PPC sat down with Javier and Oscar Sánchez, owners of SB Painting & Wallcovering in West Palm Beach, Florida, to share the secrets of their company’s success.
What was the best decision or biggest turning point in your painting careers?
It was when we decided to open our own family business. With our years of experience in the industry and the support of our family and friends, we took the opportunity and put our company in God’s hands. At first we thought we would not get the license, but thanks to referrals from some customers and suppliers, including Sherwin-Williams that advised us and opened the doors of its credit lines to our business, we had no problems.
What have been the biggest challenge of running our own painting company?
Even being well trained, when we started the company we were eliminated from consideration for not having enough work referrals. Fortunately, a large project fell from the sky and from then on, we began a steady march. Another challenge was that, as first-time owners, we wanted to do everything in our power for each project but still there were cases when we were unable to achieve customer satisfaction, so we had to take it and learn from it.
What’s your favorite part about running our own painting business?
Being able to work with family and knowing that everyone that comes along becomes family. We are so blessed to have built a team that will not only help us reach our goals, but their goals too.
What’s the best business advice you ever got?
It came from a good friend of ours. He said: “Do things the right way, whether it’s personal, or in your business. Never do wrong to anybody and do not lie to anybody. Never lose your integrity. It’s what will make you successful in life.”
What would you like to tell young people entering the business?
Make sure you begin by building your business on a strong foundation, with humility, hard work and dedication.
This article was originally published in the Fall 2015 issue of PPC magazine. The Sánchez brothers were interviewed by Mike Starling, PPC Editor. Read more about what pro painters have discovered on the job in the PPC What I’ve Learned archive.