Today we’d like to introduce you to John Laukaitis.
Hi John, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
In 1986 while attending college studying Accounting and Business Administration, I had the realization that I wouldn’t be happy with an office job, and I’d much rather be out and about. With no real options, I had to find something I could make a career out of, so in August of 1987, I answered a help wanted ad and became a locksmith. In my first 4 years as a Locksmith, I was fortunate enough to be trained by 6 Certified Master Locksmiths, so I learned not just the right way to do work but the Professional and Ethical way, and there is a difference. Over the years, I kept the same Professional Ethics and Morals even when I worked for Companies that didn’t share my same values.
I spent the first 10 years learning as much as I possibly could and became Highly Proficient in all aspects of the industry, primarily focusing on Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional work. This type of work is more challenging and requires a lot of knowledge. Plus, from a business standpoint, it’s the easiest way to make money. Throughout my career, I worked all over the country in cities like Baltimore, Washington, DC, Pittsburg, PA, Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ, and many more. This experience exposed me to different things I otherwise wouldn’t have seen.
In 2008 I started a locksmith business in Charleston, SC, specializing in the installation of electronic hardware for TYCO/ADT. My company was their preferred vendor for this type of work in three states, so I was constantly on the road. After two years of all the traveling, I started to get burned out and wasn’t enjoying the work as much anymore. I always had an interest in photography, so while still operating my Locksmith Business, I started a Photography Business as well. I operated both businesses for two years, working over 100 hours a week in 2012. I decided to close the Locksmith Business and concentrate all my efforts on the Photography Business. I ended up having two Art Stores, one in Citadel Mall and the other in Downtown Charleston. Because of all the stress involved in running two stores and still working over 100 hours a week, it took a toll on my health, and I decided to close the Photography Business and stores altogether. At this point, I wasn’t sure what to do because when I closed the Locksmith business, I sold all my equipment.
In addition to that, there weren’t any Locksmith Companys in Charleston I wanted to work for because, in my opinion, they didn’t share my Professional and Ethical beliefs, so I was stuck wondering what to do. Throughout my life, I’ve never been afraid to take chances, so, of all things, I decided to get my CDL and became an Over the Road truck driver for almost three years. It wasn’t exactly a great way to earn a living, but I learned a lot and had the opportunity to travel all across the United States, and I saw a lot of places I otherwise wouldn’t have seen, so in some ways, it was a great experience. In 2018 MUSC (The Medical University of South Carolina) was hiring a locksmith, so I applied there and was hired. After two years, I was promoted to Assistant Shop Manager, where we had a staff of 5 full-time locksmiths. In December of 2021, I was hired by a local company to be their General Manager. After 9 months there, the owner and I started negotiations for me to buy his business but unfortunately, the negotiations to a turn for the worse, and I ended up resigning from that job.
Once again, I found myself not knowing what to do because there were still no Locksmith companies in the area I wanted to work for, so I decided to reopen Low Country Lock and Key, LLC. This time it’s being operated as a more typical Locksmith business, not just specializing in Electronic Hardware. The only work we don’t do for now is automotive, and that’s just because I personally don’t like automotive work, but I do have plans to hire someone in the future to handle those calls.
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?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not. As human beings, I believe we create a lot of our own misery and misfortune through bad or unwise decisions. I myself am guilty of this. All you can do is learn from your mistakes and keep going. Looking back, I would say my biggest mistake was closing Low Country Lock and Key in 2012. In hindsight, I should have hired someone to help alleviate my stress and change the course of the business to a more typical locksmith business like I’m building now. I’d me much better off and much further ahead than I am now. 2012 thru 2018, by far, were the hardest years of my life. I found myself broke and having to rent a room in someone’s house. It was a long road, but I fought my way through it. All I can do is work hard, try to make better decisions, and pray for success.
All the knowledge and experience in the world doesn’t guarantee success; my biggest struggle now is simply customer acquisition. I’m probably one of the most knowledgeable locksmiths in the country and know how to do just about all there is, but without the customers, none of those matters.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialize in Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Locksmith work, but we also do residential work as well. I would say I’m most proud of our Customer Service. I truly think we are unlike any other locksmith business in the area. What sets us apart from others is simply our high degree of Professionalism, Ethics, and Standards.
We are clean-cut, with no visible tattoos or piercings, and always in a uniform. Never jeans and a T-shirt
We go out of our way to service our customers, even if it means traveling 100 miles.
We do every job right the first time. We have high standards with everything we do and will often lose work if it can’t be completed to our standards. We always install what’s best for our customers. We won’t install low-quality hardware just to get a sale. It’s a huge injustice to our customers.
We try our best to save our customers money by telling them where they can buy a part themselves instead of paying a markup—often saving them hundreds of dollars.
We are on-time 100% of the time.
We offer several discounts—New Homeowner, First Responder, Military, Teacher, Pastoral, Non-Profit, Senior Citizen, and more. We offer the highest quality work and craftsmanship and fantastic prices.
Our best customer once told me he appreciates us because we show up when we say we will, and we don’t look like we just got released from prison.
It all comes down to Professionalism, Ethics, and Standards.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’ve highlighted several important characteristics thus far, but in addition to the ones I already spoke about, Communication and Honestly are very important. I always try and keep an open line of communication between myself and our customers, especially when we are expecting parts for a job. It’s always important that the customer is made aware of issues or delays so they don’t sit around waiting and not being informed.
Honesty is also important. Always be honest with a customer, even if they won’t like what you’re going to tell them. It’s always important, not just in business but in life. Always do the right thing, and oftentimes, the easiest thing is never the right thing. It’s a huge injustice to lie to your customer, especially just to get a sale. Do it right, or don’t do it.
Contact Info:
- Email: lowcountrylockandkey@yahoo.com
- Website: Lowcountrylockandkeyllc.com
- Facebook: Low Country Lock and Key, LLC
- Yelp: Low Country Lock and Key
