M&G Appliance Repair: A Lifelong Calling That Just Wouldn’t Let Go

Some people spend their whole lives searching for what they’re meant to do. Marcus Hampton had it figured out by age 11 — he just didn’t want it.

“My dad forced me into it,” he says with a laugh. “As an 11-year-old, I don’t want to be doing washing machines.”

So he did what any young man looking for an exit would do: he joined the Navy. Five years of service, thinking he’d learn a trade and finally escape the world of compressors and spin cycles. Instead, the Navy taught him skills he’d later use — in appliance repair.

“I did learn some skills,” Marcus says, “but I didn’t get away from appliance repair.”

A Partnership That Works

Today, M&G Appliance Repair and Installation is a fully licensed, insured LLC serving nine cities from Sandbridge to Yorktown to Smithfield. Marcus is the fixer — the man on the ground diagnosing and repairing everything from washers to refrigerators. His wife Gina runs the office, handles the phones, and keeps the business organized.

“She’s the office person,” Marcus says. “I’m the fixer.”

Gina came from a 30-year career in hospice and healthcare. When she semi-retired, she took a hard look at the numbers. “Two calls a day is not going to get my hair done,” she laughs. So she jumped in full-time to organize and legitimize what Marcus had built.

“I started to organize and legitimize the business so that it no longer looks like a hobby. It’s a legitimate business.”

Showing Up When Others Don’t

In an industry where customers are used to technicians who diagnose, collect, and disappear, Marcus and Gina do something different: they communicate.

“We show up,” Marcus says flatly. “That’s one of the biggest things I hear from people nowadays — nobody shows up to complete the job. A lot of guys will show up, diagnose, collect whatever they’re gonna collect, and then you never hear from them again.”

M&G keeps customers in the loop every step of the way — whether it’s ordering parts, scheduling the return visit, or following up after the repair is done. It’s a simple philosophy, but in a world where service calls often end in frustration, it’s proved to be their strongest differentiator.

The Warranty Windfall

The turning point for the business came when they started working with home warranty companies. Marcus now represents five or six warranty providers, and the steady stream of referrals changed everything.

“That basically stimulated sales for me,” he says. “It gave us leads, and then it was up to us to make the deal happen.”

The revenue from warranty work — combined with word-of-mouth and COD (cash-on-delivery) calls — allowed Marcus and Gina to buy a house in Suffolk. They’re empty nesters now, with kids in their 20s, but they’re still grinding.

“We still grind and work as hard as we can. We service nine cities.”

What’s Next: The Camera Calls

Marcus knows he can’t squat behind washing machines forever. So he’s been building a second act: photography.

He’s currently in the third round of Maxim Magazine’s Flash contest — sitting in first place. His work covers everything from people to cars to drifting events, and he’s already thinking about boudoir photography as a niche he and Gina could explore together.

“I know my goal when I got into photography was to travel with it,” Marcus says. “And hopefully within the next month or two, I’ll find out if I do get to do that.”

Whether he’s fixing a dishwasher or framing the perfect shot, one thing is clear: whatever Marcus Hampton puts his mind to, he sees it through.

This article was published by Virginia Beach Spotlight — highlighting the people and businesses that make our community great. Interested in being featured? Apply here.