Dear NySpeeder’s
Well, It certainly has been a while since I’ve reached out to anyone on this forum. Kind of sad in some ways, but also kind of interesting to look back and see what has changed.
In 2010 I started Clever Sales & Service (originally under the moniker Clever Construction). I was freshly dropped out of college. I had no interest in whatever ECC had to offer, so I started working for the family business. Most of you may not know that my father, Charlie, is a window and door subcontractor. With 27 years of experience in the industry he had taught me as close to a lifetime worth of knowledge within a short period of time. He radically changed what I thought I was capable of. Before I even knew what was good for me, I had my freshly minted DBA paperwork - and quickbooks.
I had this crazy idea to use the knowledge and tools that my father had gave me to blaze my own path - into contracting. It was a solid scheme, I would find clients, sell them product and then have my father who I could trust with anything install them. This is what I based my business off of, for 5 years now. However, what wasn’t so apparent were my motivations that had changed over this period.
When I first set off, I had my ambitions set high. Best quality, best price, best service. Unfortunately, this was hardly sustainable. It is hard to pay the crew to repair work or incidentals that had occurred when you were only making $100 profit per job. I was able to make it work though by snatching higher volume jobs from the construction exchange. In 2013 I found what I was passionate about however; flying. Since then I have focused on nothing more than becoming a professional pilot. Sometimes, this has regrettably been at the expense of my business. Through highs and lows I have been able to keep what I consider important in view, the customers. I really have tried my hardest to make sure that each and everyone of you that I have done work with has ended up satisfied - even if it came at a great personal expense to myself.
2015 has a new vision for Clever Sales and Service. My father has been busting his ass for 27 years, he is now 58 years old. He single handedly moved my family from the east side of Buffalo to a beautiful home in East Aurora - kind of the American dream I think we all chase. However, 27 years is a tough stretch in what most consider a young man’s game. It is nearly an impossible feat to be the secretary, the contractor, the salesman, the accountant, and the customer service rep all wrapped into one package. Time has unfortunately taken its toll for him, having suffered a stroke at the age of 56. The writing is on the wall, it is time for change - and fortunately, I unknowingly built a way out for him.
At the end of 2015, Clever Sales and Service will be no-longer. I am merging my business, with my fathers. It will become Res-Com Windows & Doors, Inc. He will be moving from the role of the contractor to the role of the manager. Something that will take full advantage of the knowledge and expertise he has gathered over the course of his career. In addition, we will be adding a secretary and two foremans to the crew. This I feel will be able to properly address the explosive growth we have achieved together in the last 5 years.
Res-Com Windows and Doors will be a larger entity, responsible for both sub-contracting and contracting of window and door products. We have a few accounts on file that contribute a significant amount of our operating revenue. However, more importantly for my NySpeed family and more, we will still be offering services and products at the homeowner level.
By streamlining both entities into one, we will be able to afford new, more competitive levels of pricing for you guys. I expect that our levels of quality, service, and timeliness will all grow exponentially with the new division of labor I have inked. I am forever grateful for those of you who took the plunge and decided to use my company over the plethora of other options you have you, you guys really made this dream a reality for me.
We will continue to service all of our existing customers through this new entity, nothing will change in regard to the warranty for the work I have given you guys.
Thank you again,
Alexander Sobocinski
