Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Nov/Dec 2023 - 30

CI
INTEGRATOR OF THE YEAR: FELIX MEDIA SOLUTIONS
buying gadgets that they couldn't operate,
and then who would get angry when it was
clear that assistance would be needed.
It was during his 17 years in the technology
industry that Felix made connections
with several key decision-makers.
Having previously worked on an AV
integration project at his own offi ce while
at WPP, he recalls reaching out within a
couple of days of being laid off .
Felix recounts talking with his former
boss about how conference rooms can
be troublesome to use. His former boss
agreed. Felix asked for a shot at fi xing
the company's conference rooms, and
the answer was yes. The boss noted that
Felix had the brains. And he had had
enough of the so-called AV experts from
big fi rms, who didn't have the courtesy
to return the company's calls, let alone
come over to fi x things.
Felix's Team Gets Busy
Felix got busy quickly! In fact, his small
team and he started taking over AV projects
for large corporations around town. At
the time, he recalls, " [Customers] didn't really
think much of it. [People might have]
thought we were somebody's husband,
friend, etc. But I wasn't anybody's cousin; I
was the IT person that they knew. "
From there, projects continued growing.
According to Felix, the foundation of
his approach was to ask people what their
biggest pain points were. He says, " Was
Thanks to
diversifying
its off erings,
Felix Media
Solutions
projects to end
2023 with more
than $11 million
in revenue.
the room too complicated to use? Was it
not supported? They wanted it to be simple.
And [the customer wanted] someone
to show up when it breaks. "
" The AV companies in town were
disappointing people leſt and right with
bad customer service and the inability to
troubleshoot and solve problems, " Felix
adds candidly. " I don't understand how
these massive, billion-dollar companies
have such poor support groups and don't
like to show up and fi x things. "
Growing Pains
In 2015, the burgeoning FMS' eff orts paid
off . The company experienced exponential
growth - from a modest $50,000 a
year to an impressive $2.7 million per year
- within a short span of time. But it wasn't
all smooth sailing. In 2017, FMS faced the
brink of bankruptcy. " We were growing
too quickly, " Felix acknowledges. " We're
buying so much stuff and had a tiny line
of credit. " Against all small-business odds,
FMS survived with the help of a shortterm
loan from a friend, plus a Sonos bar
added into the mix. In additiona, under
the strategic eye of Lindsey Rima Felix,
Felix's wife, who is now CFO and COO of
FMS, helped ensure there was enough
cash to cover payroll for a two-week period.
FMS kept a better eye on its accounts
receivable, eventually receiving payments
on customers' overdue invoices.
Over the years, Felix and his team have gotten busy tackling conference-room projects for large corporations in Austin,
Texas. In just a few years, the company revenue went from a modest $50,000 a year to an astounding $2.7 million yearly.
30 Commercial Integrator+Security Sales & Integration | Nov/Dec 2023
FELIX MEDIA SOLUTIONS
FELIX MEDIA SOLUTIONS

Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Nov/Dec 2023

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