During his 25-year career as a banker in Florida and Virginia, John Smithman learned a lot of lessons, but none were as valuable as this: take care of your customer and you’ll create a customer for life. That’s the attitude he took with him when he desired a career change and bought The Plumbing Place in 2001. From the start, he doubled-down on customer service. In return, the 15-year-old decorative plumbing business began to boom.
“We don’t really sell to our clients,” John explains. “Instead, we help them understand the products we recommend so they can make informed choices.” Whether the clients are builders, architects, designers, plumbers, or homeowners, John and his team are committed to creating exquisite kitchens and baths, whether that means luxury products or working with the budget-minded.
“If something’s not working, we always look to fix it first before we talk about replacements.” But when it’s time for an upgrade or replacement, they’ve got options. Their Fruitville store is full of options, and the product line goes beyond the typical names you find at big-box stores. “We focus on three things with our products: design, function, and durability.”
John loves his work, but he’s a proud family member, too. “I’ve been married to Holly for 36 years and we have two awesome children—Matt’s a civil engineer in Idaho and Paige is teaching elementary school in Denver.” He’s also a local philanthropist, having served on the board of The Easter Seals Society for 13 years, including two years as board president.
Now that John’s in his 60s, friends are wondering if retirement is on the horizon. “The Plumbing Place is here to make people’s lives better,” he explains. “I’m still planning on doing that for a good while longer.”
5678 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota
941.378.5678 • john@theplumbingplace.com • theplumbingplace.com
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