Vince Strawbridge and Nathan Baggett became friends 10 years ago but for five of those years, Nathan was trying to convince his pal they should go into business together. When, in his own words, Vince finally got “smart enough” to listen to Nathan, the two created Strawbridge Renovations, a kitchen, bathroom, and full home remodeling business that also designs and sells cabinetry. Baggett, who may not be a Strawbridge by name but is certainly part of the family, said it was a “no brainer” to name the company after the Strawbridges, thanks to the rich legacy that they have
in Lakeland.

Vince Strawbridge has lived in Lakeland his entire life, and is a third generation contractor who grew up learning the trades from his father, grandfather and several of his uncles. He jokes he has been on construction sites since he was in diapers and, like many kids, he wanted to grow up to be just like his dad. The knowledge passed down from his family combined with 20 years of experience has prepared him to now run his own company.

Nathan Baggett is not a native Lakelander (though his hometown of Lake Wales isn’t too far away) but he also has a heart for helping the people of this city. As the son of a carpenter, he grew up watching his dad do a job that he genuinely loved because of the craft and because of the people he served. Nathan was originally drawn to cabinetry because of the creative aspect of designing shelving and implementing the designs into the final product.

Strawbridge Renovations is a family business at its core. Both Vince, with four daughters, and Nathan, a father to two girls, are quite confident that some of their children, who are already showing interest in the design aspect of the job, will eventually join them in the business. Both men also noted the support of their wives is essential to their success. Nathan’s wife, Keri, works in the business as a cabinet designer and office manager.

Thanks to Nathan’s background in cabinetry, Strawbridge Renovations offers unique and custom cabinet designs. At Strawbridge Renovations, the designers work with clients to create 3-D renderings that match their preferred vision and design style. Whether a client wants a classic look or a completely custom build, their cabinets will be designed to match their vision.

“I think it’s nice that we do have full service here,” said Summer Strawbridge, Selections and Marketing Specialist. “You don’t have to necessarily have a decorator because we can walk [you] through the process…and make your vision come to life without having to hire somebody else.”

Both of the founders of Strawbridge Renovations had years of practical experience in construction before starting the business. Because of this, Vince and Nathan do not see themselves as “above” any job that needs to be done, whether that is sweeping up debris at a site or unloading a semi-truck full of building materials.

One of the biggest misconceptions that customers tend to have about the business, according to Vince, is “that it can be done in 30 minutes with commercial breaks.” The reality is, due to the many moving parts in a renovation, it can take longer than people expect. Other misconceptions, like thinking that all cabinetry is the same, are cleared up with the customers before a job even starts.

“There are no sales tactics. We inform [our customers] of exactly what they’re getting and we’re upfront with them.” – Nathan Baggett

“There are no sales tactics,” Nathan pointed out. “We inform [our customers] of exactly what they’re getting and we’re upfront with them.”

The company’s approach to customer relationships is something that Vince learned from his dad.

“Due to the nature of remodels, you’re building relationships with a customer [because] you’re in their home,” he explained. “It’s not just another job, it’s actually somebody you’re working for. If you’ve done work for Mrs. Johnson and you go to Publix and see her in the aisle, you should be able to walk up and say, how are you? How’s your family?”

Recently, the team took on one of their biggest projects yet: a 4,000 square foot full home renovation. Vince was quick to say ‘Yes’ to the project, but it wasn’t until he began talking with the original homeowner that he learned the home was originally built by one of his uncles in the 90s. This project was a special one for the team not only because of the family ties but because when it came to solutions for the challenges that naturally arose during the process, Nathan and Vince were on the same page—as usual.

They also had excellent things to say about the collaboration process with their customers.

“[They] had great ideas and did an excellent job with their selections which really helped produce a beautiful product,” Vince said.

Customers aren’t the only ones invited into the Strawbridge family. Vince and Nathan recognize that their subcontractors—experts hired to complete distinct aspects of the remodel, such as plumbers, painters, and electricians—are essential and valuable members of the team. The business owners prioritize personal relationships with these subcontractors and, at the end of the year, everyone is invited to the company Christmas party at Vince’s home where he cooks a meal for the team.

Strawbridge Renovations plans on continuing to grow by adding several new employees to the team and taking on more full home renovations. Eventually, they would like to add home construction to their list of services. In the midst of the growth, however, it is important to Nathan and Vince that the company stays small enough that the owners can always have personal relationships with their customers and have their hands on every project.

The renovation company recently moved to a new office space at 625 Schoolhouse Road, Suite 1. The space is complete with a conference room, cabinets, cabinet handle displays, bathroom tile materials, and other hands-on examples of elements that customers can have in their homes. Ironically, the office space that they are occupying was built by Vince’s father years before and across the street is the front yard of the home that his grandparents used to live in. For Vince, it seems like it’s harder to find a building in Lakeland that wasn’t built by a Strawbridge than one that was.