Business Spotlight:

Apple iPhones and iPods have taken the country by storm. News channels have played and replayed video of people in long lines waiting to get their hands on the newest models, with wide grins on their faces as they make their way out of the store.

This is what 24-year-old Jack Assadourian lives for.

He is the owner of Invisible Gadget Guard, a kiosk on the second floor of the Glendale Galleria, and he sells his wares outside the one place where people would go to buy an iPod or iPhone — the Apple Store.

Invisible Gadget Guard is marketed as being a military-grade, optically clear film that seamlessly wraps around any electronic device, from cell phones to laptops, protecting them from scratches and other “harsh conditions.” Assadourian says the film is used on military helicopter rotor blades. Invisible Gadget Guard can be applied to any make or model of cell phone.

Although Apple sells something very similar to Invisible Gadget Guard, Assadourian is not fazed by doing business next to the computer giant. A former T-Mobile employee, Assadourian was a cell-phone salesman at another kiosk on the first floor of the Galleria.

When he saw that the Invisible Gadget Guard kiosk was being sold due to poor sales, he bought it, using the money he had saved working for T-Mobile. He touts his success as a result of being more personable with the customer, something he says is lacking at the Apple Store, and throwing himself 100% behind the product he sells.

“It’s more about customer service than trying to make a quick dollar,” Assadourian said. “I always loved sales. I always like to approach people and talking to people in the mall every day. I just do it.”

It’s all about personality, he says. Assadourian treats each customer like a best friend, at times pulling them over to his kiosk to show off his products.

“I want them to be happy with what they get,” he said. “It’s more one-on-one. It’s not like you’re just going to buy a product from the store and not know what the product is,” Assadourian said as LCD televisions showed a looped video of his product being put through its paces.

“We explain everything.”