Today we’d like to introduce you to David De La Garza Jr..
Hi David, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started working for an indoor furniture warehouse moving boxes and loading trucks in Phoenix, AZ in 2003. That was the start of the entire learning process of how the back end of retail works. Moving boxes and loading trucks. I worked in bars and turned wrenches at that time too as a second job in auto service or to work on my own projects at home. I later took a position at another furniture warehouse in 2004 in Mira Loma, CA – This time “opening” the boxes, LOL. There I learned how to assemble and put together furniture in a fast-paced environment preparing route orders for the delivery drivers. I left there and returned back to Arizona and worked mostly in auto service or in a bar. In 2005, I got the opportunity to work at a new furniture store in Riverside, CA with a very small crew delivering furniture throughout southern California. That was my intro to retail – floor placement, sales, customers, vendor interaction, daily operations, etc. I was moving back to Phoenix in 2007 and heard a through a friend about a furniture job, I applied, started as soon as I moved back. It was a new industry that I knew nothing about – outdoor furniture. Completely different animal. I eventually worked my way up into management and learned the business over the years- How to send it, how to build it, how to fix it, how sell it. During this time, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Chain Supply and Operations Management from The University of Phoenix. I noticed a change in the industry while I was working sales in 2016. I saw a need in the Valley of the Sun – Encore Patio was born.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, definitely not. There are always obstacles – learning curves that can only be fixed with experience, education, or repetition. Being young and dumb doesn’t help either. I didn’t just work the furniture stores during the day – I worked overnights as well. I was delivering furniture during the day and working a bar or convenient store during the night at the same time. From 2009-2014, I did that and was going to school as well. Failure was not an option. I had some legal troubles in 2005 – I got very lucky – and I got a second chance. This time there was no room for error. I learned I was going to be a father soon after, I took the second chance and ran with it – trying to find my place in life. During my degree program I got more serious. By my second year, the people I knew that were graduating had no experience in their fields. I did leave the industry in 2010 and entered a management training program for a local retail company where I learned textbook operations and applied everything in the field from the training program and from what I was learning at school. I was a general manager for the company and ran 7 of the companies North Phoenix retail locations. I had a great mentor – strict – but great! I needed it. I needed the discipline. Soon after, I was invited back to the patio furniture company I had initially started with in management for their new concept store they were building. After a year I found myself at another patio furniture retailer as a salesman. I learned another on the job experience”….politics. Working directly with customers over the years, I noticed there was a change in the industry in 2016 and found a need within. Building Encore was not about having a side hustle. It was about service. Whether in a bar, auto shop, furniture, or convenient store- It comes down to service and making people happy. I hit bottom a few times. I was always lucky and strong enough to come back. That why I named my company Encore.
As you know, we’re big fans of Encore Patio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My business is called Encore Patio, LLC. We specialize in the restoration and maintenance of outdoor casual furniture. We provide services such as replacement outdoor sling and cushions in Sunbrella fabric, vinyl restrapping, teak restoration, and cushion cleaning for residential and commercial clients. Arizona is great for outdoor living all year round. The backyard is an extension of your home. It’s a place of peace and comfort. I’m here to keep that going. Arizona is also one of the harshest environments as well. It is important to provide products that last. Every client gets a detailed, in-person, on site consultation on their project. Along with residential clientele, we also service apartments, businesses, living communities, and hotels all throughout Arizona. What sets us apart is the dedication to service. Our POV is not of a salesman – its of a tradesman. I came out of the warehouse and delivery scene. I’ve seen this stuff in the homes. I have dealt with the clientele directly and witnessed their concerns, their issues, their experiences – positive and negative. All of that information I used to create a service business that creates their satisfaction in the end. This is exciting! There is so much they can do! Now they’re not just buying a piece of furniture from the store – Now they get to create their own backyard haven with color, style, and make it personable. “Renew, Reuse, Relive”.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Someone asked me a year ago if I thought I was successful – I still can’t answer that. There’s so much more to do! – LOL – but building something, fixing something, bringing it back to life, there’s a satisfaction in it I can’t describe. That requires passion, determination, and drive. Drive has been the biggest for me. In business sometimes you are the brand. You represent everything. That label is what you make it. When a name gets thrown in the air, the words after it mean something too. Maintaining great relationships with vendors, being honest, and personable. In the end it provides a great product and a great experience for the customer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://encorepatio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/encorepatio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/encorepatio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-de-la-garza-jr-37a40292/
Image Credits
Portraits by Desert Giant Images. Furniture images by Encore Patio, LLC.
