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Local Living
A community podcast for Palm Beach to Parkland.
Local Living
Jose Ruiz: Crafting Dream Spaces with Tech and Passion
Meet Jose Ruiz, the visionary behind Best Price Kitchens, Baths, and Floors, who traded in his IT career to become a leading force in home renovation. We uncover Jose's fascinating journey from boosting a friend's cabinet import business with his online expertise to discovering his innate talent for design and sales. Jose's story is a compelling blend of technology and entrepreneurial spirit, offering a unique perspective on building a successful business from the ground up.
The episode also highlights the expertise and comprehensive services Jose offers in kitchen and bathroom renovations, along with how you can connect with his team for your next project. Whether you're looking for inspiration or practical tips, this episode is packed with insights.
www.bestpricekitchenbath.co
561-668-5088
Local Living is a community podcast for Palm Beach to Parkland. Are You A Local Business, Resident, Leader or Non-Profit? If so, we would love to have you on the podcast!
Go to www.locallivingpodcast.com for all of the info.
Welcome, welcome everyone to Local Living. We are a community podcast for Palm Beach to Parkland. I'm David Conway, your host today, and with us we have Jose Ruiz. He is the owner of Best Price Kitchens, Baths and Floors. Great guy, Happy to have him. Jose, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2:Hey, thank you so much. It's a pleasure to be here. Yeah, I was really looking forward to this.
Speaker 1:We've chatted in your beautiful showroom and I've got to know you a little bit, but I'd really, really love to introduce you to our listeners out there. So tell us a little bit more about Best Price Kitchens, baths and Floors. Tell us about your business.
Speaker 2:Sure Happy to do so. So at Best Price, kitchen Baths and Floors. Here, as the name says, we specialize in kitchen baths and floors, even though we're fully licensed general contractors with the ability to do your complete home renovation from the ground up. We're actually working on an addition right now over in Boca Raton, adding 1,500 square feet to a relatively large house. They're adding a master bedroom, a master bathroom and a master closet, so we're helping them facilitate all of those things. We do sell cabinetry which can be used for all different types of functions, such as kitchens, bathrooms, closets, garages, entertainment centers, vanity type units, additional storage. If it can be made with cabinets, we can do it. If you've got some type of inspiration or picture that you can show us, we can replicate it or probably even make it better for you.
Speaker 1:So, like I said, I've been in the beautiful showroom and I know you do the kitchens, you do the baths, you do the floors, and I've seen pictures and photos, numerous photos of your work. It's amazing, but how did you get into the business? Tell us a little bit more about how you got your start.
Speaker 2:Sure, it's an interesting story. So I actually have a high-level IT background. I went to school for a lot of years to learn how to work on the robotic surgical machines in the hospital. So I have a degree in robotics as well as engineering IT. So when I finally completed my schooling and they said, ok, so the entry level position for this type of job is somewhere around $50,000 a year and you know I should have looked into that a little bit better before I got into 10 years worth of schooling I was already making about $80,000 a year as a salesperson in this similar type of business. So to take a huge step back to go into that particular field just wasn't plausible for me at the time. So I continued pushing forward. I used those IT skills to help some other businesses that were in a similar facility as what I'm doing.
Speaker 2:So I have a friend who his family owns a large cabinet import business and he knew that I have a high level IT background. So he basically asked me if we could build their website, get their social media presence up and running, basically start driving some business to them, getting them some calls, some clicks, some in-store visits. I was able to do that. I created their web presence, put them on the map. It took me about a year. I got things on autopilot for them, firing the way they should. They were getting the calls, the clicks, the store visits, and being a person of integrity. I told them guys, this is pretty much on autopilot, so you don't really need me anymore. I'm going to go ahead and find my next opportunity. At which time my friend said listen, you're so good with the computer, have you ever thought about doing the actual design work? He said we can show you how to do that and I think you would have a very good career in sales here. So I took him up on that opportunity. They had one of their top designers show me how to work the CAD program and relatively quickly, just because of my background and ability to pick it up quick, I became about a million dollar a year sales guy for them, which doing wholesale, that's quite a large number.
Speaker 2:And after about one or two years of actually doing that, I just felt like I felt like I didn't want to work for somebody doing what I was doing, since I was managing the entire project. I basically got them to a point where they were getting the leads, the inbound leads now. So I generated the leads for them. Then the clients would come in. I would do everything, from initial meeting to initial measurements, to designing their project, final verification measurements and then delegating all the crews to get the work done. I was basically the project manager for the entire process. But meanwhile I was turning all the payments back into the office and I watched the owner there. He gained a bit of weight while I was turning all the payments back into the office and I watched the owner there. He gained a bit of weight while I was working there because all he did was sit and collect money. So I told him respectfully, you know, I was going to jump out and try and do something on my own, just because, you know, I wanted to work for myself. I didn't want to have to work for someone else, which is why I was in the IT space anyway. So I actually jumped out of there.
Speaker 2:I was fortunate to start a small cabinet company. Again, my IT background gave me the idea and the ability that I need to be online Now again, this is 10 years ago now. So I built a website really nice website where people could see all the different type of cabinetry that we offered. I had a small showroom at the time, probably only 600 square feet, when I was first starting out. But again, I used my knowledge and background to build that 600 square feet worth of area into.
Speaker 2:Everything you saw was material that we sold and installed. So you walked in. You saw a beautiful reception desk that was built by the cabinetry that we provide. The countertop was a nice marble type of countertop which we at the time were cutting and installing countertops. The flooring we had all different examples of the flooring that we offered. So when you walked into the place you genuinely got a sense of how things potentially could look in your space.
Speaker 2:So I was able to do that for a couple of years successfully on my own. But then I met a couple of other guys who were they were countertop guys. So here I am a cabinet guy. I met some other guys who were as passionate as I am and they're countertop guys. So we kind of joined forces and we became like a remodeling kitchen company. So that actually worked out well for several years Again, until I decided I wanted to do something a little different, a little better, a little nicer. The owners, they didn't want to shift the model that they were doing. They were happy, they were complacent, which that's fine. So they bought me out and I jumped out on my own and that's when I started this brand Best Price Kitchen, bath and Floors and we were very fortunate that you know, already having the skills, the experience, the connections with the suppliers, that we were able to just push forward and start rocking and rolling. So we cater to a little bit nicer clientele so we don't necessarily.
Speaker 2:We don't necessarily do too many small condo jobs, for instance. So like an 8 by 10 kitchen for me, if I can reach across and touch both sides, it's probably not the right job for me. I've had kitchens like that.
Speaker 1:It's been a while.
Speaker 2:We all have. I think we all have. So there's nothing wrong with that at all. But the volume I was doing in my former business, it was just very stressful. I mean to be honest, we probably did 30 kitchens a month. That's a lot. That's one a day.
Speaker 1:So let me ask you a lot of what you do really it's relationship-based, built on trust. You're going into people's homes. This is a huge investment and you're the front man and you've got a beautiful showroom. By the way, it's in Canyon Town Center, marquee location in West Boynton Beach, and I know you don't just work in Boynton, you work actually from Palm Beach to Parkland and beyond. But can you tell us a little bit more about the relationships you have with your installers and how that integrates into your business?
Speaker 2:Absolutely so. We try to keep as much of the work in-house as we can, although we do have several subs that work for us. They have been working for us for years and, as a business owner, I'm proud to say that the majority of my clients usually either give me a phone call or an email or stop into the store to just tell me, as a business owner, how happy they were with the level of service from the workers. They show up on time, they do a good job, they clean up after themselves, they're polite, they're respectful and they're regular people just like you and me. So they've got families and they've got all kinds of normal things that might pop up. So we're very, very fortunate to have workers that align with you know the integrity of myself as well as the company right. We want to do a good job, we want to treat people right and we want them to refer their friends and family and neighbors so that we continue growing.
Speaker 1:So you've built a great business, and you don't do that without working lots of hours, focusing a lot of your attention on the business, wearing many hats. When you're not working, though, what do you like to do Living down here in South Florida? Can you just tell us a little bit more about you, jose?
Speaker 2:Sure, yeah, I'd be happy to do that. So I enjoy spending time with family and friends first and foremost. So when we're not working and helping others, then we're spending our time kind of re-energizing, spending time with family and friends and doing some get togetethers and cookouts and things of such nature. I also ride motorcycles. So now that I'm 46 years old, I'm not crazy on a motorcycle like I was in my young days, but I do like to go for a Sunday cruise, go out west, go towards Highway 27 where there's less traffic, and just be able to cruise around, enjoy the weather here in South Florida. So, yeah, I don't have a whole lot of free time. To be honest with you. I stay pretty busy serving our clients, but I do like to take Sunday off.
Speaker 1:So I'm guessing, though on at least one of those cruises you've been out, you're experiencing the freedom that life enjoys, and you got a message and you had to turn around and help a client, or something along those lines, isn't that true?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, that's definitely happened and, to be honest with you like I literally joke with people that I do this type of work in my sleep. So there's times where I'll wake up in the middle of the night and go oh gosh, I've got to make sure that this delivery is on time or that this installer goes to project A and project B to do that one little tune-up that we were supposed to do, actually, just now. Today we just completed a really nice kitchen remodel here down the street and my installer finished up yesterday. But we had one extra piece of material, a relatively large panel, and the client said hey, I know you guys didn't use this panel, but when can you get it out of my garage? So I've got somebody headed over there right now just to get that out of their garage. So they're completely satisfied.
Speaker 1:You know when someone has you in. So you're going to do initial investment and, excuse me, estimate that maybe they come into the showroom to start and feel and touch the products. Maybe they have you into their homes Now. Do they always know what they want, or do they sometimes give you some general ideas and you help them with the design? How does that work?
Speaker 2:That's a great question, dave. So a lot of the times I will tell you that most of the clients do not know what they want. And that's our job, right, it's our job to steer and guide you and educate you about the materials, the service, everything that's going to happen during your remodel. So I take pride in that. I always tell a lot of my clients that you know I'm very open and upfront and I'm not the sales guy. I'm not trying to sell you any particular level of product. What I'm trying to do is educate you and help you so that we have a successful project together so that we have a successful project together and throughout your journey.
Speaker 1:you know we all have bumps in the road, hiccups, challenges. Is there anything, maybe, that you experienced in your own life that you've overcome and now you apply to your successful business?
Speaker 2:You know there's a lot of things I'll say.
Speaker 1:Life's always full of challenges, but I think Not to peel the onion back too far. We don't have to. It's not a therapy session.
Speaker 2:Just saying, you know, life's always full of challenges and I think you know what sets us apart is the way that we handle these challenges. I tell people that in construction, our job is literally to break things and put them back together. So if we're, you know, midway through the job and we have some kind of minor little hiccup that happens, I tell them don't worry, this is construction. If it's broken it can be fixed. So we do a lot of those types of things Right and I get that from you know. Dealing with my parents, who I lost my mom a couple of years ago, my dad's a little older and not so well. So just being able to have the caring and compassion to understand people have all types of different situations going on in their lives, you know, really helps me to connect with people. Again, this is, this is relationship building. At the end of your project, we are going to be friends. We not. We might not be best friends and talk on the phone every day, but we're going to be friends at some level.
Speaker 1:And and it really is a it's a mutual experience, right, when you it's you're working for the client, but you're, you're also you're working with the client, right? It's a mutual experience from start to finish, isn't that true?
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely 100%. So, being in the industry for as long as I have, I've seen a lot of salespeople and other business owners where they kind of try and force their ideas onto their clients, and I've always been against that. By all means, bring us some inspiration, show us you know what you like and let us, the professionals, show you how that should be executed the right way. So, just with that being said, never will I tell someone that they can't do this or they shouldn't do that. I will advise them that if they want to do something like that, this is the proper way to do it.
Speaker 1:So one last quick question. I'm going to share one of my own experiences with you. So I know when you start these projects, people are headed down one pathway and they get little inspirations along the way. And I know you're not a painter per se, but I know you know that's part of fish, the job right. Um Now I had an experience once years ago where I was painting the interior of my home and I went through five different color iterations and I don't mean samples, I mean a whole wall painted until I reached my final destination. Now would you have gotten rid of me as a client, jose, or would you work with me on that?
Speaker 2:I'll tell you that that actually happens, more than you would think, and on my side of the fence we have to be understanding about that right? So the client they want what they want and just because they see a swatch or they have, you know, a color palette or something like that doesn't necessarily mean that the end product is going to turn out exactly like that. And I'll give you just a quick scenario. So we recently finished the kitchen in the Fort Lauderdale area. This particular client they wanted a two-tone kitchen. So we did all of the perimeter cabinets they wanted in a custom green paint and the island was like a natural wood stain, really beautiful color combinations. But I had them go to Sherwin-Williams. I had them custom pick the color that they wanted, down to the code 0047 or whatever. The code was some specific green.
Speaker 2:And when we actually went ahead and painted their cabinets and everything dried up and it was finished, they just weren't happy with the color. So we said, well, you know I'm not going to tell you that, hey, that's it, you have to accept it. You know that's what you chose. We said, well, which direction do you want to go? Do you want to go lighter or darker? If you want to go lighter, it's probably not going to be possible. But if you want to go darker, then yes, we can darken it up for you.
Speaker 2:And they said, yes, they did want to go a shade or two darker. So we slapped a couple additional coats on there. I literally told them they only were going to pay us the time and materials. Right, we weren't trying to start a new project or charge them some type of egregious price for redoing it. We said, okay, great, it's going to cost an extra gallon of paint and it's going to cost an extra four hours for us to do it. So this is the added cost. And at the end of the day, that client was super happy. Their kitchen came out beautiful. They left us a great review, put a couple of pictures and that's all I can ask for.
Speaker 1:They left us a great review, put a couple of pictures, and that's all I can ask for. So, jose, if any of our listeners are looking to possibly get a beautiful new kitchen or bathroom, or even some flooring, what's the best way to get a hold of you?
Speaker 2:So the best way to get a hold of me or any of my staff would be to call us directly at 561-668-5088. That's a direct cell phone number for the office. Either myself or my office administrator usually has that phone in hand. Additionally, you can find us on the website. We have two domains to make it easy. Our primary domain is bestpricekitchenbathco, or you can also find us at southfloridakitchenbathcom.
Speaker 1:Well, Jose, it's been a pleasure having you on today and thanks for coming on the podcast.
Speaker 2:Awesome, dave, the pleasure is all mine.
Speaker 1:And for all of our listeners. I can tell you I've seen tons and tons of photos of their work. Their reviews are amazing. Once again, this was Jose Ruiz, with Best Price Kitchens, baths and Flooring, and I am David Conway, your host for Local Living, and I look forward to having you back here real soon.