Dave
Bradshaw was born and raised in the Mesa, Arizona area. He is married and has 5 children. He has a
bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix. Dave has
worked in the for-profit education sector for the last 13 years but had always
wanted to own his own company. He opened
ASP of Gilbert in February and now this goal has become a reality.
How did you learn about ASP?
I have always been researching and looking
into starting a business and having that desire to be my own boss. I started talking to people who were doing
different things and researching what opportunities were out there for
business. Clint Rowley, Owner/ Operator
of
ASP of Mesa, and I are Boy Scout Leaders together and one night he came to a
meeting in his
ASP shirt. I started
questioning him about the company and why he chose to start this franchise. It
really started to make sense when you think about all the pools in Arizona and
the demand for good quality service I am familiar with the swimming pool companies
that were already here, having grown up in this area. I want to provide something different to
Gilbert, AZ pool owners.
What was appealing to you about joining a
franchise system? Why did you choose an opportunity with ASP-America’s Swimming
Pool Company?
I was looking for a quick start-up because,
being the father of 5 children, I did not have 3-5 years to spare to become
successful. I started to see all the
resources and support available to assist me with starting my own
ASP. The support that is provided on the back-end
allows me to go out on the front-lines and really attack and grow my business. The resources also provide me the confidence
that whatever I need is just a phone call away, which is a very good feeling
when I am trying to best serve my customers.
The fact that Clint Rowley, who already owns a successful property
management franchise company, decided to join ASP-America’s Swimming Pool
Company franchise system speaks volumes to me.
Another key factor is the start-up cost for ASP-America’s Swimming Pool
Company. It is lower than most other
franchise systems that I researched.
What makes your business different from
other similar companies in the swimming pool industry?
Arizona is a very
fragmented market in the swimming pool industry and there are many competitors servicing
the area. What makes
ASP of Gilbert, AZ.
stand above the competition is the principle that ASP was founded on,
providing exceptional customer service no
matter the circumstances. When a customer does business with ASP-America’s
Swimming Pool Company, they will have the confidence that my company has
everything in place based on the way I operate my business. They will know their swimming pool is being
properly maintained and we will take care of all of their
swimming pool needs.
What challenges have you overcome to get
where you are now?
The biggest challenge has been waiting to
get started. Once everything was in
place, getting started has been exciting and fun.
Do you see any parallels between your
previous work and now?
My previous line of work in the for-profit
education system was customer driven and understanding the importance of each
customer. I want to build relationships
with my customers and also with my community.
What are your expansion or development
plans?
Gilbert, Arizona is a highly populated
swimming pool community. I am providing multiple swimming pool services
among the homeowners and businesses. I want to grow smart by having a strong foundation in place
and then expand my service area.
Do you have any other interesting hobbies
or passions? And/or name one thing about yourself that most people don’t know?
My family loves to go hiking and spending
time together outside having bonfires and roasting marshmallows. There are gorgeous places we like to visit
around the Mesa and Gilbert area. I also
enjoy staying in shape and trying to live a healthy lifestyle. I am very excited about the opportunity of
not having a desk job, after spending 13 years working in an office. The fresh air will be a nice change. Of course, I will definitely be wearing my
sunscreen every day.