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Place Advertising Call 419.330.9658 |
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Custom Storage Solutions
Organization on the inside and out
By
Barbara L. Roose |
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"We
are committed to becoming the areas leader in organizing
solutions for the home and business …”
"Since
ClosetMaid isn’t a traditional franchise, the
Leaches were able to move through the process quickly
to being an authorized dealer."
ClosetMaid authorized dealers Shawn and Audrea Leach
believes that they are “MVPs” in their
business. Audrea explains in a proud voice, “We
are an ‘MVP’?a man, a van and a plan?a
concept that really works for Shawn and I because
we can work as a husband and wife team.”
Married 14 years ago, Shawn and Audrea grew up in
Toledo and graduated from Whitmer High School and
Waite High School, respectfully. Growing up, Shawn
lived with his father after his parents divorced.
His teen years were difficult because Shawn was on
his own for long stretches at a time. “I learned
a lot of street smarts,” he remembers. “But
no police were involved.” At 16, Shawn got a
job at a carwash, and as time went on, he worked in
a lot of areas factories. It was during those years
that Shawn realized that he wanted to own his own
business so that he could be his own boss.
As the daughter of a single parent, Audrea grew up
in East Toledo. She remembers a humble upbringing,
but learned early on that there was more to life than
what she saw in her neighborhood, thanks to some mentors
around her. “I had a drive to have something
more than what my mom had.” After high school,
Audrea went to school to learn computer repair and
earned a certificate from Davis College. Once her
schooling was complete, Audrea went to work in the
computer industry.
In 1995, the Leaches had a young child, and Audrea’s
priorities began to change. She left her job in the
computer industry in 1998 to stay home with their
daughter. Shawn was working in the furniture business,
specializing in ready-to-assemble furniture. Area
companies would purchase furniture from companies
like Office Max, and Shawn would be hired to come
in and assemble an office full of furniture.
Shawn and Audrea began a delivery-service dispatching
business in 2002; however, they didn’t feel
fulfilled. In retrospect, the Leaches chalk it up
to not having employees that took pride in the business.
They began looking for another business they could
find mutually satisfying. This time, there were several
desires attached to their new search. “I had
a lot of success in assembly and developed a lot of
confidence in my abilities, so I wanted to find something
that I could sell, as well as assemble. I wanted my
own product, so I began looking to franchising, and
that’s how I found out about ClosetMaid.”
Since ClosetMaid isn’t a traditional franchise,
the Leaches were able to move through the process
quickly to being an authorized dealer. Although there
were no fees involved, Shawn and Audrea had to go
to Arizona to receive ClosetMaid training and purchase
the software, which was a significant expense. One
of the most important training perks was getting connected
to the originator of the closet organization industry,
Neil Balter, who was conducting the training session.
Shawn and Audrea were able to learn from the man who
had one very well-known client. “He did Oprah’s
first closet and is very well known nationally. …
Neil is only one phone call away for us; there isn’t
a storage problem Neil hasn’t seen.”
Although area competitors are plentiful, the Leaches
believe that there is enough business for everyone.
They are growing their business but aren’t in
a hurry to get too big, too fast. “We will grow.
We just brought on a sales guy, but we aren’t
in a hurry because we want to maintain the quality
above all.”
Many of Shawn and Audrea’s customers initiate
the process while their home is in the planning stages.
First, Audrea conducts an initial consultation and
can complete a design off the home’s blueprints.
Next, the customers receive a complete 3-D rendering
of the prospective design. Having a creative approach
to design is one of Audrea’s strengths, and
she believes her customers appreciate her unique approach
to design challenges.
Once the design phase is complete, Shawn and Audrea
have access to ClosetMaid as well as other manufacturers’
materials at wholesale prices. Then, Shawn will go
out and do the installation, and the Leaches take
satisfaction in being involved at the beginning and
end of every project.
In addition to closets, Shawn and Audrea are actively
marketing ClosetMaid solutions for garages. The Leaches
educate customers about the lost potential of their
garage and help them customize a design that maximizes
underutilized space. “We now do several types
of cabinetry and flooring, like epoxy and modular.
We will go in and do an entire garage makeover, including
paint. I am always looking for the latest, greatest
and newest products so that we can be a one-stop shop.”
With so much interest in this industry, the Leaches
are excited about one of their newest products, imaged
cabinetry. This scratch-resistant, chemical-resistant
and water-resistant product contains an embedded image
in the melamine. Not only is this type of imaging
available in cabinetry, but it is available in table
tops as well. Shawn explains that individuals and
business can have any image embedded, and many athletic
teams are interested in the potential of this new
application.
The Leaches are sure that their approach to business
is working. They noticed that area competitors are
now imitating some of the new products and services
that they now offer for garage makeover services.
“Duplication is the best form of flattery.”
CLOSETMAID AUTHORIZED DEALER
Audrea and Shawn Leach
Phone: 419-517-3335
E-mail: custom@bex.net
Website: www.increaseyourspace.com
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 Toledo
Business Review highlights the best
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IS A FREE, BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION
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