When Seth Schiffer imagines the future of Local Guys, he pictures their name on a banner at a Little League field. A kid in the stands recognizes it immediately: Local Guys just refinished his family’s hardwood floors. It’s an image rooted in Seth’s own childhood.

Growing up around Bethany, Seth remembers local flooring and carpet businessman Rob Ward as someone everybody seemed to know. Ward appeared in TV commercials, supported Little League and even put his son, one of Seth’s friends, in an ad. To Seth, that’s what being a local business can mean: becoming part of the community beyond the service you provide.

Seth was born in Dover but moved to Bethany around age four, with family roots stretching through Sussex County and into Maryland. He grew up surfing, skating and playing baseball before attending Sussex Technical School and its highly regarded cabinetry and carpentry program. Internships provided real-world experience, and after a short stint in community college, Seth began working at a local cabinet shop. His career eventually expanded into foundations, landscaping, hardscaping, tile, flooring and installation. Today, Seth and his wife, Jackie, have been together 15 years and are raising two boys.

Dan Schafferman Jr. grew up in Wilmington and moved to Sussex County about a decade ago. At John Dickinson High School, he played football and baseball, earning first-team All-State honors as a catcher his junior and senior years. He continued baseball on scholarship at George Mason University, playing outfield and earning a bachelor’s degree in Sports, Health & Recreation Resources.

Carpentry came from his grandfather, “G-pop,” whom Dan helped with projects growing up. After just six months in an office, Dan knew he wanted a career where he could build, create and work with his hands. He also draws and paints.

“I was told find something you love and figure out how to make money doing it,” Dan says. “I took that advice and ran with it.”

Dan and Seth eventually began working together for another contractor, often handling projects independently. Along the way, they discovered they shared the same business values: honesty, transparency, proper licensing and permits, and no shortcuts. After seeing too many homeowners let down by contractors, they decided it was time to build a company differently.

About a year and a half later, Local Guys handles general contracting, home improvements, repairs, renovations and custom carpentry. Customers have commented on the personal experience, Seth says. Dan and Seth are the people homeowners meet, the people who plan the project and the people who do the work. “Communication is key,” Seth says.

Now, their biggest challenge is preparing for growth while protecting what made Local Guys successful in the first place. They’re improving their estimating and drawing systems, but they don’t want growth to make the business feel less personal. “We want the customer to feel like they’re not just a customer,” Dan says, “that we really care about what we’re doing for them.”

Their plans include a larger shop for cabinetry and interior finishing, eventually expanding into a showroom, store and workshop where customers can see products and participate in the design process. Beyond construction, they also create epoxy river tables, shelving and art, with a possible storefront on the horizon within five to ten years.

Community involvement is part of that vision, too. They hope to sponsor beach cleanups, participate in parades and support Little League, including helping fund uniforms. Dan has given young players batting and fielding lessons and hopes to coach again. They’re even building a backyard batting cage.

For residents choosing a contractor, Dan and Seth recommend verifying licensing and insurance, contacting three references, and making sure proper permits and inspections are in place. They’ve encountered homes where previous work had to be taken apart and corrected before a new project could begin. Skipping permits to save money, they caution, can ultimately cost far more and create problems when it’s time to sell.

For Dan and Seth, Local Guys is ultimately about integrity, character, respect and communication. And behind it all is a simple promise: