Few people can brag about starting their own business straight out of high school, but Joel Mendoza—owner and founder of Quality Cell Phone Repair in Santa Maria—is one of them. After graduating from Pioneer Valley High School in 2010, Mendoza saw an opportunity to provide a service to the community, something he already had a knack for.
“I already loved fixing phones, so I thought to myself, ‘Why not?’” Mendoza told the Sun. “I saw it as a great business opportunity, especially since I was only 18 at the time. I wasn’t bound by any huge life decisions or obligations yet.”
Now 24, Mendoza has bragging rights on owning the only cellphone repair shop in Santa Maria that has been open for more than five years.
He specializes in smartphone repair, but he’s no stranger to fixing iPods, iPads, and Apple Watches. Customers can also rely on Mendoza for professional input and honest advice, he said.
“If I think you’re better off buying a new phone rather than paying me to fix it, I’m not going to lie about it,” Mendoza said. “I’m not going to charge you $300 to fix a phone that you could replace for $100.”
Mendoza said the difference between his business and other smartphone repair shops in the area is the balance he strikes between speed and efficiency. Like the name suggests, providing quality service to customers is Mendoza’s top priority—even when his average time per repair is about 15 minutes, he explained.
“After fixing your phone, my goal is to never see you again for the rest of my life,” Mendoza said. “And I mean that in the nicest way possible.”
Ironically, Mendoza has never had to fix his own phone. He said the he’s never cracked his screen or dropped his phone in water.
The first phone Mendoza ever fixed was for a friend back in high school, he said.
“I was working at a grocery store, and one of the owner’s kids was having problems with his phone. He bought a self-repair kit, but he had no idea how to use it. I gave it a shot and fixed it in no time,” he said. “Soon after that, friends and family of his started approaching me about their phones. I just became known as that guy!”
It wasn’t long after that when Mendoza decided to post an ad on Craigslist offering his services. Eventually, Mendoza came across a space for rent on North Broadway in Santa Maria. He took a leap of faith and set up shop.
Five years later, the success of Quality Cell Phone Repair proves his decision was well worth the risk, Mendoza said.
“My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to find something you enjoy doing. It has to be something you’re passionate about. Seeing the smiles on customers’ faces when they leave is what does it for me,” Mendoza said. “I love fixing phones. Even when I’m on vacation, it feels weird if there isn’t a phone in my hand.”
Quality Cell Phone Repair is located at 1208 N. Broadway, Santa Maria. For more info, call 406-2893 or qualitycellphonerepair.com.
Highlights
• Growing Grounds Farm in Orcutt recently received some support from the Santa Maria Rotary South after the club’s recent 10K run/walk event. The fundraiser garnered $3,600 for the local vocational training and horticultural therapy program for people with mental illnesses, a part of the local nonprofit Transitions-Mental Health Services. Growing Grounds Farm’s Frank Ricceri (pictured center) accepted the check from Rotary South committee members (pictured from left to right) Vicki Connor, Fran Hutchinson, Robert Ogden, Letitia Soto, and Peter Garcia.
Contributor Caleb Wiseblood wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, mail, or email at spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 15-22, 2017.