We’re looking forward to introducing you to Abdy Mercado. Check out our conversation below.
Abdy , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Many people think locksmiths only show up when you’re locked out or need a key made – but at Lock Nerds, our work goes far beyond that. We’re here to help keep our community safe by strengthening local homes and businesses with reliable, modern security solutions.
We take pride in protecting what matters most to our neighbors – from small family-owned restaurants to multi-unit properties across Western New York. Our goal isn’t just to fix locks, it’s to help build a safer, more secure community one door at a time.
We shouldn’t be the ones you call after a break-in – we’re the ones who make sure it never happens in the first place.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Abdy Mercado, and I’m the President & CEO of Lock Nerds Locksmith, a mobile locksmith and security solutions company serving Western New York. We’re not your typical locksmith — we’re a team focused on protecting our community by helping local homeowners and businesses stay one step ahead of security risks.
What makes us different is that we take a proactive approach. We don’t just fix locks — we design smarter, safer systems that help prevent break-ins, unauthorized access, and key duplication issues before they happen. From small restaurants to large property management companies, we make sure every door in our community is secured the right way.
Right now, we’re expanding our smart locks and MX13 restricted key systems across Western New York, helping more local properties upgrade to modern security without losing that personal, local service touch.
At the end of the day, Lock Nerds is about protecting people, not just property.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks bonds between people is simple: a lack of trust. When people stop showing up, stop communicating, or stop keeping their word, trust fades – and once that’s gone, everything else follows.
What restores those bonds is accountability and consistency. Doing what you say you’ll do. Showing up when it’s inconvenient. Owning your mistakes and fixing them without excuses. Whether it’s business or community, that’s what builds real relationships – and that’s what Lock Nerds stands on.
We’re in the business of locks, but at the core, our work is about trust. You can’t secure a building without it, and you can’t build a community without it either.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me lessons that success never could. Early on, running Lock Nerds came with countless challenges—tight budgets, demanding clients, and the pressure of building trust in a community I cared about deeply. Those struggles forced me to adapt, stay humble, and really listen to people’s needs. Success feels good, but it doesn’t teach resilience or empathy the way facing setbacks does. Every tough moment shaped how I approach my business and my community: thoughtfully, intentionally, and with the goal of protecting what matters most. Those lessons aren’t just about locks—they’re about building trust, relationships, and a stronger community.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Trust is everything at Lock Nerds, and I’ve learned that firsthand. Early in our business, a long-time client called after hours in a panic—they’d been accidentally locked out of a property critical to their operations. We dropped everything to help, and the relief and gratitude they expressed stuck with me. That moment reminded me that our work isn’t just about locks and keys; it’s about being someone people can rely on when it matters most.
Since then, trust has become the foundation of every decision I make. I protect it relentlessly—by keeping promises, being transparent, and holding myself and my team accountable in every situation. It’s not a value you earn once; it’s a value you live every day. Without it, doors stay closed, relationships falter, and communities can’t thrive. With it, everything we do has impact.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me is that I lived my life guided by faith, purpose, and service to others. That I built Lock Nerds not just as a business, but as a way to protect my community and help people feel safe in their homes and workplaces. I hope they remember that every decision I made – big or small – was rooted in doing what’s right, acting with integrity, and honoring the principles I believe in.
I want them to remember that I valued trust above all else, that I treated my team, clients, and neighbors with respect, and that I showed up when it mattered most, even when it wasn’t convenient. Most importantly, I hope they see that my faith wasn’t just words, but action – that it shaped how I led, how I cared for people, and how I sought to leave the world a little better than I found it.
Ultimately, I hope the story is that I lived intentionally, served faithfully, and tried every day to make a lasting, positive impact – one person, one door, and one community at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LockNerds.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LockNerds
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/locknerds/
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/LockNerds
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LockNerds
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lock-nerds-locksmith-buffalo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@locknerds
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
