When Silverio Perez started Ready Glass & Mirror in South Florida, he saw an opportunity to better serve the region’s growing furniture manufacturing industry.
What began as a small glass and mirror shop has grown into a thriving South Florida manufacturer serving the furniture industry and other commercial and residential customers across the Miami area. Today, the company employs 19 people and offers custom glass, mirrors, impact-resistant glass and shower door solutions throughout South Florida.
“We started very small,” Perez said. “Over the years, we’ve continued growing by providing better service to our customers and expanding the products we offer.”
That commitment to growth has led Ready Glass & Mirror to continually invest in its business. Through Ascentium Capital, a division of Regions Bank, the manufacturer financed a $325,000 horizontal glass tempering furnace that helps increase production capabilities and supports demand for products used in homes, businesses and furniture manufacturing projects.
“I love working with small business owners because they’re building something that matters to their families, employees and communities,” said Amaibis Fernandez, who manages Regions’ East Hialeah branch in Miami.
“Every business has a different story and different goals,” she said. “Our role is to listen, understand where they want to go and help connect them with solutions that can support the next stage of growth. Seeing a company like Ready Glass & Mirror continue to invest in its future after so many years is incredibly rewarding.”
I love working with small business owners because they’re building something that matters to their families, employees and communities.
Amaibis Fernandez, Regions’ East Hialeah branch manager
For nearly three decades, Regions has been part of that journey.
Perez became a customer in 1997, and what started as a recommendation from someone he trusted developed into a banking relationship built on personal service.
“Our relationship with Regions has always been very good,” Perez said. “They have always helped us with everything we needed.”
He credits much of that experience to Fernandez.
“We can always count on her without hesitation,” Perez said. “We feel valued.”
That personalized approach recently uncovered an opportunity many small business owners may never think to examine: payment processing costs.
During a business review, Fernandez discovered Ready Glass & Mirror was processing approximately $2.5 million annually through a platform that wasn’t necessarily designed for a business of its size and transaction volume.
Working with Worldpay, now a part of Global Payments and Regions’ merchant services provider, Fernandez identified a customized payment solution that is now saving the company more than $2,000 per month while providing additional reporting, support and flexibility.
The review also identified savings opportunities for a jewelry business owned by Perez, generating an additional estimated $5,000 in annual savings — money that can now be invested in other ways to grow and operate the business.
“One of the most important things we can do for a business owner is help them look beyond day-to-day banking,” Fernandez said.
“Sometimes there are opportunities hiding in plain sight,” she said. “In this case, by taking a closer look at how payments were being processed, we were able to help identify meaningful savings and a solution that better fits the way the business operates.
“Whether it’s payment processing, equipment financing, cash management or lending, we want customers to know they have a team they can turn to for support.”
For Perez, the experience demonstrates the value of having a banker who understands the business and looks for opportunities to help it succeed.
After building a successful company over several decades, he has simple advice for other entrepreneurs.
“Be consistent, dedicated and hardworking,” Perez said. “Having the determination and willingness to put in the effort is essential for growing and succeeding more each day.”
It’s a philosophy that’s helped transform Ready Glass & Mirror from a small startup into a South Florida success story.
“Business owners spend countless hours building their companies and serving their customers,”Fernandez said.
“Being able to play even a small part in that journey is something I never take for granted. When customers like Ready Glass & Mirror continue to grow and succeed year after year, that’s what makes this work so meaningful.”
Be consistent, dedicated and hardworking. Having the determination and willingness to put in the effort is essential for growing and succeeding more each day.
Silverio Perez, owner of Ready Glass & Mirror
See the Small Business section of Regions.com to learn more about the bank’s free, personalized Regions Greenprint® plan and other services, insights and tools to help businesses grow and achieve their goals.
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Note: Experiences and opinions stated by customers are their own. References to companies in this article not owned by Regions do not imply endorsement.