A growing business can win awards, attract customers, and still struggle with cash flow. Clayton Tomasino knows because he’s lived it—and he’s willing to share what he learned.
In this episode of Brand for Good, I sit down with Clayton, CEO and owner of Scorpion Protective Coatings, a family business serving thousands of small businesses in the automotive industry. Under his leadership, Scorpion has earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list five times while keeping service at the center of its growth.
Clayton returned from Hawaii to help his father build the business, expecting his role to be temporary. Nearly 20 years later, he’s helping other entrepreneurs build businesses that give them greater freedom.
We talk about how that commitment shapes everything from product development and pricing to team culture and his willingness to become the face of the brand.
In this conversation, we explore:
Building trust through service. Clayton explains why helping customers succeed guides his business decisions.
The expensive lessons of growth. He shares how confusing net income with available cash—and holding on to marketing tactics too long—created costly problems.
Listening before investing. We discuss how customer frustrations can reveal opportunities to enter a competitive market.
Creating shared responsibility. Clayton describes the daily 15-minute meetings that help his team understand their contributions and track the business’s health.
Getting comfortable being visible. He opens up about moving beyond his introversion, having fun on social media, and recognizing the cost of staying behind the scenes.
Defining the freedom you want. We explore why business goals should reflect the life you’re trying to build.
One idea that stayed with me: listening to customers does more than improve your marketing. It can change what you offer, how you deliver it, and the opportunities you create for others.
Join us for a candid conversation about building a trusted brand, learning from mistakes, and growing through service.
Connect with Clayton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claytontomasino/
Scorpion Protective Coatings: https://www.scorpioncoatings.com/
Brand for Good Links
Learn more about my agency: prosperforpurpose.com
Go behind the scenes on branding: Brand & Belief: lorraineschuchart.substack.com
Interested in my personal essays? Find them here: lovelorraineschuchart.substack.com
LEAVE A COMMENT
Comments