Today we’d like to introduce you to Eddie Torres.
Eddie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My journey Began in California, I initially asked a friend for a job, and I always enjoyed painting so it felt right. I began as a prep painter, worked my way up learned the trade and soon after I began to oversee projects as an estimator/ project manager. A few years later I had the opportunity to Project Manage for the Company the painting renovation for one of the towers at the Westin Galleria Hotel. It was a great five month project and I left Houston with a great feeling about the city. I left the painting industry went back to Corporate America; there an opportunity was available in Houston and I took it.
Within the next couple of months we completed our first hotel project and we began work on a Starbucks Renovations; Two months later we hired a full -time office administrator, and a soon after we brought on board a project manager. Last January our company was the recipient of the Angies List super Service award for painting in 2015, it put us on the top 5% of painters in the Houston Market. 2016 was a bless year our team grew, the residential and commercial side of our business grew also.
90% of our earnings in 2016 were reinvested into the company, we are now structured to compete with real companies. This year we once again received the Super Service Award but this time in four categories. Our company has been able to achieve its goals through hard work, passion, customer service and our relentless pursuit to continue our success; having said that we have taking a different direction to recruit great team members. Our staff in 2016 were given 5 day Christmas vacation, we took a family weekend trip to Galveston (we rented a home) and take field trip outing to Dynamo and international soccer Games. I believe that our clients and team members have been the key to our success. In fact, my vision is to have an employee own company, I firmly believe that our core employees, those who help and have helped build this company should receive profit sharing.
Last weekend closed our two year anniversary, it’s been a phenomenal journey, a lot of sleepless and long nights, but it has been without a doubt worth it. We are bless to have such great clients and partners!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
April 28th 2015, I made a decision to go out on my own, I cashed my 401k, sold my car and bought myself a used 2005 F150 (with 160K miles, Yikes!!.) I literally felt I was jumping the ledge and for a couple of months it was painful and felt insecure of what was next. I had one helper with me from time to time, we worked with a few general contractors and soon found out that not to many people were ethical when it comes to their business practices and paying there subcontractors. Don’t get me wrong there was a plan and there were goals set in place, but financially I took a few big hits. I really felt like just letting go and take a few offers I had on the table at the time.
I do recall being 4th of July and I was painting by myself, didn’t have many guys on staff but I kept pushing. I took what little I had begun my marketing with Angies List in July, our business began to grow a bit and I once again had one guy with me, In late October I hired a painter, he and I worked hard for the next couple of months and began to build the company. In November I found a small warehouse storage, and made a make shift office. We bought a couple of tables a printer on craigslist, and a piece of carpet that’s all we had; I remember sending bid (emails) from the parking lot of our nearest Starbucks. It was a great time, would never trade those experiences it taught us to always remain grateful and humble.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are residential and commercial painting that has put together a great team or partners who specialize in trades such as: flooring, carpentry and drywall, we can tackle almost any project, People always ask what sets us apart from our competitors and my answer is always the same. I have a good team of guys that are very passionate about painting and attention to detail, staying consistency has been the key to our success.
What were you like growing up?
I was always a perfectionist, my mother said I always kept my room clean and organized, always kept my shoes spotless! I enjoy sports and working hard. My father taught me that being an entrepreneur was always the best to go. I enjoyed being around him learning how to run a business from him. He was a workaholic and consequently I became one two. It’s the passion, the drive, the dedication and overcoming the obstacles that kept me going then and keeps me going now.
Contact Info:
- Address: Luxz Painting & Design
8206 West Broadway St. Suite 105
Pearland, TX 77581 - Website: www.luxzpaintingdesign.com
- Phone: 346-888-5910
- Email: admin@luxzpaintingdesign.com
- Instagram: luxzpainting
- Facebook: luxzpaintingdesign
- Yelp: luxzpainting&design
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
