Category: Uncategorized
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Who is Byron Schramm
A Family Legacy: The Story Behind Midtown Chimney SweepsByron Schramm, owner of Midtown Chimney Sweeps, has a story rooted in family tradition, hardwork, and a love for his craft. Born and raised in Lancaster, California, Byron grew up in a family oftradespeople. His father, uncle, and two generations of German immigrant farmers before theminstilled in…
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Generational, Healthy, Integrated, Family-Owned Niche Businesses
In Germany there is a name for these businesses. The Mittelstand. In future articles we will discuss the German Mittelstand companies which are “highly focused, achieving unprecedented efficiencies by designing a business model with a razor-thin focus and learning to do the one thing really well.” But here we discuss the family side of the…
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Why I Left My Business for Six Months | Trade Entrepreneur Podcast Feature
Recently, Byron was featured on the Trade Entrepreneur Podcast to discuss his experience leaving behind his U.S.-based national chimney sweep franchise business in the hands of his team while heading to Europe for a nearly seven-month chimney research adventure. Keep reading for details of what led to this once-in-a-lifetime experience for his family and himself,…
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A Visit to the Mr. Soot Training Centre in Wigan, England | Feature in Fireplace Specialist Magazine
While exploring chimney sweep practices across Europe—Austria, Germany, France, and Switzerland—I made sure to stop in England and learn about British techniques and standards.
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Chimney Construction Contrasted USA vs Europe
Austrian castles, German Castles, English Royalty and Peasant fireplaces. Chimney construction contrasted in the USA vs Europe is a subject I am deeply interested in as a USA chimney installer. Chimney stories begin with construction technique, and technique begins with plans. Home and chimney building codes are typically reactionary in nature- stemming from natural or…