One Year Later

Backed by a clever name, interesting product line and a Yankee work ethic, Mr. Shower Door opened shop a year ago at 13500 Tamiami Trail N. in Naples. With annual revenues predicted to reach $1.2 million (twice as much as anticipated), the owners plan to open a second store in Lee County soon; and the business earned an entrepreneurial award from the Collier County Economic Development Council.

An impressive start, for sure, but Mr. Shower Door's entry into the market still had its challenges, says Bill Daubmann, senior vice president.

The venture belongs to Daubmann and his family: wife, Donna, and sons, Keith and Douglas. For several years, Bill and Donna Daubmann owned Mr. Shower Door stores in Hartford, Conn., and Springfield, Mass. It's a franchise operation-started by somebody else-that sells custom-designed, frameless shower doors made of heavy glass.

The Daubmanns sold their New England franchises in 2002 and retired to Naples. But Bill Daubmann grew bored and decided to buy another Mr. Shower Door in 2003. This time, though, his sons have taken on the senior executive roles.

Obtaining the state and Collier County licensing was "quite an ordeal" because the approval process involved so many departments, Daubmann says. Finding the right bank proved difficult, too, because Mr. Shower Door was new to the area; working relationships with various banks just didn't gel until the Daubmanns hooked up with Wachovia Bank. Once the family cleared those start-up hurdles, they found a great address, marketed hard and did their jobs.

As well as opening a new locale on U.S. 41 in Fort Myers, Mr. Shower Door will relocate to large quarters in Naples. The Daubmanns hope it will grow to five stores and $10 million in annual revenue in a decade. Daubmann says the first year was a learning experience.

First, it takes time to pick the right banker, accountant and legal services. The business also adheres to some basics, at least those practiced up North. "If you return phone calls, you'll do well," Bill Daubmann says. In laid-back Southwest Florida, however, some businesses, contractors in particular, can take their time getting back to customers. "You need to act professional," Daubmann says.

-Phil Borchmann