Today we’d like to introduce you to Nelson Rodriguez.
Hi Nelson, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Working for an aluminum frame and Doors manufacturer from (2003 -2009) had to wear several hats, from warehouse to office clerk, Fabrication- shipping-receiving- inventory- reading blueprints estimating and purchasing at the end. We were a small group and I always been the type of person that likes challenges and learning new stuff. Always willing to get things done.
By 2008-09 US economy was suffering a recession Construction industry was hit hard and many companies had to cut hrs and let people go. My company wasn’t the exception. With the arrival of our newborn in July 2009 I was laid off and just a couple months later company shut down for good. Had to work several temporary jobs for few months to get by while bills kept piling up, to make matters worse wife was also let go while the economy was still bad.
With no much options but a great necessity to provide for my family and having built good relationships with many customers while working in my previous job. I decided to get in touch with some manufacturers of Doors, Frames and hardware. Asking for the opportunity to represent their products as independent sales rep. Rejected by many and only accepted for a couple and with the support of my wife and continued help of the family I took a leap of faith and (DFS) Door & Frame Solutions was created.
At the beginning it wasn’t easy working from a little home office sending many email daily and making cold phone calls trying to reach out customers but minimal response and being an unknown name in an industry of well connected people was hard and discouraging. There was no money to invest in products, credit was very limited from mfgs and just a handful of customers. Definitely those were hard times, but wife and I maintained persistence working together making runs for minimal orders while I was bidding as many jobs possible and visiting job sites and building relationships she was making deliveries in a old broken truck while taking the baby along and caring for him.
One by one our customers base kept increasing with ups and downs good and bads and the constant blessings and family support, by 2011 we were finally able to move into a small commercial warehouse office space and soon later hire couple of helping hands.
Today Door & Frame Solutions has 10-11 people for internal operations and also provides with jobs and work to several subcontractors while representing various mfgs in the trade and being an exclusive rep for others in the North Texas market.
Today DFS keeps growing in the construction & Remodel community along with Dallas Fort Worth expanding construction market in the Division 8 of Commercial and Architectural Doors Frames and Hardware.
The road wasn’t easy more in the beginning, we had to overcome many obstacles, cash flow and economy was a big issue at the time, stress, few tears and worries were part of the day but commitment and being consistent paid off, waking up early going to bed late and applying the knowledge gained while working earlier in the industry helped us push forward.
This days I still enjoy what we do while wife takes care of accounting department books and everything in the background I run the day a day operations at the office warehouse. Supervising sales team and overseeing Fabrication Shop while taking care of Purchasing and vendors.
Commitment. Consistency and clear focus of a goal will always pay off.
Open mid to challenges, willingness to make it happen. And a pray will always work in your favor.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Unknown name in a well established industry, lack of funding to invest, no cash flow, wife was unemployed, new born., couple of job orders were unpaid for putting the whole project in risk of bankruptcy. Learning to approach new customers and having to sell products for less profit to earn some business and hopefully repeat.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve been working all my life since I was in my early teen years. Back in Mexico I used to sell bread door by door to help my family and earn a buck, worked in grocery markets and small convenience hardware stores, even selling newspapers in the streets always hustling learning to survive along the way. Once I finished high school I studied business administration at the local university complete 2 year but did not graduate instead emigrated to Dallas TX to continue education and working. Took couple of college courses but didn’t work out for me so I had to join the workforce full time. Had few construction, kitchen – waiter jobs along the way and finally had the opportunity to land a store manager position. I’ve been always an easy come easy go type of person with open mind and likes for challenges. I enjoy this industry because is an always moving always changing trade even though it might seem like is always the same but no one construction job is similar to others the needs and specifications are always different so you are always on your toes learning while the chances for mistakes are always present so you need to be alert and focused.
We’re known to be a fire house for many of our customers. Our knowledge and ability to quick react and provide with solutions and short lead times in a busy saturated commercial market set us apart and gives us an edge over other similar competitors.
Out of both necessity and strategy, DFS has evolved into a hybrid vendor-supplier for our core customers. While most competitors focus on selling one or two specific product categories—such as wood, hollow metal, aluminum, glass and storefront, hardware, or access control—DFS brings together the knowledge and practical understanding of all these trades under one roof. This allows our sales team to bid, sell, and provide consultative support across multiple scopes, offering customers a more complete and integrated solution.
With my background rooted in aluminum systems, I made it a priority to expand my expertise into these other trades and pass that knowledge on to our sales team. This has been reinforced through ongoing education and close partnerships with manufacturers, ensuring we remain informed, capable, and adaptable as project needs evolve.
What matters most to you? Why?
Maintaining a positive work environment is essential—it becomes a second home. Building strong relationships with employees by listening, understanding, and addressing issues when they arise is critical, because a company is ultimately defined by its people. I strive to foster a culture of respect and teamwork, knowing this directly reflects in the quality of our work and the level of service we provide to our customers. As the saying goes “happy wife happy life”
Same Translate to “happy employees successfully company”
Contact Info:
- Website: doorframesolutions.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doorframesolutions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelson-rodriguez-5613ba35
