
Episode #11
They Bet Everything on a Hurricane and It Changed Their Business | John Mikitaroff & Marcus Perez
Island Garage Doors started with side jobs, a couple of dollars, and an old work van that still had Comcast branding on the side. Twelve years later, John Mikitaroff says the company has grown to roughly 45 vehicles and around 60 employees, serving customers from Marco Island to Sarasota. In this episode of the Gold Coast Podcast, Eric Winegard, CEO of Rare Blue Moon Marketing, sits down with John Mikitaroff, Co-Owner of Island Garage Doors, and Marcus Perez, General Manager, to unpack what it actually took to build the business. John shares the gamble they made ahead of Hurricane Irma, when they stocked more garage doors than they could comfortably afford. When the storm initially appeared to turn away, he feared the decision could cost them the company. After Irma ultimately hit Marco Island, he says their crews installed hundreds of doors while much of the area was still without power. They also discuss pricing, private equity in home services, why they still believe a real person should answer the phone, old-school networking, hiring, company culture, Google reviews, and how responding quickly can be the difference between winning and losing a customer. Guests: John Mikitaroff & Marcus Perez Island Garage Doors Hosted by: Eric Winegard CEO of Rare Blue Moon Marketing Thank you all for listening in on today's episode of The Gold Coast Podcast!

