Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Salmeron.
Hi Jose, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was at Schlitterbahn Waterpark, tired from the week’s work. I had my hands around my head and feet up on the chair, watching my family play. A thought came to my mind, I want a better life. I want better for my family. I want to start a business selling concrete tools. The thought came from having to work long hours at a construction company for 13 years. During that whole time I was basically working paycheck to paycheck. I knew then and there that I wanted to have my own business. My co-workers all saw me as a well-established man, but that wasn’t really the truth. The company I was working for would provide just enough for the essentials while on company trips and nothing more. They never really paid bonuses or gave incentives. There was no moving up the company ladder. I started what would now be my business with $260 in my pocket. The little merchandise that I had, such as boots and small tools, I started selling to my co-workers. After only 2 weeks I was starting to get orders for bigger projects and then realized that my vision was becoming a reality. I mentioned to my wife Sonia my business plan I had and she supported it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not. I started with only a couple of hundred dollars in my pocket. I always worried that an emergency would come up. I had to store my products in my garage in the beginning since I didn’t have a store. I wasn’t, and still am not, fluent in English but still manage to make it work with the English I know. I also wasn’t much of an office person. All I knew was construction and labor. Technology wasn’t my best friend. I have a lot more to learn but I have come a long way.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business specializes in selling concrete materials, such as rebar, lumber, hand tools, trowel machines and more. What sets us apart from others is I don’t take anyone as competition. I see other businesses as part of our group and we can all help each other. We are family owned and always striving to give good customer service. Apart from our delivery service for our big items, we also have a trailer in which we offer smaller items like hand tools, to sale and deliver at jobs and construction sites.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
One obstacle I had growing up was having to leave school. What might surprise people is that I actually enjoyed school. I enjoyed learning, specifically math. I am very good with numbers.
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@cmaterialsllc.com
- Website: www.cmaterialsllc.com
- Instagram: @sdmaterialsllc
- Facebook: @sdconstructionmaterialsllc
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/josesal430
