story.

We'll drop the Spectrum's Full Shop Tour Video on Thursday! 🎥

03/03/2026

Always cool to hear about new machining tech that can free up time and headaches!

In this episode of The Radical Job Shop Show, we sat down with Ben Slacker and Casey R., co-founders of FeedLogic—a student-led startup using vibration analysis and machine learning to help CNC shops cut chatter, extend tool life, and run smarter.

What makes this conversation special isn’t just the tech.

It’s the mindset.

These two are part of the next generation of manufacturing leaders—builders who care about data and people, software and the shop floor.

We talk about:
– Why guessing feeds and speeds isn’t good enough anymore
– How vibration tells the real story of a cut
– Getting young talent excited about manufacturing
– And why tech only works when it supports humans, not replaces them

If you’re curious about where CNC machining is headed—and who’s shaping it—this one’s worth your time.

Watch the full episode — link in bio.

02/24/2026

If everything is “great,” nothing is.

Chris Braniecki doesn’t believe in sunshine-and-rainbows messaging—and that’s a big part of why IQ Manufacturing has been so successful.

In this episode of The Radical Job Shop Show, we talk about:
– Why honesty beats forced positivity
– Admitting mistakes without fear
– Avoiding the race to the bottom
– Confidence vs. desperation in pricing and marketing
– Why vanity metrics don’t build real businesses

Chris has built IQ by telling the truth, valuing his team's work, and going where other shops won’t. No filter. No pretending to be something he's not. Just himself.

This one’s raw. It’s honest. And it’s very, very radical.

Watch the full episode — link in the comments.

Address

Saugatuck, MI

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16162989199

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