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Web site puts assemblers together April 2, 2006
By
Victor Godinez / The Dallas Morning News
If the words assembly required send chills down your spine, you might
want to talk to Mike Mehrle.
The Columbus, Ohio, resident has created an online network of assemblers around the
country to help individuals and businesses put together things such as office furniture and exercise equipment.
The
network is built around Mr. Mehrle's Web site, where users can search for assemblers in their region. "I actually did it for
friends, family, church members and such for free" before going into assembly full time in 2001, Mr. Mehrle said. "I had no
idea that people would pay for the business."
But he soon put aside his career in graphic design to become a full-time
Mr. Assemble-It. Customers from around the country flocked to his site, but Mr. Mehrle realized he didn't have the resources
to expand his company. So he went out and enlisted other companies to sign on.
For $50, local assemblers can be listed
on the site, taking advantage of Mr. Mehrle's established online reputation.
The arrangement is paying off for Felicia
Harris, who owns Harris Handy Services in Mesquite, Texas. Ms. Harris said her 4-year-old company's sales increased by about
a third after she joined Assemble4You.com a few months ago, and she's looking for additional contractors. "With the other
assemblers on the Web site, they also give you ideas," she said. "If they come up with a new tool or any advice, the more
people you have involved, the more ideas you have to work with."
Assembly jobs usually cost between $40 and $70, depending
on the size of the project. Mr. Mehrle said he's signed up about 50 assemblers in 38 states so far.
He makes around
$65,000 a year going out with his screwdrivers, hammers and wrenches, but Mr. Mehrle said he'll probably just manage the network
full time if it gets too big.
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