Finding successful multi-generational family businesses is like spotting a massive moose on the highway; it’s not often, but you’re excited to see it when you do. Being involved in a 4th generation business – as the 4th generation – I can see why they are rare. Our family got its start in the most unusual way, ala consisting of the ingredients for an urban legend.
My great-grandfather started in the lock business in an alley in downtown El Paso, Texas, and placed a piece of sheet metal atop the alley to make a roof in 1917. Like one generation onto the next, the business grew and so did the unusual circumstances. My grandfather, Edward Saucedo, and his brothers began to work in the family business. However, my grandfather found himself "fired" by one of his brothers via an ironic lock out, and in 1956 started his own business. The rest, as they say, was history.
My father, David Saucedo, was always at my dad’s side and became heavily involved in the business, as did my grandmother and aunt. They saw to it that the business be a success – and it was. The business really grew; at one point in the 1980s, we were the 3rd largest distributor of Master Lock in the world.
I remember growing up always at the office in the late 80s and early 90s. Our family vacation pivoted on the location of the ALOA conventions. Our dad always had my brother, Maury, and I dressed in suits and my sister, Cassandra, in a dress for the conventions. Even though we were, perhaps, the best dressed children at the show, that didn’t limit the antics of my brother and sister. Much to the disapproval of our father, we would find ourselves on the tradeshow floor looking to do something fun. We would run in and out of the aisles and tamper with displays as my dad attempted to conduct business.
We have so many incredible memories of the ALOA shows. A few of my favorite memories were once at the ALOA show in New Orleans, we stumbled upon Bourbon Street as young kids with our parents. As is the nature of Bourbon Street, I remember being approached by several curious individuals and my parents pretended we didn’t speak English. I asked why we were only speaking Spanish and my dad told me we don’t want to talk to “el hombre feo,” or in English, “the ugly man.” I, also, distinctly remember running into a factory rep that would always get very drunk at the host hotels every year. This man was amazing; he once slammed several Screwdrivers by the pool in the morning in Nashville – then dove into the pool, walked out without drying himself straight into the hotel like a rockstar. That’s a memory I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
Growing up in a business, our parents always encouraged us to do our best. Naturally, being surrounded by respected leaders in the locksmith industry is something I think we often took for granted, as children, in a positive way. Getting things accomplished, working hard for everything and not taking “no” for an answer was normal. As a child, I would ask my grandfather why certain people didn’t work, or why their situation was different than ours and he would always tell me, they’re just not willing to work for it. He would also accuse them of being Democrats, but that’s a story for another day.
Today, with the passing of my grandfather, my dad heads the business with the help of my brother and I. However, it by no means was a fairy tale transition. My dad was very upset when my brother and I joined him. You see, he paid for us to get a college education and "walk-away" from the locksmith profession. Education, we got – both my sister and I graduated from the University of Notre Dame and my brother graduated from Cornell University. We all worked in Corporate America and had incredible jobs. However, my brother and I found ourselves not happy and not doing what was ingrained in our formation for so many years growing up in the business. It was impossible to walk away from this profession. We both quit our corporate jobs first, and then told our dad we would be joining him. It was hard in the beginning; there was always an argument on how to do things better, or not change things at all.
See, my brother and I came in with the understanding that “staying the course” is the most dangerous business plan to have, you can quickly find yourself beat and out of business. We realized that this wasn’t a unique problem for us; it’s an issue we’ve encountered at several levels within the locksmithing communities.
Today, we are growing the business into its 100th year and continue to make remarkable strides. We are making great partnerships and new relationships with manufacturers and have even opened new international opportunities with Mexico and Latin America.
As my brother, sister and I start our families, I know we are always going to look back at how we were raised growing up in the business and try to recreate the memories that helped form us into better people and business leaders. You will still find my dad, brother and I in suits at the ALOA shows as we are living the legacy that my family has set forth for us. I will always thank my parents and grandparents for introducing us to a life outside the day-to-day. In order to survive almost 100 years as a family business, you need respect, trust and love. These are the ingredients for the “secret” sauce that has allowed The Saucedo Company to withstand the test of time.
