Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Chagdes.
Matthew, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I come from a family of 8 kids growing in the Sauganash neighborhood on the NW Side. We lived in an older home with only 1 bathroom, and as you can imagine with a large family, the bathroom was always in use and that of course lead to things breaking down.
My parents had a local plumber they used on speed dial and he was always stopping over to service one thing or another. I would observe the plumbers and assist them in their work, along the way, little did I realize at the time, but I was learning a skill and one that I actually enjoyed.
Then one day, the owner of that company called me to ask if I’d like to work for him. There was a lot of responsibility in the new found job and working as an apprentice was challenging, but I continued to advance as a plumber.
However, there came a time, with layoffs looming, that I realized I needed to go out on my own and make my mark. It was an exciting time, with lots of ebbs & flows. I have grown my business over the years, thanks to my many loyal customers. I look forward to continuing those relationships, both old & new. Over 30 years in business and it keeps getting better and better, I love meeting new clients and hearing about their stories too.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Finding good help can be a struggle for many small businesses and over the years we have run into that as well. Thankfully though for the last decade we have been able to amass a good group of people for our team that insures us running a smooth operation. Finding new clients can also be a challenge for small businesses, the whole landscape has changed with the internet. Everything used to be strictly word of mouth and that is still how I get most of my clients.
However, with all of these social media outlets, I am able to expand my reach and acquire new clients in areas of the city that I would not have had a presence in prior to the internet. We are still getting those good recommendations, they are just not over the phone, but 0n the web.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Full Circle Plumbing & Sewer story. Tell us more about the business.
We mainly do residential service work. We also do emergency calls and very responsive, your phone call is always answered. We are known for being reliable, honest and personable. Our pricing is extremely fair and I always make sure to inform my clients of different options that are available to them. As I mentioned in the past, we’ve had clients that span over 30 years, so we really take pride in our work and want to maintain a relationship.
We are a full-service plumbing company with bathroom and kitchen remodeling experience, sewer work and cover all aspects of your plumbing needs. A few of our specialties include – Water Heater (Tankless & Standard), Sump Pumps & Ejector Pumps, Sewer Rodding & Repair, general clogged drains, toilet repairs or drippy faucets.
I am most proud of my 5 Star Rating that I have on Yelp and other networking sites like Nextdoor.
I was featured in an episode of House Smarts on NBC Chicago with Lou Manfredini installing a Tankless Water Heater. Many people have seen the program and I still get texts from clients whenever it is replayed on the air. Here is a link to view https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxurrl_YK78
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Well, the best luck of my life actually happened while on a job in Edgebrook…. this story is hard to believe but true. I was working at a clients house replacing a sump pump and happened to glance at a picture of a beautiful woman on the families mantle. I asked the owner of the house who that lady was, she answered me that this was her daughter who had recently moved back to Chicago after having lived in LA for over 7 years. I asked if there was a chance that I could meet her one day.
Having worked for this client in the past, she knew me and felt comfortable and told me that yes, she would be happy to help out in that situation. In no time the owner was on the phone with her daughter and had given her my phone number. Luckily for me, that daughter reached out and we spoke on the phone for a few weeks before deciding to set up a time to meet. We eventually had our first date and hit it off really well, so much so that a year and a half later we got married and now have an adorable little girl. So lucky I am!!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fullcircleplumbing.com
- Phone: 312-914-1565
- Email: matthewchagdes@yahoo.com
Image credit:
EBK Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
