In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews Nick Gonzalez from San Diego Custom Cabinets. Nick shares the history of his company and how he started in the cabinetry business. He discusses his early years' challenges and his strategies to get customers, including attending trade shows. Nick also highlights the competitive advantage of manufacturing in Mexico and using conversion varnish for finishes. He talks about the importance of giving back to the Mexican community and the growth of his team. Finally, Nick shares his experience in managing and balancing his role as a leader. In this conversation, Nick, the owner of San Diego Custom Cabinets, discusses his journey of finding work-life balance and striving to be the best in his industry. He shares how he prayed for growth and focused on providing exceptional customer service. Nick also talks about the importance of marketing and acquiring customers through social media, and explores the potential of search engine optimization. He discusses the value of storytelling and dominating local markets, as well as the idea of segmenting product lines. Finally, he learns about engaging with followers and building an email list to grow his business further.
Takeaways
- Attending trade shows can be an effective strategy for getting customers in the cabinetry business.
- Manufacturing in Mexico can provide a competitive advantage, such as using conversion varnish for finishes.
- Giving back to the community and providing employment opportunities can be a rewarding aspect of running a business.
- Building a strong team and relying on mentors can help in managing and growing an enterprise.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
00:36 History of San Diego Custom Cabinets
03:32 Trade Shows as a Growth Strategy
04:58 Differentiating Factors and Competitive Advantage
06:20 Using Conversion Varnish and California Regulations
07:39 Transitioning to Manufacturing in Mexico
09:19 Early Challenges and Learning on the Job
10:26 Transitioning to Manufacturing in Mexico (Continued)
13:14 Size and Structure of the Company
15:12 Giving Back to the Mexican Community
16:37 Quality and Perception of Manufacturing in Mexico
19:40 Learning to Manage and Grow the Enterprise
21:11 Mentors and Learning from Others
23:36 Maintaining Sanity and Self-Care as a Leader
24:51 Finding Work-Life Balance
26:01 Striving to Be the Best
27:21 Praying for Growth
28:10 Personal Success and Gratification
29:21 Putting Customers First
30:01 Balancing Workload and Hiring
31:26 Marketing and Acquiring Customers
34:05 Next Steps in Marketing
36:10 The Value of Search Engine Optimization
38:15 Telling Stories and Dominating Local Markets
41:31 Segmenting Product Lines
44:16 Engaging with Followers and Building an Email List
48:21 Expanding the Brand and Targeting New Markets
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