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After 13 years in the jewelry industry, most would say they’ve seen it all—but not David Ludwig. Two years ago, David pivoted from selling sparkle to restoring time itself, launching Ludwig Watch and Clock in Whitehouse, Ohio. (📍 10904 Maumee St, Whitehouse, OH 43571)

From $40 quartz beaters to $40,000 Swiss masterpieces, David’s workbench sees it all. His business model is a reminder that sometimes the smartest move in business is to get highly specific, so he found a critical gap in the market for skilled watch and jewelry repair technicians, and filled it. Today, Ludwig Watch and Clock services six jewelry stores across the region, plus a growing roster of personal clients who trust him to keep their treasured pieces ticking.p;p

“Every day’s different,” David says. “You never know what’s coming across the bench. That’s what keeps it fun.” His advice to aspiring business owners? Find your niche, show up on time, and don’t get stuck overanalyzing. “You can’t learn to drive sitting in park,” he says. “Sometimes you just have to go for it.”

As a watch enthusiast myself, I (Kaden, writing this) couldn’t be more excited to have someone like David right here in our backyard. I’ll definitely be bringing my own pieces to him.

Whether you’re a local jeweler or someone with a beloved timepiece in need of TLC, David Ludwig is one of the region’s best-kept secrets and he’s keeping Northwest Ohio on time, one watch at a time. ⌚

As new home construction surges across Waterville, Whitehouse, and Monclova, one local business is capturing outsized market share in a critical trades niche: irrigation system installation.

The Business

Waterville Irrigation is a family-owned operation with approximately $3 million in annual revenue, driven by:

• 66% from new irrigation system installations

• 33% from ongoing maintenance and repair work

Their footprint has expanded alongside regional housing growth. The company is now the default provider for most new residential builds in the Waterville, Whitehouse, and Monclova corridor.

Operational Advantage

Unlike many contractors, Waterville Irrigation has turned installation velocity into a competitive advantage. While typical crews average one install per day, Waterville’s team often completes two full installs daily — even during peak summer heat. This throughput enables them to service more properties per week than most competitors can in two.

Other key differentiators:

• Workforce efficiency: Small, well-trained crews executing with consistency

• Weekend availability: High-demand flexibility builders value

• Established builder relationships: Preferred vendor status across multiple developments

Market Context

The Waterville-Whitehouse-Monclova region is experiencing a residential construction boom, with hundreds of homes being added annually. Neighborhoods like Coventry Glen, Hidden Hollow, and Telluride continue to expand.

This presents a long-term runway for trades professionals — especially those with reputation and bandwidth. Waterville Irrigation is uniquely positioned to benefit due to:

• Proven reliability in tight construction timelines

• Ability to handle high volume without sacrificing quality

• Local brand recognition among both homeowners and developers

Scalability and Risk

Waterville Irrigation’s model is high-margin but labor-dependent. Their reputation hinges on crew quality and availability. That makes retention and recruitment of skilled workers a key operational risk — particularly if housing starts outpace hiring.

There’s also opportunity: if the owners wanted to scale, they could expand crews or franchise into nearby growth zones like Perrysburg or Sylvania, where suburban expansion continues.

Bottom Line

Waterville Irrigation is a case study in how a focused, operationally excellent small business can dominate a niche during a regional boom. They’ve built quietly, with and with little marketing — and yet they’re outpacing much larger competitors on volume and customer satisfaction.

For those watching the growth of southern Lucas County, don’t just track the rooftops going up. Pay attention to the contractors laying the infrastructure underneath.

That’s where the real money moves.

Money Confessional | The Creative Couple Building Wealth From Scratch

Age: Early 30s
Roles: Freelance Graphic Designer + Elementary School Teacher
Salary: Combined ~$110K–$130K

Meet a West Toledo couple redefining stability on their own terms—she balances creativity and client work from her home studio, while he’s shaping young minds in the classroom by day (and coaching middle school basketball by night).

🏠 Living Situation: They recently bought a 3-bed fixer-upper in the Old Orchard neighborhood. “We’re doing 80% of the updates ourselves. It’s sweat equity now, future equity later.”

💰 Household Income: Around $120K depending on her freelance load. His teaching salary is steady, and her income ranges based on the season and clients.

💳 Favorite Splurge: Local art and weekend date nights at Toledo spots. “We’ll spend on things that keep us inspired—usually art, books, or really good coffee.”

🔥 Biggest Financial Worry: “Healthcare costs and saving for a family. Freelance life doesn’t come with a benefits package, so we have to plan smart.”

🎨 Other Income: She sells digital design templates online and just launched a print shop. He runs a small tutoring side hustle during summers.

💡 Toledo Tip: “This city has space to grow. If you’re creative and disciplined, you can build a real life here without drowning in debt.”

📈 Net Worth: About $85K and growing fast—mostly from equity in their home, savings, and small business income reinvestment. “We max our Roth IRAs every year, no matter what.”

🧮 Budget Style: Shared spreadsheet, weekly check-ins. “It’s not glamorous, but it keeps us both on the same page. Every expense is a choice we talk about.”

🌱 Inspiration: “To design a life we don’t need a vacation from—where we control our time, give back through our work, and don’t compromise on happiness just to ‘make it.’”

Want to know what it looks like when legal expertise meets medical entrepreneurship in the 419?

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