A Port Allen man is opening the first Garage Experts franchise in Louisiana.
John Schexnaildre, who owns the Garage Experts of Baton Rouge franchise, says the California-based company specializes in garage makeovers. It provides cabinets, epoxy floor coating systems and storage products to customers, he says, adding that the products can be installed in commercial and residential spaces.
Schexnaildre spent the last 18 years working in the chemical and refinery business. He says he got tired of the monotony of office work about two years ago and decided to look for something different. He became aware of the Garage Experts franchise about six months ago.
After spending last week in California for training, he’s ready to move forward.
“I think the demand is here,” he says. “There are not a lot of companies in Baton Rouge that market a garage line of cabinets, but there are a ton of floor coating contractors. I’ve done my homework on those.” He adds that the products he offers are covered with a lifetime warranty.
For now, Schexnaildre is the owner and sole employee of the franchise. He says he can do most of the work by himself and plans to enlist his father, who retired after operating a cabinet shop for 35 years, to help with cabinet installation.
Schexnaildre hopes to grow the business—which will serve a territory that includes Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, West Feliciana, Ascension and Livingston parishes—to hire two additional workers and to keep expanding.
“I would love to for the business to make enough money to get the Lafayette territory,” he says. “That’s several years down the road, I’m afraid, but that’s my long-term goal.”
—Alexandria Burris
