We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shawn Woolery a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shawn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I started this company without even knowing that there was a market problem. I had a 1930s Spanish Revival home and the previous owner ripped out the original windows and replaced them with vinyl. It looked terrible – they didn’t fit the house at all. So I searched for replacements but there wasn’t a quality replacement available. So I made them myself.

Once I replaced mine, I started doing it for other people in the neighborhood as a side job. That’s when the light bulb went off. At the time, I was hauling cars and it was unfulfilling. I was so inspired by the work I was doing that I quit my job to get my contractor’s license and started doing window restoration and repair work on old homes full-time. You could say I was a little naive because I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into.

That’s when I went down the rabbit hole and got into manufacturing wood windows for old homes.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The problems we solve are restoring old homes and buildings to their original architectural style. There are a lot of big manufacturers but they can’t match the original style. So people who have historic homes don’t want modern windows.

We know that in order to perfectly match the original windows in a historic building, they have to be made the same way they were originally built. That’s why we use traditional methods, historic machinery, and real wood.

What makes us different is that we know that in order to perfectly match the original windows in a historic building, they have to be made the same way they were originally built. That’s why we use the traditional methods, historic machinery and real wood.

We use methods that have stood the test of time – like mortise and tenon joinery. It’s simple and strong and has been used by woodworkers, stonemasons and blacksmiths for thousands of years because of its proven reliability.

The surviving millwork in America’s historic buildings is a product of 19th century machinery. We use the same machinery because it allows us to match the profiles and characteristics of the original sash and windows as closely as possible. Modern methods simply can’t match it.

Real wood brings warmth and character to your home that can’t be replicated by man-made materials. It provides natural longevity that comes with low environmental impact and carbon footprint when compared to other building materials.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I do what I say what I’m going to do, the way I know it should be done. I know there are a lot of people in this business who are flaky. I work hard to deliver a solid product and that my clients are delighted with my work. In my heart, I strive to do the right thing for every customer.

The foundation of my reputation lies in my unwavering commitment to integrity and customer satisfaction. In a market where trust can be hard to come by, I strive to be someone who always does what they say they’re going to do, the right way, every time. There are many players in my industry who don’t follow through on their promises or provide subpar work, but I take pride in always delivering a solid product that leaves my clients happy and satisfied.

I believe that, at the heart of every successful business, there needs to be a sincere desire to do right by your customers. By putting their needs first and consistently exceeding their expectations, I’ve been able to cultivate a reputation for being a reliable and trustworthy tradesperson. This, combined with my dedication to quality craftsmanship, has been the cornerstone of my success.

Overall, I attribute my success in building a strong reputation within my market to my unwavering commitment to integrity, customer satisfaction, and quality craftsmanship.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

As a business owner, I’ve found that word-of-mouth referrals have been the best source of new clients for me. This success can be attributed to the importance of maintaining integrity and craftsmanship in my work. By focusing on delivering high-quality products, I ensure that my clients are happy with my work and feel confident in referring me to others.

In an industry where referrals play a crucial role in growth, prioritizing customer satisfaction is crucial. By always striving to exceed expectations and consistently delivering exceptional results, I’ve been able to build a solid reputation and cultivate a loyal client base. This, in turn, has led to a steady stream of new clients through word-of-mouth referrals.

It’s clear that maintaining integrity and craftsmanship is not just a matter of professional pride, but a smart business strategy. By focusing on these core values, I’ve been able to build a successful and sustainable business that thrives on referrals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sandiegosashcompany.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandiegosash/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoSashCompany/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/18513407/admin/feed/posts/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXNoyAqFxos&ab_channel=SanDiegoSashCompany
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/san-diego-sash-company-el-cajon-3

Image Credits
Image Credit: Lisa Gonzalez