Nick Gonzalez: San Diego Custom Cabinets

The Woodpreneur Podcast

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

Join the Woodpreneur Network and Community at Woodpreneur.com or Woodpreneurnetwork.com

Connect with Nick at:

https://www.instagram.com/sandiegocustomcabinets/

https://sdcustomcabinets.com