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planning to expand the family business to San Diego

Discussion in 'Southern California' started by YumaTRD, Jun 9, 2013.

  1. Jun 9, 2013 at 10:08 PM
    #1
    YumaTRD

    YumaTRD [OP] The Church Of @ODNAREM San Diego Chapter 1904

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    El Cajon, CA
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    Locked, Flat bed, 22R 5 speed, BFG KO2's
    Hello Socal TW members,
    I graduated from ASU last month with a bachelors in business and now I have moved back to Yuma, AZ where my father owns a welding machine repair business. We are both certified to do warranties for all the major brands (Miller,Lincoln, Esab,Thermal Arc) and have had our location in Yuma for Ten years.
    We have started to service companies in Tecate and Tijuana so there's a small customer base to start off with. With the potential of expanding to a huge market, we've been looking into leasing a 2,000 sq ft building in Santee/El Cajon to perform repairs.

    A couple of questions I have is what areas are worth looking into for both a shop location and an apartment to rent out? The cost of living is higher in other areas but a great location can be worth the premium.
     
  2. Jun 10, 2013 at 3:40 AM
    #2
    zeekevin

    zeekevin Well-Known Member

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    santee is not a bad place to live now a days. el cajon isnt a bad place to open up shop its fairly cheap there. miramar is a decent area to open up shop also. and the housing around that area isnt bad either
     
  3. Jun 10, 2013 at 5:00 AM
    #3
    mercurymullet

    mercurymullet Well-Known Member

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    el cajon/lakeside
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    can't afford a toyota
    bronco frame under a mountaineer
    ^^^^^ East county (elcajon/santee/lakeside) isn't bad to live, its a shorter drive to the desert and arizona. You also have alot fab shops and shadtree fab guys, so lots of welders. As long as there isn't more competition in this area vs. other san diego areas I would say its would be good. I would suggest not living in the heart of el cajon. Stick to the outskirts of el cajon, lakeside or santee. IMO
     
  4. Jun 10, 2013 at 8:04 AM
    #4
    YumaTRD

    YumaTRD [OP] The Church Of @ODNAREM San Diego Chapter 1904

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    El Cajon, CA
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    Locked, Flat bed, 22R 5 speed, BFG KO2's
    I haven't looked around Miramar, I'll see what they have available. Thanks

    Our biggest competitor is RJ Kates which is located by Clairmount Mesa Blvd and the 805.
    There seems to be new commercial locations opening up around the new Santee 67 freeway that would allow for direct access to the 52 freeway which seems like a good location.

    Do you guys think if we move into east county, will we be too far for customers to consider driving to us to drop off equipment if they live closer to the beach?
     
  5. Jun 10, 2013 at 8:29 AM
    #5
    mercurymullet

    mercurymullet Well-Known Member

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    el cajon/lakeside
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    bronco frame under a mountaineer
    The 52 goes all the way to el cajon now like you said. It would determine "too far". I would drive to yuma not to go to motoworld of el cajon. I work on north island and its 20 mins. If you could get something around the 52/67 interchange it would cover alot of area. IMO. I don't really know your customer base though, I know its more than fab shops. Will the brands that you warranty give you a san diego county list of warranty work performed? That might narrow down where you business comes from. Maybe there is enough work to move next door to RJ Kates. LOL Just my $.02
     
  6. Jun 10, 2013 at 8:37 AM
    #6
    mercurymullet

    mercurymullet Well-Known Member

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    You also might consider chula vista. With your competition being on the north side of central and you already service tecate and TJ, southbay maybe a choice worth looking at. I don't know anything about southbay though.
     
  7. Jun 10, 2013 at 8:52 AM
    #7
    YumaTRD

    YumaTRD [OP] The Church Of @ODNAREM San Diego Chapter 1904

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    I would love to move right next to RJ Kates, but we want to keep our cost low at the moment and grow a bigger customer base before we do that.
    R.J Kates has a monopoly over the San Diego warranty repairs, which forces Airgas and other competing companies to send work thier way. Our company, Arc Dynamics, has good ties with Airgas and Red-d-Arc. So essentially, we will be covering all of San Diego county warranty that Airgas customers have since they do not want to send the customer to RJ kates.
     
  8. Jun 10, 2013 at 9:14 AM
    #8
    mercurymullet

    mercurymullet Well-Known Member

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    bronco frame under a mountaineer
    I was kinda joking but I think we are looking at it the same way. I believe there is an airgas in el cajon. Looks like you have a good start, back to the original question miramar and santee are both pretty central in the county IMO. I do know that the miramar area can have traffic stack up depending where you are. You might look at traffic if you are on the fence between two spots. Make be a difference maker.
     
  9. Jun 10, 2013 at 9:33 AM
    #9
    YumaTRD

    YumaTRD [OP] The Church Of @ODNAREM San Diego Chapter 1904

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    I think Santee it will be then. looks like I will only be about an hour away from ocotillo wells too! I remember I met you at either a Superstition or Ocotillo meet last year Gary. Your sleeper Mercury sure can fly.
     
  10. Jun 10, 2013 at 9:55 AM
    #10
    mercurymullet

    mercurymullet Well-Known Member

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    You can also back door north county be taking the 67 to poway rd.


    Must have been super. Your truck does look fimilar. I was still new to the group then and all the trucks looked the same. LOL
     
  11. Jun 10, 2013 at 10:07 AM
    #11
    mercurymullet

    mercurymullet Well-Known Member

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    Thanks by the way.
     
  12. Jun 10, 2013 at 11:32 AM
    #12
    YumaTRD

    YumaTRD [OP] The Church Of @ODNAREM San Diego Chapter 1904

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    Thanks for the advice Gary! Post 666, sympanthy for the devil
     
  13. Jun 10, 2013 at 12:23 PM
    #13
    Swimmerboy2112

    Swimmerboy2112 Well-Known Member

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    That's what I used to do, I was a welder repair man. Good luck my friend.
     
  14. Jun 12, 2013 at 4:48 AM
    #14
    YumaTRD

    YumaTRD [OP] The Church Of @ODNAREM San Diego Chapter 1904

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    Thanks Brian


    it's 4:45 and were getting ready to head out to San Diego to meet some potential clients and check out some comercial lots
     
  15. Jun 12, 2013 at 8:38 AM
    #15
    Speed Freek

    Speed Freek Tacoma Whisperer!

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    Vista, Ca, Lake Havasu, Az.
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    LS1-T56 swap, Z06 ported heads, cam, Titanium valves, Kevlar clutch. Now building a forged stroker (383) and all the ponies! Old setup was rod-knockin on heaven's door...
    I think it would be bad to be so close to RJ Kates, they are the Go-to guys in SD and outlying areas, I would recommend trying to be further away, like you said they have the Monopoly and a really good reputation, I have taken welders there in the past as well. If there was something closer I would probably go, but I am in North County (Vista).

    However competition is always nice, usually makes prices drop a bit to be cheaper than the next guy. Wish you guys well.
     
  16. Jun 13, 2013 at 10:11 AM
    #16
    YumaTRD

    YumaTRD [OP] The Church Of @ODNAREM San Diego Chapter 1904

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    Competition is nice but I do agree that being too close to them might stir up unneeded conflict. I think Santee or El Cajon is ideal to take care of the eastern side slowly keep growing a reputation around SD county
     
  17. Jun 13, 2013 at 11:00 AM
    #17
    mercurymullet

    mercurymullet Well-Known Member

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    Plus we all can have a wrenchin' shop in east county. JK
     
  18. Jun 13, 2013 at 11:23 AM
    #18
    YumaTRD

    YumaTRD [OP] The Church Of @ODNAREM San Diego Chapter 1904

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    RCD has an available lot in their North El Cajon manufacturing warehouse, I'm really liking the location there. :D
     
  19. Jun 13, 2013 at 12:54 PM
    #19
    mercurymullet

    mercurymullet Well-Known Member

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    Is that pretty close to the 52/67?
     
  20. Jun 13, 2013 at 2:21 PM
    #20
    YumaTRD

    YumaTRD [OP] The Church Of @ODNAREM San Diego Chapter 1904

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    It's closer to the 125/52 freeway conjunction
     

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