Alhambra Garage Doors Company Profile

he owner and founder of Alhambra Garage Doors, Greg Gillette, has always had a pull toward the construction industry, and it's taken him through the many different faces of the industry. "When I started in construction I did a little of everything: roofing, flooring, concrete and more. I learned how to install things."

Casually responding to an ad in the classifieds, it was in 1994 that Greg ended up working for a garage door company. He stayed on for four years, gaining expertise with each job. But though he had come to like the work, the company he worked for was, as he put it gently, "not managed very well. After a while it became embarrassing to work for them. They just weren't taking care of the customers and I couldn't stand by it. I felt that I could do better."

Greg Gillette moved to another company, one with a sterling reputation. There he joined the carpenter's union and when work slowed down he worked in carpentry. "But by that time I had gotten so comfortable and good with garage doors that I missed it," he said. "Plus, I wanted control over my own destiny. I decided that when I got laid off, I would start my own company."

A Company with a Vision
So when the time was right, he did start his own company, Alhambra Garage Doors. Immediately he started implementing his vision. "I only wanted to install products that I knew were of the highest quality," he said. "Products I would install in my mother's house. Plus, I wanted to have good relationships with my customers. I decided I would do what's right for them every time, even if it meant I didn't get the job. I've sent customers to other companies when I thought it would be best for them. I was raised to be very honest and I was going to apply that every day in my company."

Doing what's Best for the Customer Instead of what's Most Profitable
That philosophy has served Greg Gillette, Alhambra Garage Doors, and his customers well. From the outset Alhambra Garage Doors gained a reputation for forthright dealing and quality work. Greg's determination to do what's best for the customer instead of what's most profitable has gained them loyal customers and a large word-of-mouth following. His secret? "I keep it simple," said Greg. "I ask questions and listen to what the customer wants, then deliver exactly what they asked for with quality and good customer service."

IDA Accredited
Alhambra Garage Doors has been accredited by the International Door Association, the first company in Contra Costa County to do so.

Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
Greg takes a different approach to problems than many contractors do. By listening carefully to what his clients want, installing only the highest quality products and backing up every single job with a satisfaction guarantee, his list of happy customers is expanding. And on those rare occasions where something isn't right, Greg steps up and makes it right. "When there's a problem, I see in my customer's face that they expect me to fight or argue. Instead, I take responsibility and then I fix it. I see their faces change and that makes me feel good. I've lost money on jobs before, but if the customer is satisfied when it's done, it's completely worth it. I take the long view; My reputation is tied to their satisfaction. I'm going to be there for my customers if they need me, today or years from now."

In the future Greg Gillette may grow Alhambra Garage Doors, but "Only if I can maintain my quality and customer service," he said. "I don't want to be the biggest but I do want to be the best."


---Jim Brumm
Staff Writer
The Prime Buyer's Report