Business

EV plumbing firm’s business plan includes charity

BY MELODY BIRKETT

Contributor

Some people might think Wayne Decker’s business plan makes no sense.

But Decker, president of PlumbSmart Heating and Air, says it not only makes sense but a lot of cents.

“We charge less than the big players and we still do very well,” he said.

“Our profit margins are still very good. Our guys have every benefit you can imagine and have high compensation. There’s no downside to having this philosophy. They all (other plumbing companies) could have it, but they choose not to because they want to have much greater margins.”

To top it off, charity is a big part of Decker’s business plan: Since the pandemic began, his company has done at least 200 jobs for free for people in need. Decker started his residential repair plumbing business in 2006 and previously was in the service business, serving homeowners for more than 40 years.

He started his company exactly for the reasons it lives by.

“It was more of an answer to the prevailing attitude which exists today – that plumbing companies are just way too expensive and they charge too much.”

For example, he said a lot of companies charge $400-$1,000 to unclog a toilet that takes about 20-30 minutes. “If you make $20 an hour, that’s going to be about a week’s take-home pay to unclog a toilet.”

While costs have gone up for parts or items like hot water heaters, PlumbSmart hasn’t raised its labor prices.

“We’re so confident about our prices that even if a customer doesn’t want to use us, they can still call us…and ask for a price,” said Decker.

“A lot of companies will spend $50,000-$100,000 sending you to a course to establish you as one of the finest sales people you can be. You know what to say. You know how to manipulate. You have financing available.’” “When you have that attitude, it’s not about what is normal profit because that’s hard to say,” explained Decker, who has about 50 employees. “It’s very subjective. It’s about how much profit do you want to make? PlumbSmart is very profitable at about half of what our big-name competitors charge.” Decker said his focus is on relationships with homeowners, not chasing dollars. “And the beauty of that is when you have the philosophy the more you give the more you get, your growth is almost unmanageable. You don’t have people who are upset, questioning you, or who have buyer’s remorse. You still grow and make more money.”

During the pandemic, PlumbSmart

Wayne Decker, president of PlumbSmart Heating and Air in Mesa, find his business plan of charity and lower prices has yielded growth and strong profit margins.

(David Mionton/Staff Writer)

See PLUMB on page 36

Family trio acquires EV event center at the right time

BY PAUL MARYNIAK

Executive Editor

Timing can be everything in business and for Charles Cotter and his two children, buying Superstition Manor in Mesa could not have come at a better time.

While it caters to a variety of gatherings, its specialty is weddings and Cotter, his son Taylor and daughter Sharley Leavitt, acquired the 10-yearold property on the northwest corner of Signal Butte and Brown roads from the founding Burns family just as the pandemic has been loosening its grip on couples eager to tie the knot.

“Weddings have not only come back in full force. It is a force to be reckoned with,” Taylor said. “You had a lot of people that rescheduled or postponed their wedding for a year and then you still had the busy season on top of that. And right now, the industry is projected to have more weddings in 2022 than there has ever been in the last several years.

“So, 2022 is supposed to be crazy,” he continued. “We already have over 160 events booked for 2022 and we are projected to break 200.”

They got a taste of that level of business in October, which Taylor called “literally insane” because “it was something like 19 events in eight days….That was our welcome to the new business moment.”

And even more fortunate for them, the sprawling Superstition Manor grounds and mammoth reception center came equipped with three halls that can accommodate between 100 and 250 people, two fully equipped commercial kitchens and a half-kitchen and a staff of some 40 to 50 experienced servers, cooks and other personnel.

Beyond that, however, two features have made Superstition Manor a high-demand wedding venue, Taylor said: first, it’s pretty much a one-stopshop for weddings and second, its pristine desert grounds with an unobstructed view of the majestic Superstition Mountains make romantic settings.

Neither Taylor nor his sister are complete strangers to the wedding industry.

Taylor has been in the wedding industry for years as a photographer and videographer and his sister also is a long-time wedding photographer.

For them and their father, buying Superstition Manor was almost a no-brainer, since they were inheriting an experienced staff and a location that most couples likely will find an ideal venue for exchanging vows.

“What’s really unique is where the property is situated,” Taylor said. “Across the street is actually a part of Usery Park Preserve and so from a couple of our ceremony yards where people get married, the backdrop is literally raw desert and Superstition Mountains. That’s one of the really unique things about the property: the view is unmatched. If you look out across the street, you don’t see houses. You don’t see development. You don’t see anything except just straight desert and Superstition Mountain.”

“Then there are lots of places on site as well,” he continued. “The previous owner did an amazing job of landscaping. And even without that view, you could stay just on the property and there is a ridiculous amount of places that you can go and couples can go to take gorgeous photos in a very well-maintained, landscaped area.”

While Arizona currently is between the state’s two biggest wedding seasons of October-November and March-April, this is no time for the Cotter family to relax – and only partly because Superstition manor also caters to charity events, sports banquets for

The new owners of Superstition Manor in Mesa are, from left, Charles Cotter and his children, Taylor Cotter and Sharley Leavitt. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

North Chandler Place ranked high in Arizona

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Staff Writer

With so much green space on North Chandler Place’s conveniently located continuum of care senior living community, it really stands out from its competitors.

Located at 2555 N. Price Road in Chandler, the community offers apartment homes for adults 55 and older; assisted living; memory care and five-starrated nursing care and rehabilitation.

The independent living residences are separate from the rest of the campus. Apartments range in size from 647 to 1,330 square feet and rent starts at $2,100 per month — a great deal considering that rent includes two meals each day, complimentary use of washers and dryers, basic cable, an emergency call system, and activities.

Kathleen Fanning, community relations director, says the campus had a record-breaking summer with move-in activity.

“It is wonderful that prospective residents chose us because of the amazing sense of community we have cultivated here at North Chandler Place” Fanning says. “I would encourage anyone interested in making a move to act now so that they can take advantage of, and lock-in, our low 2021 rates.”

There is a variety of apartment styles for rent. The largest apartment is 1,330 square feet, which Fanning called “huge.”

“That is a big deal here,” she says. “We’re probably the only place where you can get something that big that isn’t twice our price.”

Fanning encourages all potential residents to shop around and compare and added, “Our campus also offers personal care services with our staff located on-site – a really unique amenity.”

Other accommodations include assisted living and memory care. Complete with a 24-hour certified care staff, assisted living begins at $1,800 plus care, which is personalized to meet the distinct needs of every individual.

Residents enjoy life-enriching activities and outings, three meals and snacks each day, and a visit by a licensed nurse on staff.

The memory care suites offer all-inclusive rates starting at $4,200 each month. Residents and their family members appreciate a plethora of amenities that include personalized care plans, weekly laundry, housekeeping, transportation, activities, and emergency assistance.

The North Chandler independent living boasts five floor plans, while assisted living offers three. Memory care has two floor plans.

“Four out of the five floor plans come with two bathrooms,” Fanning says. “It gives people a guest bathroom, or the spouse a bathroom to themselves. When you compare the square footage and amenities, our price point is outstanding — for the most part, we’re much less expensive than the competitors in our area.”

There is also a skilled nursing and rehabilitation health care center on the North Chandler Place campus. The health care center is ranked among the highest in the state having earned five stars for quality care (visit medicare.gov to learn more). This small health care facility can accommodate rehab-to-home stays, as well as extended care and hospice services.

“North Chandler Place is a mature, established community with a distinct separation of living spaces and care models,” Fanning says.

She continued that the campus of care is different from many “big-box” retirement communities. “You will not find the glitz and glamour of the newer developments here, but you will find a warm and welcoming feel and the friendliest neighbors around.”

North Chandler Place goes above and beyond to make its residents happy. It offers “all the basics” from bingo to board games to outings to Sedona and Tucson, Fanning says. Guest speakers are featured, and crafts include weaving mats for the homeless. “The most unique feature of our campus is the wonderful residents who call North Chandler home.”

North Chandler Place provides a continuum of care with many amenities.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

His arcade business evolved from YouTube tutorials

BY GABRIELLA BURTON

Contributor

Former YouTuber Will Leinart, owner of the arcade company Joystick, now counts Chandler Fashion Center among his multiple locations of self-monitored machines throughout Arizona.

Leinart began YouTubing in 2011 with an unusual angle: throughout the years, he provided tutorials on claw machines that showed people how to get prizes.

Forming an LLC called Claw Master, the Tempe resident racked up a million subscribers in the process.

“It really helped grow my character, my YouTube helped me fund my career,” Leinart said.

His first company was called Zap, which he bought in 2014. For a few years he kept the name until he realized that the brand had developed a bad reputation and feared it might follow his career. Enter Joystick.

“When I rebranded in 2018, I started over and then my YouTube started doing better,” Leinart explained. “Then everything worked off each other.”

Now, with 10 years in the arcade industry, Leinart feels that he has gained a lot of experience. And because he is not a large arcade company, he doesn’t have much competition because most other arcade businesses are either far smaller or much bigger than Joystick.

That advantage made it easier for him to navigate through the challenges of the pandemic, Leinart said.

Joystick’s only obstacle throughout the pandemic occurred when malls were closed and therefore could not access his arcades.

And when malls reopened, he said, he recovered more quickly than other family entertainment centers.

But that doesn’t mean Leinart has avoided all the economic woes associated with the pandemic.

Like many other businesses large and small, he has had trouble finding workers. He was elated when he recently found Zachary Mott to take on the role of fixing machines and checking security cameras.

“Working for Will is a great experience,” Mott said. “I’ve known him for a while because we met through an arcade enthusiasts’ group but working for him is usually a lot more fun than it is stressful. I also appreciate the flexibility of the job because there doesn’t need to be a person manning every store. We just watch the cameras.” Leinart said he just always had a passion for arcades.

“It’s kind of funny because I did like it. I didn’t know I was going to own one, but I knew I enjoyed it. I posted my first video a decade ago which was like, literally almost half my life ago,” Leinart said.

He said he wants to continue creating new experiences for families that enjoy his arcades, and said profit is not as important to him as creating more joy for customers.

It seems to work for fans.

“Some of the games I have played in the arcade are ones I have never seen before. They have the best arcade games,” said Mark Stempel, a Joystick patron at the Chandler mall.

As arcade games begin to move with technology and innovate, Leinart said he might consider getting into the virtual reality industry or expanding into another state. Until then he plans on continuing to do what he loves, opening more arcades.

“I didn’t know I’d be making money because it started from my hobby. I think that’s how everything should start. Like, don’t think about the money so it will come later,” Leinart said.

Information: joystickarcades.com

Entrepreneur Will Leinart made a reputation with YouTube tutorials showing how people can get prizes on claw machines in arcades. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

SPECIAL MEDIA WALL PACKAGES INCLUDE

50” ELECTRIC FIREPLACE

WEDDING from page 34

schools and other celebrations.

They are more at a lull because in a few weeks, more than one man will be posing the big question with a holiday-wrapped engagement ring in hand.

And that means, Taylor said, the next big busy period will be January and February, when those couples will hunt for venues.

“So all those engagement rings that are going to be given a Christmas time, people better move fast if they don’t want to lose out,” he said. “We will have more people come and do tours of the venue in January-February in those two months alone than we’ll probably have in any other six to eightmonth segment of the year.”

“It is very, very busy. Everyone gets engaged over the holidays and then there’s a big Wedding Expo that happens in the Phoenix Convention every year at the beginning of January. So we’re at that. I mean, there’s literally thousands of couples. We’re already booking for 2023.”

As almost a one-stop shop, the venue off ers everything except wedding cakes and fl owers and the Cotters have a list of recommended bakers and fl orists. Video and photography can be added on to the venue’s package.

Those packages include with all-day access to bride and groom suites, a DJ, a pro wedding coordinator a wide variety of décor, chairs, linens, tableware and centerpieces. From Italian to BBQ and beer and wines to top shelf alcohol.

As the Cotters say on their website, “All that’s left for you and your guests to do is party.” Information: superstitionmanor.com

PLUMB from page 34

grew 40 percent in 2020 and about another 40 percent in 2021.

Its TV commercials told people the company would fi x a plumbing or A/C emergency for free for those who’d fallen on tough fi nancial times.

“A majority of companies would say, ‘You’re absolutely nuts. You’ll be inundated with customers calling to get something for free,’” said Decker.

He said it’s one of the fi rst premises they’re wrong about.

“Approximately 3 percent of all customers may bend the rules to get something over on you. They may lie and cheat and try to get something for free. For those three percent, we can say, ‘God bless you. Give me a big hug. I hope you enjoyed cheating me.’

“And it would not make a diff erence on our business, our profi tability and how we do business. Ninety-seven percent are honest people. When you think of that off er, the humility of having to call a company and take advantage of an off er like that, typically is going to mean they really do need it and they’ve humbled themselves to say, ‘Please come out and help us. We don’t have the money.’”

It’s leads to an additional fringe benefi t for his employees that money can’t buy, Decker added.

“Our guys were so blessed to have people crying, hugging them, thanking them, that I can’t put a value on what it meant to their lives, let alone the people we were serving,” said Decker.

“For us to absorb a couple of hundred or more jobs to help people who really needed it, it was so worth it. Let alone the value – though not intended – of what the general public heard from those ads.

“Our internet communication was blown up by people saying, ‘I don’t need anything for free but any company that has that kind of off er, I want you to be my plumber.’ It was tremendous. It goes along those lines of if you give more, whether you like it or not, you’re going to be blessed, you’re going to get more. When you chase dollars…in the big picture, I don’t think it helps you.”

In fact, technicians are told by the company to look for “benevolent opportunities, opportunities of compassion to help people,” said Decker.

He recalled getting a call about a woman with a medical disability who had had no hot water for months. A PlumbSmart technician determined she needed a new heater.

“One of my techs took the initiative on understanding what her dire need was,” explained Decker. “This gentleman/tech, on his own, called our offi ce and said, ‘Hey, I have a customer who can’t aff ord a water heater. She’s an elderly woman and disabled. Can we do this for her for free?’”

Two days later, a tech installed a new hot water heater at no charge. “At PlumbSmart, that’s the way we do business,” said Decker, adding that techs are still paid for comp jobs.

Information: itsjustplumbsmart. com 480-654-8865

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