Mike Samhoury is no stranger to seizing opportunities.
As owner of The Appliance Plug in Tampa, Florida, Mike runs his business with equal parts passion and experience — an approach that influences everything from assortment planning and sales training to delivering a five-star installation experience for his customers.
And, as a member of Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG), Mike credits the buying group with support to fuel his company’s growth and success. But long before joining NMG, he developed a mindset centered on embracing change, staying flexible, and focusing on reasons to say yes to new possibilities.
His story is filled with leaps of faith, calculated risks, and unexpected pivots, with each one shaping the business owner he is today.
Mike began his career at 19 after moving to Florida and helping support his parents and five younger siblings. He landed his first job at Class Appliance Center in New Port Richey, Florida, where his uncle Andy managed the showroom. Initially hired to deliver and install customer purchases, Mike’s role quickly expanded when his uncle left the company, and he took over the showroom as well.
By day, Mike restocked and reset the sales floor. After hours, he handled deliveries and installations. During that time, he also attended Pasco-Hernando Community College part-time to earn his associate degree in financial and managerial accounting. As if that schedule wasn’t demanding enough, Mike also began tutoring after one of his professors took notice of his status as an A student.
That wasn’t the only opportunity he pursued while working at Class Appliance.
While managing the showroom, Mike received a life-changing call from A1 Home Services, a logistics company looking to contract local installers for major retailers, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Costco, and Sam’s Club. Although Class Appliance wasn’t available for hire, Mike saw the offer as a chance to gain experience and build his savings.
Taking on highly technical installations, Mike managed his own delivery schedule and handled appliance haul-aways — which created yet another revenue stream. Beyond the extra income, he built a reputation for exceptional customer service and quickly became A1 Home Services’ top installer based on customer reviews. When the company offered him additional territory, he said yes and gave notice at Class Appliance.
At first, Mike was a one-man operation, determined to build a future for himself. He saved enough money to purchase a new truck and trailer for deliveries and eventually hired a few helpers to handle appliance and trash haul-away so he could focus on installations and customer relationships.
“As a people person, it felt rewarding to help customers in a way that was both personable and professional,” Mike said. “I approached every installation as if it were my own home.”
When A1 Home Services was acquired by Optima Service Solutions (OSS), Mike’s territory expanded again to include Hillsborough County in addition to Pasco and Pinellas counties. In response, he hired five crews and stepped back from installations to manage scheduling, operations, and administrative responsibilities. During this time, he also earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida.
Looking for ways to grow his own business, Mike began installing appliances for customers outside of his contracted work. He leased a building to store inventory, parts, and haul-away appliances.
Then came an unexpected setback. Just one week after signing a three-year lease, his contract with Optima Service Solutions abruptly ended.
After losing the bulk of his business overnight, Mike made an unexpected decision to go on the cruise he had already booked for that same week. After years of nonstop work, burnout, and stress, he felt relief and chose to pause and gain clarity.
When he returned from the cruise, Mike was ready to pivot.
It was 2008, during the height of the real estate crisis. Hedge fund investors were buying foreclosed homes throughout the Tampa area and needed help cleaning out and gutting the properties. With most of his team still in place, Mike took on the challenge. When those jobs slowed, he pivoted again to offer appliances and installation services for newly remodeled foreclosures.
Still connected with local Best Buy teams from his A1 and OSS days, Mike returned to building appliance inventory, spending between $50,000 and $100,000 per month on Frigidaire products and earning enough Best Buy rewards points for free merchandise.
But despite continued profits on the installation side, competing on price to sell appliances proved difficult. The model wasn’t sustainable.
Determined to find a solution, Mike contacted Frigidaire directly. That conversation ultimately led him to Mega Group USA — a buying group that later merged with Nationwide Marketing Group. It was a step that would shape the future of The Appliance Plug.
