We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dan Liberman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dan below.

Dan, appreciate you joining us today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? The world needs to hear more realistic, actionable stories about this critical part of the business building journey. Tell us your scaling up story – bring us along so we can understand what it was like making the decisions you had, implementing the strategies/tactics etc.

People often think that success is the result of luck, power, having resources and connections and happens fast for those, and sometimes it is. However, the best road to success is to have a dream, to prepare yourself, to work hard, and walk, not run. You will make mistakes and that gives you the opportunity to learn from them and become better. Don’t be afraid to try those things you believe in.

Back in 2021, my wife Dana and I bought two Fastframe stores in Austin. They had been around for more than a decade, and despite being profitable, they were running without direction. The employees were stressed and unmotivated, feeling that their work and effort were unappreciated. They were pretty skeptical of us from day one. We were new to the framing industry, and being from Mexico, that combination made them doubt our ability to lead.

Every single thing we expressed was received with a lot of resistance, and implementing changes was close to impossible.

I never doubted myself, though. I’ve spent years building and managing franchises in different industries, so I knew the fundamentals: if you have the right systems, communicate goals, promote a healthy working environment, and focus on the customer, you can turn any business around. That’s exactly what we did.

We launched a strong Google Ads campaign, rebuilt our website, put QR codes on cards to make it easy for customers to leave reviews, and got rid of coupons and discounts in favor of professionalism and service.

The biggest change, though, wasn’t marketing — it was culture. I’ve always believed we work to live, not the other way around. Since most of our lives are spent at work, it should be a place people actually enjoy. I wanted our team to feel valued, respected, and proud of what they do. When employees feel that way, customers fell it too.

And the results speak for themselves. In just three years, we went from 20 Google reviews to more than 100 per store, at 4.9-star rating. Sales are up 60%. Today, our two locations are the #1 and #2 stores in the entire Fastframe network.

But all of this wasn’t overnight. It was about conviction, persistence, and never losing sight of the people — both employees and customers. If there’s one thing I’d tell any business owner, it’s to stay consistent, believe in your vision, and take care of your people. The results will follow.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Mehanical and Electrical Engineer and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience leading businesses across Mexico and the U.S. My main company, DILCO, specializes in industrial spare parts and material handling engineering — from designing and installing simple conveyors to complex fully automated systems solutions. That work taught me how to blend technical problem-solving with strategic business leadership. Precision, knowledge and ingenuity are key ingredients to be successful.

Alongside DILCO, I’ve built and scaled franchises in multiple industries. I am a founding partner of one of the top Mail Boxes Etc. stores in the world, and for 8 years, I was the CEO of the corporate in Mexico. Down the road I became the Master Licence for Lice Clinics of America and developed the whole franchise model that was later used in other countries. My latest adventure is with Fastframe in Austin, Texas.

My friends keep asking what the link is between industrial spare parts and conveyors, shipping, lice treatments, and frames. And the answer is simple: no matter what I do, I am always thinking of providing the best product, service, and experience to my customers, as I find myself all the time on the other side, being a customer and looking for that memorable experience wherever I go.

I believe that what sets me apart from others is my unwavering dedication to delivering the best possible experience to both customers and my teams. I focus on creating a healthy, supportive environment where employees thrive. When the team is motivated and proud of their craft, customers feel it in every detail of their experience. All the products and services I offer are the ones I would buy if I were the customer. I could never sell something that I wouldn’t buy.

I don’t see the success of my businesses as the objective of my daily journey, but as the result of doing things the right way.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

We live in a world that has brought immense opportunities to reach thousands in ways that were unthinkable in the past. We often see influencers skyrocket from zero to millions in just one lucky post. The challenge is to understand not the how or the where, but the why and what people are looking for. I have worked with many marketing agencies, large, small, and boutique, and have always been frustrated by the little time and interest they all put into understanding one’s particular business and distinction. And that is where you can find the “what”. Then you have to think what makes you different from your competition and you wil lfind the “why” customers come to you.

With no doubt, our best source for new clients is our electronic campaigns. 40%+ of new customers each month come from there. Once they walk in, and we do our magic, they become repeat customers, and the business grows.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Having a good working environment starts by being an example of it. Respect, courtesy, and professionalism are positive characteristics that must be present at all times. As a leader, empathy and understanding must be felt as we all go through any imaginable struggles in life. There is nothing more appreciated than being there for someone when they need it.

It is very important to share the objectives, recognize individual achievements, and those of the team. Support and provide training, and most importantly, when things are going well, that well-being has to be shared. Everyone is working to earn a living and grow in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.austinfastframe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastframeatx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fastframesouth
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fastframe-south-austin-5