Discipline and Listening Well Are Keys to Military Service and to Auto Service
Two years ago in the July/August 2013 issue of Shop Owner magazine, an article about the recent purchase of an auto service center in Memphis, TN, by Bill Brickhill was featured. The article introduced Bill as a retired U.S. Navy officer with 20 years of active service followed by seven years in the reserves.
When asked what attracted him to the automotive aftermarket, Bill admitted that it had been a long journey, commencing about a year before his retirement from the Navy. While working as a civilian consultant, he started looking at different career options.
“I really wanted to own my own business, but wasn’t sure which industry would be the right fit. Once both of my kids got to high school age and my family and I decided to make our permanent home in Memphis, I explored various possibilities, from convenience stores to gas stations, liquor stores, even at one time coming close to buying a sports bar, but then changing my mind,” said Bill.
He continued, “I really wanted a business which matched my professional values in which I could make a positive impact.”
The shop he purchased at the time was an established, profitable, turnkey operation with seven bays, equipment, inventory and experienced employees in place located on a busy intersection with a high traffic commercial strip. The shop provides comprehensive vehicle repair and maintenance services, offering total car care including brakes, oil changes, exhaust, scheduled maintenance, tires, steering and suspension services.
At the time of the purchase, Bill noted, “Buying a business is like working on a MBA the hard way…a real trial-by-fire. A good business broker can smooth that arduous process. For a first time buyer, having someone involved who knows the ropes is definitely a plus. There’s an amazing amount of paperwork and negotiations to get the deal done.”
Two years later, Bill added, “If I then thought that buying a business is like working on a MBA the hard way, I have since learned that owning and running a business is also a real trial-by-fire. I’ve learned much more about balance sheets and P & L statements by being responsible for their content than I ever would in school.”
But Bill has, in fact, welcomed the opportunity to “Be Your Own Boss” and, as a result, has just recently purchased his second shop.
Bill said, “The details of the purchase of my second shop are a completely different scenario from the first. Rather than being a thriving, profitable business, it is a location that has been closed for a couple of years and all but forgotten by its former customers. So it’s a whole new challenge to have re-opened it and started over. The brutally frigid weather we had this past winter delayed the opening until April, but now that we have opened we have gotten off to a slow but solid start.”
When asked how long it takes to become proficient at being a shop owner, Bill replied, “Well it has taken every day of the past two years and I continue to learn new things every day. There is just so much to learn about running a business in a constantly changing landscape of rules and regulations. That’s the hardest part. Healthcare reform legislation and how it impacts a small business is just one example of a major challenge.”
Bill concluded by saying, “Whether coming from an automotive service background or not, a new owner having the discipline to focus and desire achievement combined with the ability to listen to your customers and address their needs are the keys to success in this industry.”
