Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ralph Valadez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ralph, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To be successful means different things to different people. I don’t believe one should mark success by the dollar amount in ones bank account, or the number of possessions one has accumulated. I believe that success should be measured how you feel at the end of the day or end of week about your physical and spiritual well being. The added bonus is being able to share your happiness and time with family and friends.

At one time when I worked in corporate america I use to think that climbing the corporate ladder was the means to happiness and success. After spending countless hours away from family and friends I found out that it was just like chasing after the wind. I also discovered that you are really just a number in the corporate world, and they don’t really value family time. Time is an asset that we all have the same amount of so now I am very careful how I spend it and who I spend it with.

Ralph, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After spending close to 15 years in the corporate world. I decided 13 years ago to start my own business. I wanted do something I really enjoyed doing, but afforded me the opportunity to spend more time to be with my family (3 children at home). So after doing lots of research,and seeking out industry leaders for sharpening. I received specialized training, and certification from Sungold Co out of California.

I built my business from the ground up from building own relationships with manufacturers to designing my own websites, and most importantly establishing a solid customer base. Most important thing I strive for is delivering the best service and products. I always strive to conduct myself honestly and with integrity. This has helped be a proven formula ……deliver great service + products = customer loyalty + customer base growth. I service the Central and South Texas area including: San Antonio, New Braunfels, Austin, Boerne, Bee Caves, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, San Marcos, Corpus Christi, Fredricksburg, Lockhart

The Sharper Edge is a professional sharpening business that operates mobile throughout the Texas area. Ralph is one of a handful certified sharpeners in the United States trained/certified in the Hamuguri technique. I always strive to deliver the best results and best customer experience.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Quality of my work Honesty
Consistent quality delivered
Always looking to delivery the best service and products
Personal touch with my customers. Truly wanting to make sure that my sharpening of their instruments whether shears for stylists, medical instruments for doctors makes their job easier and effective.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When COVID started like many businesses I was significantly impacted. When Salons couldn’t open, and some even closing for good. Since 80% of business is Salon focused and 15% medical and 5% knife sharpening. I needed to pivot my business to feed my family. So within 1 week I switched my focus to do more medical instrument sharpening Veterinarian hospitals, surgical centers, and since more people were staying at home I also increased my focus on residential knife sharpening. I also took the initiative to source out UV sanitization devices that I could market to my salon clients for when they came back to the salons, and this turned out to be a great investment.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tsedge.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesharperedge
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesharperedge