Jimmy Fazekas founded Bluewater Exteriors in 2017 after moving to Baldwin County to be close to family. We had the chance to catch up with Jimmy to learn more about his business, and we loved hearing about his family history and decades of experience in home improvement!
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Gadsden, in North Alabama. My father moved to Baldwin County to retire after raising me to take over his second generation home improvement company in Gadsden (making me the third generation). I eventually sold that company to another part of the family and moved down to Baldwin County to start Bluewater Exteriors.
What does your business provide?
Seamless gutters, screen enclosures, pool lanais, sunrooms, motorized screens, replacement windows, and garage door service & installation.
How long have you been in business?
Bluewater Exteriors has been in business since August 2017, but I’ve been in the home improvement industry since I was 13 years old, giving me almost 35 years of industry experience.
What convinced you to start your own business?
I would say a strong desire to carry on my dad and granddad’s tradition of being in the home improvement industry. I wanted to continue their legacy and make them proud, and it helped that they had been training me since I was 13 years old.
What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your business?
The most rewarding is definitely giving people an avenue to provide for their families. The most challenging part is the difficulty in finding enough people interested in blue collar work.
How did you decide on your business location? When did you move into your current location?
We service all of Baldwin County, so we needed to be somewhat central to our clients. We have been in Foley since the beginning, but we moved into our current location in April of 2023, and we love it here so far.
What people or other businesses would you consider your “MVP’s” in keeping your business running smoothly?
I consider our employees to be our biggest MVPs – without them, Bluewater would be nowhere near where we are today. We are so fortunate to have had most of our employees with us for over two years or longer. They have truly invested in our company and worked with Bluewater through our growing pains and tough times. I couldn’t be more thankful for this team.
What’s one piece of advice you have for other business owners?
Know exactly where your marketing dollars are going! How much you’re spending and how much revenue you’re generating from each marketing campaign are very important to know when it comes to your business.
What’s one reason a customer should consider using the services of Bluewater Exteriors?
Doing it right costs less than doing it over!
Want to hear more about Jimmy’s experience starting Bluewater Exteriors?
