For women, your bathroom is your sanctuary. But did you know that most bathrooms are fully designed and installed by men? Shower Doors Today of San Antonio is the city’s only woman-owned business that can bring your bathroom to the next level. Their family business is headed by matriarch Cris who creates custom showers fit for a queen.
Cris grew up in the Rio Grande Valley as the daughter of a glass shop owner, but she never envisioned herself following in her father’s footsteps. “My dad is my hero, but it’s a man’s world – I never thought I would get into it.” Cris worked in banking for many years, and while she had invested in Shower Doors Today of San Antonio when it launched, she didn’t have much to do with the company. Everything changed when her bank closed and she started as a receptionist for Shower Doors Today of San Antonio. “I had to work my way up to get here, but it was always my destiny.” Cris now fully owns the store ten years after it opened.
Cris is kept busy with calling, appraising, and scheduling clients. Her husband Gabriel supervises installation and contracting, and their youngest son Jordan helps Cris with administrative work. Their son Josh does the bookkeeping and Stephen does their marketing. “Being family-owned, we really take care of our business and our customers.” They treat their clients like family – Cris has even helped customers plan their next night out or vacation.
Cris describes herself as a workaholic. She’s the first person in the office, the last person to leave, and she’ll often need to make calls from her home office after hours. “My dad taught me to get the work done, and it helps that I love what I do.” Cris is dedicated to her craft. She’s a skilled glazier that knows everything there is to know about glass. “I’ll go to meetings and be the only girl in the room, so I’ve had some challenges; I had to know more than they do to be taken seriously.” She picked up the basics from her dad, but she had to study and learn the specifics herself.
Shower Doors Today of San Antonio specializes in custom shower doors for everyone. “We work with both contractors and homeowners to find the perfect shower.” Cris herself appraises customers and draws a concept to ensure a quality design. “Our turnaround time differentiates us from others – our expertise makes us efficient.” They keep everything they need on-site in San Antonio so that they can have a beautiful shower door including handles, hinges, and glass within 48 hours of taking measurements in the home.
Cris says the most rewarding part of her job is seeing the finished project. “Most of our work is on custom homes, so we work with lots of amazing contractors, and our showers fit like a perfect last piece of their puzzle.” When a house has a great bathroom, any woman is going to walk in and say “Oh my god, I love this bathroom!” Cris enjoys seeing her customers love their new bathroom and providing them with their own gorgeous space for a self-care retreat.
Cris never plans on retiring. “I love my job too much for that!” She’ll be at the shop for as long as possible. Shower Doors Today is located on 2537 Boardwalk St in San Antonio, open 9AM to 5PM every weekday.
When a woman walks into a great bathroom, she knows immediately. This is mine.