Gotcha Shuttered

Gotcha Shuttered opened in 2005 after a frustrating experience trying to find hurricane shutters for my own home.

At the time, I was a sales executive living a “Road Warrior” lifestyle and hurricane shutters were a necessity for my home.

I had six estimates from companies I found from the phone book and was speechless when I heard their quotes. In addition, no one could explain what the shutters were rated for, or how they would secure them to my home. All of the companies wanted a 50% cash deposit ( no credit cards) and would return with the shutters in 10 months to install them. ( Maybe.)

I couldn’t imagine spending thousands of dollars on protection and have to hope they were installed right. I decided to risk it another hurricane season without them and do my own research. I needed to figure out what was the real cost, what I needed to buy and how they should be installed. Once I knew that, I could interview shutter companies again.

The following year Hurricane Dennis hit. I got serious about finding shutters. During my research, I found a shutter manufacturer that was looking for a Dealer in Pensacola and although I was not a shutter company, they were convinced I would love their product so much I would open my own company and sell their shutters. (Yeah right)

The hurricane shutters were ordered wholesale and I hired a General Contractor to install them. When it was all completed I realized most shutter companies were charging a 200 % mark up and decided to let my friends get their shutters wholesale and then close shop.

As luck would have it, my employer at the time, decided my services were no longer needed and terminated me. The way they terminated me didn’t give me a lot of options in my field, so I decided to give the Shutter thing a go and followed simple principles:

• Show up as promised
• Educate every Home Owner so the can make the best decision for their family.
• Exceed their expectations.
• Leave the customers’ home cleaner than we found it.
• Keep the company lean and overhead low to maintain affordable price points for the Community.

Three years later, Gotcha Shuttered remains committed to our core values and has installed shutters in hundreds of happy families in Destin, Fort Walton, Sandestin, Pensacola, Panama City and across the Pan Handle. Our advertising is done via “word of mouth” and referrals. We have chosen to stay a small company to insure high levels of quality and customer satisfaction.

Contact us to get our list of referrals and chances are you will know some of our past customers. Our past customers are happy to speak to you about their experience with Gotcha Shuttered and proud to show them off.
Joy Kristin (left) Owner of Gotcha Shuttered & Alex Sink, CFO
Department of Financial Services, State of Florida

Joy Kristin – Owner

Joy is originally from Michigan and her extended family’s background is in construction. Joy graduated from the University of West Florida with a degree in Communication. Joy has spent the last three years working as an apprentice for a General Contractor learning everything about hurricane protection, general construction techniques and managing work crews. Joy obtained her license on 2-13-08 and is following through with her commitment to build the “Best Little Shutter Company and the Gulf Coast.”

Joy oversees the Sales department and engineers each job to insure a proper fit on the home. Joy schedules the crews accordingly and oversees installation to maintain high quality and customer satisfaction levels.

Summer Hubanks- Sales

Summer is a “Native Pensacolian.” Summer’s father is a local Home Builder. Summer literally grew up with a hammer in her hand and running construction crews. She attended classes at Pensacola Junior College. Summer has six years experience as a Construction Project Manager and two years experience as a Plans Examiner for the City of Pensacola. Summer has a very well rounded background in construction and plays a critical role for Gotcha Shuttered when we run into difficult installations.

MISSION STATEMENT

To become the “Best Little Shutter Company on the Gulf Coast.” To achieve this, we will educate ourselves and our customers of proper hurricane protection, install only high quality products and sell them at a fair, affordable price.