All right. I'm here with Jose Reyes. He goes by Mr. Reyes. We're here at Fab Tech 2025 in Chicago. And Mr. Reyes is kind of enough to sit down with us, kind of talk about, you know, what he does, some of his background and whatnot. You are with Texas Art Welding and Texas Art welding supply correct he also does a podcast called weldpreneurs so really trying to just kind of cast the light onto that industry whether it's like you said students or you know professionals or whatever so uh with that kind of want to start just tell me a little bit about you know your background how you even got started into into this field into welding? Like, what brought you to that field? So, yeah. I was in 11 grade, well, 10 grade, right? When my counselor asked me, what are, what am I going to do after high school? And I was like, well, you know, I don't really know. As a Mexican culture, all we know is construction, right? And it's like a typical job, right? Either construction, cut in laws, and I was like, well, I don't, that's all I know. And me playing around she's like well no seriously you know what are you going to do i was like well i don't know what other option she told me about welding she showed me what world it was talked to her brother um her brother was a rig welder told me how much money he wins i was like i was hooked yeah i was hooked i was like that much money i said okay you know so she got me into welding for my 11 grade i did i did a project with mig welding and ever since i loved it man and then my last year teacher He was so passionate about it, man. Whenever he's seen us not paid attention, I mean, this man would have so much passion, he would pry, making sure that, like, we were the next generation welders. Right, right. So that's how I got into this welding by counselors and teachers that I actually care about the next generation. Nice. So your high school had a program, though, that was four? Yes, They had a great program on Robert Lee in Baytown in Texas. So for three days out the week, you'll leave to a, I forgot what's it called, but you'll leave to another school, and for two hours, you'll weld. Yeah, and then they'll bring you back, Career Center. That's what they call you Career Center. You'll go there for two hours, weld, and they come back. So for two hours, we're just straight burning rod, And just enjoying it, competing with other students. Hey, I'm the best. You're the best. I'm the best. Yeah. So that's how I got into it, man. You know, my teacher actually, he risked his job for putting me in the list where I was supposed to put in the list. You're supposed to be in his class for like two to three years and I was only there for six months. He told me like this, he said, Ray, I'm going to risk my job. I got these three students that are not worth the interviews because they don't pay attention. I'm going to put you in there. And after that, that's up to you. Yeah, yeah. Sure. So we did the interview. I got hired by CV and I three months before I graduate at high school. No way. Yeah. They saw my test. I did an interview. The dude said, I like the way you are. And He said, we give you a week, and then after that week, that Monday, we're going to call you to come in and work. And ever since then, man, I got into it. Yeah. Wow. So right at a high school, you were working for CB &I? Yes. And what kind of work were you doing for that? We were doing pipe welding. Okay. So I already knew how to 7018, 6010, and a little bit of 8010, and I learned there how to tick weld and how to make it flux core well in pipe. Gotcha. Yeah, so they did nothing but pipe work. I was a helper slash sweeper, slash forklift, slash everything they need me to do. You're learning. For 12 bucks, I was doing everything. I was enjoying it too, because, I mean, for me it's being young, 18, I was still living with my parents, right? I wasn't really worried about the money. I was worried about the experience. Sure. And that's what I told a lot of these young folks. They're wondering about the money. No, we're worried about the experience. So, man, ever since then, it was just, you know, just learning and learning. Right. And so how long were you with them? Five months. I was there five months. And I didn't know about 40 hours. You know, I didn't know about overtime too much. So when I got there, the first week, we were already in 60 hours. So for three or four months, we had a good job, a hot job. We were about to the end of it. And then my fitter was like, hey, I'm about to leave to another company. I was like, why? It's great. What are you doing? Yeah. And he's like, well, because we're going back on 40s. I was like, okay, what does that mean? He's like, you don't know what that means? I'm like, no. He's like, okay, I'm going to put it like this. Your check, it's not going to look the same. I'm saying, what do you mean? He's like, yeah. Okay, and then he started teaching me. I'm like, so I'm not going to get paid this much? He's like, no. I'm like, well, take me with you, man. And then I led to another company, and then from right there, I learned how the industry works. And, you know, sometimes you have a one -day notice. You tell the foreman, hey, I'm gone. I got this other job. They're paying me a dollar more, $2 more, but they're working more hours. And ever since that I just kept jumping and, you know, getting more experience, failures, you know, repairs and everything that comes with it. Huh. So at what point then did you kind of branch out on your own and you're doing just these companies like Texas Art Welding and supply? 2019. Yeah, 2019. I was with S &B before that Turner and I was helping their tick welders become in their shop, making flux welders, which is a combo water in a shop. And then when I moved to SNB, I was making combo welders. So I was helping a couple of people that are doing tick water and how to do stick so they could go out there in the field. And I was like, you know, I was putting them on Snapchat. And people were like, hey, teach me how to weld, me out of the world. And I'm like, dude, I'm working 12, 13 hours, and I still got to drop an hour home. The last thing I want to do is teach, you know, as well. And I was like, you know what, let me go on my own. I try it out. I prayed about it. You know, I believe in God. I prayed about it and do it. Everything that I prayed about, everything I worked for, it made it happen. And since 2019, I did the, I did take start welding and then a year goes last year 24 24 that's when I opened up takes our water supply so we're going to do a year in December oh okay so that's new then yeah that's barely new but we took off completely like thanks to all the people and in less than a year like we have people that drive for even 14 hours just to come visit the store oh really yeah Yeah. Yeah. It's impressive. And, you know, what brings them that far of a distance? Well, let's put it like this. Whenever you go in, I have a red carpet with gold posts. So it's like a place where you feel appreciated. It's like an experience. It's an experience, right? And then we have everything that you see online. And you know, like me, right? They call me more of an old school. They tell, like me, I like grabbing stuff. I like touching stuff. So like, if I see something online, I wish I could touch it. So everything that I have in the store is what you see online. And a lot of these other welding supplies don't have it. Oh, I see. They don't really focus on your everyday welder. They focus on the big companies. And that's fine. You need both. You need some companies that focus on this. You need other companies to focus on that. Right, right. Huh. And then what got you into the podcast side of things? When did that happened? Man, I always like interviewing people, I always like hearing stories. Everybody has a different story. Everybody has a different struggle. Some people have more deeper struggles than others. And, you know, they didn't took the victim mentality route. They overpassed it. And now they're there because of their mentality. That's what I like to hear. And I wanted to see how can I bring the welding side, and entrepreneurs side, and anything in between as far to whatever trades. I was just thinking, I was like, huh, what, how can I call it? That's when I came out with worldpreneurs. Nice, yeah, I love hearing stories. You love that side of it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's cool. And then do you do those like in person, or is it all through like video or in person? Yeah, in person. Nice. Yes, Cool. So what, uh, when you're here at Fab Tech, like what are the, what's kind of your main focus here? I mean, do you have? Well, it's bringing, um, those things that a lot of people don't know, like Bryzos, right? That's how you say? Brisos. Right. So when I was passing by and I seen the signs when you buy metals, absolutely I do. You know, we were with pipe, I beans, um, played. So I was like, okay, I do buy metals, right? So I spoke to, I'm not, I don't know her name. And she was telling me, she's like, look, think about it as the Amazon, but for metals. She said Amazon, I was hooked. I was hooked. Look, I spent a lot of money in Amazon. And I got to explain my wife how to connect that into, I'm buying this for the, for this, for the school, for the store. So when she said like like Amazon I said okay I'm hooked all right so she started explaining to me and I love whenever you're able to buy a product or surveys that makes your life easy right and I think that's what I do well I don't think I know that's what you're doing I experienced it I kind of mess with it I was like I was amazed because in seconds it's quick I'm not getting paid for this neither you know I'm not getting paid it's just when I find something that I like um Like some of the apparel that I wear that's, you know, down the line right here, I could talk about it honestly. Right. Because I like, sure, yeah. Nobody has to pay me for me to say something nice about it, right? And when I experience, and I only experience a little bit about it, right? So it makes job easier, especially if you're like a one main show, if you're one and you're another person and y 'all both doing the same thing. Like if you're buying metal, everybody's struggle is, call this, call this, call that, call that. Yeah. Oh, give me a second. Hey, this is, give me a second. Now you're like, I need this fast. I need this fast. Yep. And with the service and the software that you have, man, I was like, I was, I was in love with. That's what we do. Yeah. That's what's, you know, fun for us to come to these shows because, You know, this is probably our, what, third or fourth year, I think. It's not easy. You know, you're away from your family, your kids for a full week. It's all day on your feet. Like, it's a grind. But, man, we have so many people that come by who have been using it since day one. And they want to come by, though, and, like, share their stories with us of, like, you just make my life when I have to get a job, right? I can get my prices in seconds yeah get my job like the quote submitted uh just hearing all these various stories like it's pretty cool no and like what you said is like for me example like in the store right i sell material too i sell square tube in the angle line i sell metals too as well so when people ask me hey how much can you give me this for i have to wait almost like let's say they come at 3 or 4 p .m because i close kind of It's late. And then they come in, they're like, hey, how much will you, how much can you give me this or that? I'm like, man, I got to wait until the next day. Or now. Not anymore. With your app, man, look it up and shoot this much. You want it? You pay for it right now. Right. Get it delivered. Nice. So it's like the fact that you're able to provide a service that makes life easier, you know, and for me it was in when she told me, you know, it was 50 bucks. I'm I'm like, okay, really, it doesn't really matter, right? Because it's like you're buying back time. Exactly. And everything's about... Yeah, you mentioned that earlier, buying back time. That's a good. I love that because whenever you go in business, obviously you go into business to create a product or service. Sure. Right? And then after that, is, okay, how can I make that run and then be able to the same way that I'm trying to, you know, bring people in to buy a little bit more of my time, that's the same thing that you're doing the companies or to that one -main show. And I really, really love that. It's in seconds. Like I said, I'm not getting papers. I'm being honest. When I say seconds, I mean seconds. And I love that service. What's funny, I think it was last year, maybe, we heard a show. And it was a company, it might have been in San Antonio. I can't remember, but they had kind of like your supply shop where they had their own store, retail, people would walk in. And man, this guy, he saw it for the first time. And he was just like amazed how fast it was. He was trying to get, he wanted information here. How can we buy your software? He wanted to put it like on his retail, almost like a McDonald's where you walk in and you have a kiosk. Instead of having to hire a bunch of people to sit behind the counter, somebody just walk in, he can load all his products in there. He was seriously, he was like, I'm not, I'm going to follow up with you. I want to know, I want to get this in my store. And it was pretty cool. How did that go, though? We were, I mean, it's not something we were looking to do. But I mean, it's not bad idea because, I mean, a software that makes life easier, it doesn't really matter. It's not that it's not that you got it or you're big baller, but when people know the value of saving time, because money you're going to get all the time. Money comes and goes, right? But time, come on. Yeah. If I don't have to spend 15, 20 minutes, or even 30 minutes to wait for a response, and I could do it in second, I'll pay 100 a month. Shoot. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's just, it's just that the service that you provide, and I love it. And when I, like I said, when I passed by it, I don't remember it. Yeah, and then earlier I passed by, and somebody was shaking it out. I was like, dude, just go ahead and buy it. You're trying to sell for it. They're like, I'm hooked, dude. And he does the same thing, melting metals. He's a mobile welder. Oh, okay. So he is a person that needs quickness, you know. And like I said, and y 'all provided a great, great service. I appreciate that. And I wouldn't, you know, like that guy, I mean, I was thinking the same thing. Oh, really? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Was that on your list to do or you were just like, Ney? Yeah, I may, yeah. You know, obviously I asked for the money books. Like, yeah, you definitely put it in there. But I'm actually going to have those products in my store to sell. Oh, really? So, you know, I'm going to get at a different price. You're like double dipping, baby. Yeah, So it's, you know, I like having new products in my store. I like having things that are going to be helpful. Especially in the place where I'm at, it's an industrial place. So people like that need it. Have you had experience with any of like the robotics and stuff that you see around here? I like it. It's just not for me. Not kind of what you're really focused on. It's amazing after, I mean, just the three or four years we've been here, I was commenting to someone earlier today, just walking from, you know, that main entry back to our booth. I mean, I must have 15 different companies that all have those robotic arms. Three years ago, there was a few of them. Yeah. I mean, but it is, I mean, now if you don't have one that you're offering to sell, it's like, you're a little behind. And those are for more like fabrication shops. Sure, sure. They're going to be doing the same thing over and over. But for, like, us, refineries, it's going to be hard for getting a robot up there, a tight spot, mirror welding, things like that. So I get asked my students, when I go back, they ask me, like, hey, do you think they're going to take over our job? No. Maybe if you go into, like, a production shop where there is the same thing all the time, then you. Yeah. Kind of be worried. Yeah, I hear you. Cool. well hey let people know like where can they find you what's the best way if someone wants to reach out to you oh so if you're in the if you're looking you know to learn how to weld you're looking to buy supplies right go check out our Instagram or TikTok Texas art welding Texas art welding supply and then whoprenors which is under mr. dot ray .es mr. ray is right so you You know, we try to provide not only service, not only products, but a good content to help the next generation. Yeah, yeah. Just like you are, and this is where I come in place to let people, other people know, because I know other people that are struggling with the same thing that the service that y 'all provided. So a lot of people can't make it over here. A lot of people don't know what FAPTIC is, and then they come to my store, and if I know what they're about guess what I'll bring them to y 'all sure you know and that's that's the whole thing of network yep help everybody out absolutely the most we can but yeah go check us out take start wooden takes our water supply and wellpreneur that's we're able to check us out perfect cool sounds good appreciate it coming by it's a pleasure ma 'am yes sir keep going with that that's great service thank you thank you thank you