In 2023, PHCPPros launched a new rep agency specifically for brand ambassadors in the PHCP community, PROS REPS. Our clients include highly skilled and influential professionals who showcase their profession, love of the trades, and the products they use and install to their thousands of social media followers.  

PROS REPS client Matthew Fleming is a New Jersey-based master plumber with 25 years' experience in the trade. His business, All-Star Plumbing and Heating, specializes in large custom homes and hydronic heating. He enjoys sharing his 'out-of-the-norm' jobs, as well as work at breweries, larger scale commercial facilities, and everything between. Matthew makes content to showcase his daily work in the field and enjoys teaching and assisting other tradespeople.

PHCPPros: How did you enter a career in the trades?

Fleming: My dad was a plumber, and after going to college for business administration and construction management, I decided that plumbing was the path for me. I would be getting into the trade full time with a few years' experience already, as well as a college degree that would help me on the business end of things.

PHCPPros: How did you find your specialty within the trades? 

Fleming: High-end custom homes are what I would consider to be our speciality. They're what we have done for years, and they're what we are known for. That being said, I tend to want to do anything that is considered a specialty. I find that there is added value when you can do unique jobs that nine out of 10 plumbers would shy away from just because they are something new or intimidating.

PHCPPros: Why did you decide to start using social media to share what you do with the world at large?

Fleming: I got into it because I found that it was a way to reach a customer base that I would not otherwise be reaching. At the time, we had done a few breweries, and I was looking to do more. I was able to connect with some brewery owners through instagram and was able to get some jobs, so  our instagram page acted as a resume of sorts.

PHCPPros: What is your favorite type of content to share with your followers? What gets the most engagement? 

Fleming: I like to share some of the unique work that we come across. People seem to be interested in the inner workings of some of the huge custom homes that we do. We get comments anywhere from, “Wow, thats amazing,” to “Why would anyone ever need 20 bathrooms?” and “I would have done that differently.” But, any engagement is good engagement. I hope that the younger generation might show interest in the trades based off of what they see on my page and realize plumbing is a lot more than fixing leaky faucets and clogged toilets.

PHCPPros: What kind of advice would you give to people in the industry who may want to do something similar to you on social media? 

Fleming: I would say No. 1 is to make sure you educate yourself and that you’re putting out proper information. No. 2 would be to remain open minded and positive. Social media is full of some really smart people who give great advice, but also super negative people who will look to rip up your post for any reason.

PHCPPros: How do you think the industry can use social media as a tool to encourage the next generation to join the trades?

Fleming: Social media is a great way to reach the younger generations because it’s where they spend so much of their time. It’s a good way to show these kids all the aspects of what we do and possibly get them excited to get out in the field.

PHCPPros: What kind of advice would you give people who are looking to enter the trades?

Fleming: The advice that I would give applies to anything you do in life: If you’re going to do it, do it like you care about it. Just like anything, you get out what you put in. If you put in the bare minimum, you can expect to get the bare minimum in return. At the end of the day, the trades give you a great opportunity to control your own destiny.

Follow Matthew under the handle @allstarplumbinginc on Instagram.

For Brand Ambassadors: Want to join PROS REPS as a client? Email PROS REPS Business Development Manager Nicole Meyer at nicole@phcppros.com.  

For Manufacturers: PROS REPS can connect manufacturers with individuals like Matthew to create custom brand ambassador campaigns. Learn more by emailing Nicole at nicole@phcppros.com. 

Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.