May 8, 2017

Meet Ralph Garza of Atech Plumbing in Redondo Beach

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ralph Garza.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey as a plumber began when I completed a program at SoCal ROC 17 years ago. I was first hired as a helper at a small plumbing company. I noticed there was not a lot of flexibility and would often be overworked. I wanted to be in control of my own schedule and this is when I decided I would start my own business. I wanted to be my own boss. In 2007, Atech Plumbing came to life upon receiving my state plumbing license.

I was blessed to discover my passion very early on in life. I truly have a passion for plumbing and helping others. I love to troubleshoot and to provide the best solution to problems. I have an affinity for old plumbing fixtures, old pipes, old sinks, old faucets and anything plumbing.

My vision has always been to have a business that is honest, clean, works with the best equipment and hires only the best technicians who will also provide exceptional customer service. I imagined great work vans and working in the beach cities. Our logo and business mission best express who we are. We want to help our customers feel as if on vacation at the beach while we worry about providing the best solution to all of their needs.

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?
There is a lot of competition out there! We have definitely had our share of struggles, but it is all a part of our story. Some of the struggles we have worked through have been establishing new customers and service locations, riding the learning curve of operating a new business, taking on commercial projects and learning to balance my role as owner and plumber.

Establishing new customers was a daunting task to start, but we were quickly running on referrals. We were confident that if we did our best and provided exceptional customer service, we would continue to get calls. And we have! We consider ourselves lucky to have established our business in the beach cities and all over the South Bay. It never feels like work.

There was definitely a learning curve as a first-time business owner from acquiring the right licenses and permits, to deciding on a name that brought my vision to life. However, we have taken it one step at a time and have now been in business for 10 years. We look forward to new learning experiences, new customers, more service vans and more plumbing experts to join our growing team.

We were thrilled when we landed our first commercial project. But just like everything else, we were entering unknown territory. We rolled up our sleeves and enthusiastically got to work! It was a great learning experience. Since then, we have transitioned from mainly service and repair to a lot of new construction and commercial projects. With this transition, I learned to hire help, adequately schedule and make sure all my customers are equally taken of.

It has been difficult learning to balance my role as owner and plumber. I have had to slow down a lot. My desire to do both comes from wanting to be at every job location and wanting to make sure our technicians do nothing short of our best work, even though they are trained, skilled and among the best.

So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Atech Plumbing story. Tell us more about the business.
At Atech Plumbing, we specialize in drain lines, sewers, new construction and service and repair. We work with a lot of businesses, restaurants, real estate agents, property managers and new construction throughout the South Bay.

We are most proud of the image we have established of ourselves and the business. We feel like heroes when we troubleshoot problems and customers can rest assured knowing we are knowledgeable, reliable, and trustworthy. We stand behind everything we do.

Internally, we are most proud of being able to motivate our employees. We encourage them to obtain plumbing licenses and empower them to go out and start their own businesses. If I was able, so are they! We want everyone to succeed.

What sets us apart from other plumbing family owned businesses is that our customers can count on us to show up, to provide the best solution and trust our prices are fair and accurate. Atech Plumbing is known for providing the most appealing estimates! Every single customer gets our undivided attention, utmost care and only the best materials are used.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
In my trade, customer retention is important. We are blessed to have come across very special customers that are now my largest accounts. We are both honored and grateful to serve every single one of our customers and we want to continue to invest in them by providing excellent work they can trust while providing exceptional customer service. I have been a plumber since I was 19 years old. This isn’t just work, this has been and continues to be my passion.

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