Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Yagecic.
Hi Andy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m one of six kids, right in the middle, and I grew up flipping HUD homes with my dad in Florida. From an early age, I was drawn to both construction and sales. In elementary school, my favorite time of year was fundraiser season—I loved selling gift wrap, popcorn tins, and summer sausages to neighbors. Walking into strangers’ homes, seeing how they lived, and hearing their stories fascinated me.
That passion for sales and building things stuck with me, and over the years, I combined them into my career. I found my niche in window and door replacements, working for two different manufacturers and installing in six states and even two continents. One of the most unique jobs I’ve done was replacing the windows at my father-in-law’s hotel in Slovakia—navigating the metric system added an extra challenge!
Today, I run my own window and door replacement business, Coastal Shield Window, and couldn’t be more excited about where it’s headed. My wife and I just celebrated 18 years together, and with two kids and a dog, life is incredible.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I jokingly tell my kids I’m going to write a book called Mistakes Are Cool. Learning hard lessons along the way can be painful, but as long as you grow from them, they’re invaluable.
For six years, after my son was born, we were in constant motion, searching for a balance of prosperity, family, and happiness. We moved from Charlotte to Oklahoma, then to Slovakia, then to Denver, then to Charleston, and finally to Mount Pleasant. Moving to Europe with ten suitcases and two kids was tough. These weren’t easy moves. They weren’t cheap. And in many ways, they didn’t bring what we were searching for.
We had always imagined retiring in Charleston, and eventually, I found a job opportunity (or maybe just an excuse) that finally brought us here. For me, Charleston has been the Land of Oz, everything turned to Technicolor when we arrived.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s don’t wait for your dream, go for it today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I started Coastal Shield Window after working in the window and door industry for 15 years, most recently with NewSouth Window. However, they were acquired by a private equity company and it took them a year to realize they could save a buck and shut down the factory in Tampa. The parent company still manufactures windows, but also supply companies like Window World, Westshore Home, and many large tract builders.
That experience reinforced what I already knew, that big corporations run things differently than a local business. I wanted to create something built on quality, honesty, and efficiency, rather than just chasing volume. One of my mentors always said “Take care of the customer and the money will follow.”
One of the biggest challenges in this industry is marketing. Some window companies spend $100,000 a month on advertising, running endless commercials and digital ads. I can’t compete with that… I don’t want to… Instead, I built my business around smart, efficient marketing. I developed a QR-based door hanger system that allows homeowners to instantly access their custom quote online, saving time and eliminating the high-pressure sales tactics that most companies rely on.
Even without a massive marketing budget, my wife and I have worked hard to rank at the top of search results. If you search for “window replacement in Mount Pleasant,” I’m the first organic result after the paid ads, and I’m incredibly proud of that. It proves that a strong reputation, real expertise, and smarter marketing can outlast big-budget competitors.
At Coastal Shield Window, I believe in transparency, innovation, and delivering a better experience. No gimmicks, no phony discounts; just high-quality windows, expert installation, and a local business that stands behind its work.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The most important quality to my success is honest resourcefulness.
I’ve never had the biggest budget, the largest team, or the most connections, but I’ve always found ways to make things work through creativity, problem-solving, and doing the right thing. Being resourceful isn’t just about finding solutions; it’s about doing so with integrity.
I also hold myself and those I work with to high standards. I remember a customer once saying to me, “You’re still here,” as I was scraping excess silicone off the glass of a newly installed window. This batch had more than normal—not something the customer would have noticed that day, but something they might have seen in a month or two years later. I saw it, and that was enough. I wasn’t going to let it slide.
Honest resourcefulness means finding better ways to succeed without cutting corners or misleading people. It’s about solving problems, adapting, and growing, all while staying true to your values. That mindset has shaped my business, my career, and how I approach every challenge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Coastalshieldwindow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastalshieldwindow
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coastalshieldwindow
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@coastalshieldwindow
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/5BR00KeugV
