In this edition of The Painting Life, we introduce five of the charter members of Hispanic Customer Advisory Board, created under the auspices of Sherwin-Williams. This is Jonathan Rodriguez.
Born in California to a Mexican family from León, Guanajuato, Jonathan Rodríguez is the founder of Just Right Painting, Inc., a firm located in Boyle Heights, in east Los Angeles. Jonathan had a very early start in painting. He was 12 years old when, being on vacation and fed up with bullying at school and the lack of resources in his family, he decided to start working.
Years later he decided to start his own company in 2013. However, it did not go well.
“I only lasted six months because I only knew how to paint and I didn’t know anything about business,” he says.
When he returned to work for another painting firm, he had other goals.
“This time I was determined to learn the business. I went through different positions, from painter to foreman, supervisor, estimator, sales. When I felt ready, I decided to try my own business again, this time with a business plan and being clear about what I wanted to achieve.”
In June 2018 he opened Just Right Painting, and this time it was all about growth. His firm grew 500 percent in its first year, he says, then doubled and continues to grow today.
“Last year we made more than $5 million in sales, and this year we are on track to achieve $7.5 million.”
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His firm works on projects of all sizes, from one-day jobs to giant projects such as multifamily buildings. They have painted everything from The Promenade condos in downtown Los Angeles to shopping centers to celebrity mansions.
Sherwin-Williams is an excellent ally that provides constant support and advice with your work through its representatives, he says.
His role on the Hispanic Customer Advisory Board fits perfectly with his outreach interests, as he also makes time to host business and painting educational podcasts for contractors and clients, including topics such as product application, best business practices and when to resort to subcontractors.
This article was written by Jorge Arboleda, Pintor Pro senior editor, and was originally published in the Fall 2024 issue of Pintor Pro. ©2024 Fusable. Photography courtesy Just Right Painting.
