Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Wardlaw.
Jim, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started in 1984 as a small satellite TV company that sold and installed large satellite dish systems. The company was very successful and sold and installed systems all over East Texas.
Customers also frequently asked to have a TV installed on the patio or surround speakers installed in the family room. This became another part of my business. I closed this business in 1989 and moved to Dallas where I subcontracted with several companies installing audio systems, TVs, surround sound systems and pre-wiring homes and businesses. I was approached during this time to work for a custom audio/video company in Dallas. I worked for them for two years doing custom high-end audio/video systems. This was where I got the first indication that this was something I was really good at. I then went to work for Home Entertainment in Dallas.
They were a high end custom company with store fronts in several major areas in Dallas. I worked for them for four years where I honed my craft and built my clientele on the weekends with my own business. I was approached by a company that wanted me to run their service and installation company that specialized in computers and large-scale printing for such companies as Pepsi and Wilsonart. I worked for them for two years learning the ins and outs of computers and computer software. During this same time, I was continuing to grow my audio/video business in the evenings and on the weekends. I eventually went full time with my audio/video business in 1998. I have been running this company, Perfect Installations, since then. We do custom audio/video systems for residential, commercial, and houses of worship.
Has it been a smooth road?
When the economy dipped, my business struggled. This occurred most recently from 2007 – 2009. It was tough going there for a few years, but I eventually worked my way out of it. During that time, I had to let several really good installers go because there just wasn’t enough business. My clients were struggling as well, so projects were fewer, smaller, and a few struggled to pay. We were very fortunate to keep the business running while still doing quality work. Many companies did not survive, but as the economy has rebounded so too did my business.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Perfect Installations story. Tell us more about the business.
My company, Perfect Installations, specializes in Custom and High End Custom Audio/Video Systems in residential, commercial and houses of worship. We do full system design, sales, installation and service. Some of the services we offer include:
Audio/Video Integrated Systems
Projection Home Theaters
Acoustic Design and Installation
Outdoor TV Systems
Outdoor Music Systems
Lighting Control
Home Automation
Satellite Systems
Phone Systems
Ethernet/Home Networks
Commercial Audio/Video/Paging/Digital Signage/Networks
Houses of Worship – Entire PA System including speakers, monitors, mixing board and microphones, Acoustic Design and Installation, Whole Church Audio and Paging, and Digital Signage
I am proud that my company maintains a high level of expertise and installation quality that keeps our customers coming back year after year. My company is primarily referral based, always putting the customer first. Everything we do in the home is towards that end. We have a motto: ” Always leave the house cleaner than how we found it.” That is what we strive for: perfection in all areas of installation.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see the industry going towards the control/automation system as a whole. We will control lights, alarm, air conditioning, garage door, audio, video, etc. with a simple application or voice command. We can do that now, but it will be easier to use and more affordable. TVs will continue to be the center of entertainment but will be thinner and will reproduce higher resolutions. We will no longer need cable boxes or satellite dishes because almost all of your viewing will be streamed. It will be important to own a Smart TV or a streaming unit such as Apple TV or Google Chrome. That is also why it is very important for consumers to have a wireless and hard-wired Gigabit network system now to get ready for this. The dedicated home theater will continue to be a fixture in many people’s lives because projectors that can reproduce much better pictures and at higher resolutions will be more affordable.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7509 Bayhill Dr.
Rowlett, TX 75088 - Website: www.rowlettcustomaudiovideo.com
- Phone: 469-774-2906
- Email: perfectinstall@yahoo.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Perfect-Installations-323643775231/
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/perfect-installations-rowlett
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