Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:09] Speaker B: Welcome to the Clear Impact Podcast, brought to you by Mitre Brands University. Thanks for joining us today. My name is Sheri Conner and I am your host.
[00:00:24] Speaker C: So, good afternoon. We are here on the Clear Impact podcast and we are talking about relationships today.
And one of the things that Mitre Brands really is based on is strong relationships.
And we actually have a program called Excellence Through Partnership and that is otherwise known as etp.
And what we do with ETP is we reward our top performing dealers and everyone gets to go on this fantastic trip.
So instead of me going and lugging all of my podcasts podcast gear on the trip, we're talking to some of the folks that were able to be on this year's trip. And so today we are going to be chatting with Jesus Castro from the Window Depot, who recently attended for the first time. So welcome to the podcast, Jesus.
[00:01:16] Speaker A: Thank you.
[00:01:16] Speaker C: I am so thankful that you could make time to record with me today. And so can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your company, like where you're located, maybe the focus of your business and we can kind of go from there?
[00:01:30] Speaker A: Sure. So our company is the Window Depot. I am senior director of operations for the Window Depot. We are mainly located in the southwest region. Our stores, we have 10 locations that are located in Arizona, Albuquerque, New Mexico, El Paso, Texas, National City, California.
[00:01:51] Speaker C: Wow.
[00:01:51] Speaker A: Yeah. We are a retail store. We do not install and we do stock the Milgard product on our shelf.
[00:01:58] Speaker C: Oh, okay, that's super interesting. But you don't do the installation?
[00:02:02] Speaker A: We do not do the installation. Our focus is contractor sales and homeowner sales. And it's basically spit right, split right down the middle. 50. 50.
[00:02:12] Speaker C: Oh, nice. So where are you located?
[00:02:14] Speaker A: Our corporate office is in Tucson, Arizona.
[00:02:16] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:02:17] Speaker A: Actually, we've been in Tucson, Arizona since the mid-70s as a window manufacturer. Believe it or not, the Window Depot is a DBA of solar interface, or SI windows.
[00:02:31] Speaker C: Oh, okay. So you've been in business since the 70s?
[00:02:34] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:02:35] Speaker C: Yeah. So you've seen some changes?
[00:02:37] Speaker A: Yeah. Window Depot was born in 2001 in El Paso, Texas, and been going strong since. And yeah, we've seen some changes. I wasn't born in the 70s. I've been around since 1998.
[00:02:48] Speaker C: Okay. And so how long have you been a Milgard dealer?
[00:02:54] Speaker A: Since 2011.
[00:02:56] Speaker C: Okay. So a good 15 years. 14 years.
[00:02:59] Speaker A: Yeah. How time flies. Yeah.
[00:03:01] Speaker C: Wow, that's wild. So how did you get involved in the industry?
[00:03:05] Speaker A: Honestly, it was my first job. My first job was at Home Depot in the millwork department.
[00:03:09] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:03:10] Speaker A: And I grew since I was actually recruited from Home Depot to work for window depot in 2004 and that was.
[00:03:17] Speaker C: Just as a salesperson. And then you moved your way up. Is that how it went?
[00:03:22] Speaker A: Just basically, yeah. So they needed a Spanish speaking door guy is what they called it at the time. So it was, yeah, the person that can sit behind a counter and sell doors in both languages. So I was able to help with that at one of our original Tucson locations.
And I've just grown since I became a manager a few months after that and the rest is history.
[00:03:45] Speaker C: And so one of the things, and I was really bummed that I couldn't go on the trip. I lobbied, I really did lobby to have a seat there. But anyway, so I want to hear what feedback you can share about the trip.
[00:03:59] Speaker A: Amazing. That's really the word to describe it. It's second to none. I mean, I've had some really fantastic experiences in travel and excursions, but this was second to none. It was first class all the way. Just an incredible trip.
[00:04:13] Speaker C: Nice. And did you do any of the excursions that were available?
[00:04:18] Speaker A: Yes, I caught my first fish.
[00:04:20] Speaker C: Oh, nice. Really?
[00:04:23] Speaker A: Absolutely. I had never been fishing and the fish that I caught was a marlin. Apparently it's a big deal. Yeah, yeah. 74 inch marlin that weighed 140 pounds. I didn't see what the big deal.
[00:04:35] Speaker C: Was, but everyone's oh my gosh.
[00:04:38] Speaker A: Yeah, it was pretty amazing.
[00:04:40] Speaker C: Yeah, that's the kind of stuff that you have it stuffed and mounted and hung on your wall.
[00:04:43] Speaker A: You know, it was offered to me at the time and I said, where are we going to put it? My wife was with me on this trip and I said, where will we put it in our house? There's nothing marine in our house whatsoever. Just be a big giant fish. So I didn't keep it. It went back in the water. We did catch a yellowtail, which we kept and enjoyed at the marina, which was amazing.
[00:05:02] Speaker C: Nice. There is nothing better than fresh fish. I mean, you're going to have a hard time duplicating that experience. Now you've set the bar really high for your first fish.
[00:05:10] Speaker A: Yeah, you're right.
[00:05:11] Speaker C: You' but you can always try again. And so one of the things that I like to know is what makes a business successful. And so for someone who's maybe trying to improve their business and maybe they're not next door to you, like you don't want to give advice to your competitors, but what advice would you give to someone who's trying to establish themselves in the marketplace and expand to the levels that you guys are at. What would you say to them?
[00:05:40] Speaker A: Well, it's quite simple. We live by this formula and is get to know your competition and then set your act impossible to follow. Make your software, your customer service, your pricing and everything that you do for your business is impossible for anyone to follow.
[00:05:57] Speaker C: I like that. It's simple and brilliant. I like that a lot. Well, that kind of wraps up our conversation. I mean, it was just a little bit about the ATP trip and getting to showcase, you know, your business a little bit since you were qualified to go. Jesus. I really appreciate your time today. Thank you.
[00:06:12] Speaker A: No problem.
[00:06:15] Speaker B: The Clear Impact podcast is brought to you by Mitre Brands University.
We are a part of Mitre Brands, a family of leading window and door brands united by our passion for quality and relentless pursuit of 100%. At Miter Brands, our common purpose is to deliver value by manufacturing the finest products, services and customer experience every day, everywhere.
Our window and door brands deliver regionalized expertise, products and services, all backed by a national company.
Mitre Brands University is here to educate you, our listener, so that you can be a more informed consumer of window and door products.
