Kimy Home Services & Kimy Maids
Need a guy who will get the job done? Call Fernando!
Fernando Gimenez and his wife, Glenda, own and operate two successful businesses - Kimy Maids, which offers cleaning services, and Kimy Home Services, which offers handyman and repair services. As a Honduran native, Fernando finds himself with unique challenges navigating the business world here in Southwest Indiana.
In the winter of 2018, the Gimenez family moved to this area when tax burdens caused them to sell their businesses in Honduras. Fernando had previously studied English at USI and was able to find work, but Glenda’s limited English didn’t allow for many opportunities. During the pandemic, however, they noticed that people were worrying more about the cleanliness and safety of their homes, and they saw an opportunity to open Kimy Maids, named for their oldest daughter.
Though they had business experience, the legal requirements here in the U.S. were completely different than in their home country. A friend told them they could receive free help through the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and they were connected with their business advisor, Julie Folz. “I call her our angel, because she helped us a lot,” says Fernando. “She made what seemed daunting very easy for us. I have told all my friends and family about Julie.”
Kimy Home Services currently boasts a 5 star rating on Google. They continually receive positive word of mouth referrals, and the business is doing great! Even better is the fact that Glenda greatly enjoys the work and has been able to find a way to help support her family.
When you hear Fernando’s passion for the business, it’s clear why customers love them. “My favorite part of the job is meeting with our customers,” he says. “I go to every customer’s house to meet them for the first time. I care. I take off my shoes, for example. I will come out at 9pm, 10pm, whenever they are available. We have great reviews because we care about our customers.”
Two years after launching Kimy Maids, they also opened Kimy Home Services to meet the needs of customers who request handyman and repair services. Remaining in contact with his advisor has helped Fernando navigate these decisions as they arise. “We talked to Julie about this idea and she helped us open the new business,” he says.
Julie and Fernando have a great working relationship. "I always enjoy meeting with Fernando,” Julie says. He is passionate about his business and his customers, and he is genuinely eager to learn. He wants to provide great services to our community and he is willing to work hard for his beautiful family."
Fernando loves being able to provide jobs for the Latino community, but it has unique challenges. Most of his employees don’t speak English as their first language, and some don’t have driver’s licenses. He is constantly juggling his duties as owner, customer service representative, and laborer.
Often, this is a lonely situation to be in for a small business owner, but Fernando has found that sharing his experiences with other entrepreneurs can be really helpful. Fernando was part of the SBDC’s pilot Supplier Development Program last fall, which consisted of weekly classes to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses and prepare for contract opportunities. “I really enjoyed learning from other entrepreneurs, sharing stories and different situations,” says Fernando.
Looking to the future, Fernando plans to continue growing his businesses and providing job opportunities for the Latino community while still providing personalized service to his customers.
Learn more about Kimy Home Services and Kimy Maids at www.kimyhomeservices.com or find them on Facebook!