Today we’d like to introduce you to Luis Concepcion.
Hi Luis, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
In 2016, my wife, brother, his wife, and I boldly decided to move to the United States. After arriving in February of that year, my brother and I landed jobs as locksmiths for a company in Orlando. While this craft was initially foreign to us, we dove headfirst into the challenge, working tirelessly on a 24/7 schedule for over a year.
During this time, we experienced an incredible learning curve, gaining expertise in locksmithing and learning about the business itself and how we could improve upon it. In January 2017, we decided to leave our steady jobs and forge our path, starting our own locksmithing company. This was a daunting task, as we were doing so in a foreign country that needed the comforts of a stable job. Our ultimate goal was to create a business that would be successful without the need for round-the-clock work. We quickly realized just how taxing such a schedule could be on one’s mental health, as I even missed my own son’s birthday party due to work obligations. We knew we had to find a better way.
We started small, focusing on building a proper dispatching team and honing in on the needs of our customers. We worked with small vehicles that allowed us to move quickly and efficiently. Through trial and error, we learned about the finer details that would ultimately shape our company. In 2019, we made our first significant investment and bought a van, expanding our reach to Jacksonville, Florida.
Always looking for ways to innovate and improve, we even started a side business selling keys during the pandemic. Today, we’re proud to be one of the largest distributors of keys in Central Florida for other locksmiths. While we initially specialized in automotive locksmithing, we’ve also been honing our skills in providing services for commercial buildings. We take pride in handling emergencies quickly and efficiently, helping as many people as possible.
Today, we have a dispatching team of 12 people, 12 locksmiths spanning both Orlando and Jacksonville, and a host of support staff, including data teams, advertising teams, accountants, and managers. In 2023, we provided service to around 14,000 new customers, and we’re committed to helping even more people each year moving forward.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Attempting to start a business in a competitive country such as the US is far from easy, mainly if you aren’t from that location initially. As a primary emergency service, it can be challenging to satisfy customers’ needs thoroughly. Although we comprehend the gravity of their situation, our assistance is limited to what we can physically manage. We have experienced fluctuations in advertisement expenses, challenges brought about by the pandemic, and difficulties with organizing the business as it grows increasingly more significant. Expanding into a new city was arduous, requiring us to entrust much of the business to others. Despite our obstacles, we remain aware that persistence can lead you anywhere you want to go.
As you know, we’re big fans of Prolocksmith. For our readers who might need to become more familiar with the brand, what can you tell them about it?
Prolocksmith is an experienced and professional company that caters to the needs of automotive, residential, and commercial clients in Orlando and Jacksonville. Our team of licensed staff is committed to providing quick and practical solutions to lockout situations, ignition replacement, or new car key needs. We specialize in emergencies, and we guarantee to have a locksmith on the way within two minutes of your call. Our primary objective is to help our customers get back to their lives as quickly as possible, and we are proud to contribute to our community by providing fast, reliable, and efficient services to our valued customers in Orlando and Jacksonville.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any essential lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
We gained a valuable lesson on the importance of constant innovation and discovering novel approaches. As a result, we ventured into a side business. We established ourselves as a prominent distributor, a feat we take immense pride in as we stand as one of the largest distributors in Florida.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.prolocksmithsorlando.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prolocksmiths2017?igsh=ZjZ3emE1d2F4OTZj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProlocksmithOrlando
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prolocksmithorlando2343
