I have a great plumber. His name is Bobby so we call him Bobby the Plumber. I met this fellow years ago when he was working for a large plumbing company and he did such a good, conscientious job for me that I recommended him to all my friends. That inspired him to strike out on his own and set up his own small business…and by "small," I mean it's just him and a helper. He did not leave the big plumbing firm just for the increased money but because he didn't like the way they did business, making him overcharge people and suggest unnecessary repairs. That's why he decided to work for himself…and when he started working for me, he charged me around half his old employers' rates.
For around fifteen years now, maybe longer, he's plumbed on word-of-mouth: No advertising, no promotion…I'm not even sure he's listed in the Yellow Pages. Everyone he works for tells all their friends about him. I've probably recommended him to at least a hundred people I know and about 97% have thanked me. The 3% were the kind of folks who I suspect are just impossible to please so I don't hold them against Bobby.
The economy being what it is, he lately has days when he isn't rushing from client to client. If you're in L.A. or the Valley and do not have a terrific plumber, you should have his contact info. I hope you don't need him but if you do and you're as happy as I am with his service, pass him on to others.
[SAD UPDATE: I have removed the contact info because, as explained here, Bobby passed away in 2011.]