Hello from Wisconsin! Any Auto Parts Stores Here?

[Racineautoparts]

Hi guys,

 

I recently have been approached to take over an established auto parts store that sells to walk-in clients and local repair shops. It's currently confidential who the person is that is selling. I come from a long line of repair/filler-station entrepreneurs and have been self-employed as a cleaning company for the past 4 years and have experience managing my own employees. I know what it takes to build a business from the ground up and have been very successful at marketing and turning a profit. Obviously, the biggest change will be the incurred overhead from having a building and an inventory.

 

I'm here at autoshopowner.com to learn about the auto shop market. The only thing is I haven't seen much about shop suppliers. Are there any parts stores represented on this forum?

 

So about the store I'm looking to purchase: as usual, the father started the company leading it to amazing growth and never worked behind the counter. The son took over, worked behind the counter, performed all the roles, worked 80 hrs a week and never had any time or idea how to market the company. There are currently 2 counter guys, and office person, inventory and a store where half of the square footage in that back is unused. It sits on a road that get 4800 cars passing the store per day - low, I know. The website needs an overhaul - parts to be listed, etc. The surrounding neighborhood is working class and the nearest Chain store is a mile away (of course on a road that gets 13,000 cpd passing). There aren't many other competing parts stores nearby. As they're operating it, it's breaking even. I know that with proper marketing the sales can really boom. If we keep the same location, we can rent out the back space to a mechanic, small engine repair, or t-shirt printing company.

 

Thanks for any help. I look forward to learning from you all!

 

Take care,

 

Garrett P

[mspecperformance]

A fresh rebrand or update to the brand would do wonders imo. Also what percentage is wholesale? If you were to pursue that route in s major way it eould be in your best interest to go out abd establish relationships with every shop in your area.

[Racineautoparts]

I completely agree in the rebrand. His current approach is the "low price"...basically, he looks up AAP and quotes the parts $1 less.

 

The thing about the "lowest price in town" is that there is always someone willing to go out of business faster!