BUSINESS NAME

BIGBADSILVERADO · June 18, 2002

Ok guys/gals....As some of you may have noticed lately on this forum and others.......I've been toying around with the idea of opening some type of a truck/car performance and accessory shop in my area. Starting to put this and that together to start working on a business plan.

Talked to a couple of people I know, one is a BODY MAN who runs a shop out of his house, the other is a MACHINIST who also works on his own. I told them my IDEA of a shop that could tailor to the truck and import crowed. We have quite a few older car clubs here with the 30's -70's cars but as we all know....the future is now!

Also spoke with a relative who is a CPA and well as a TAX ATTORNEY

So right now the tenitive plans are for a store with inventory to be sold to the local LATE MODEL ricers, SUV's, Truck and Car owners. The availibility of supplying parts for the OLDER GENERATION of vehicles will also be avail., but the mainstay of the business will be from late model vehicles.

So plans are as follows.......

RETAIL LOCATION WITH APROX. 50k$ OF INVENTORY for sale to local and via internet.

3 BAY SERVICE AREA TO TAKE CARE OF INSTALLS RANGING FROM BEDLINERS, TRUCK CAPS, SPOILERS, ENGINE MODS, LIFTS and so on........

Painting of body accessories will be avail. with my body man, and engine machine work/head...with my machinist, who BOTH will also be joining me in this facility.

I presently looking at a 5500 square foot building with 5 bays (2 of which will be converted into the expansion of the existing retail portion of the building).

THIS IS ALL JUST IN PLANNING STAGES. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING AS MUCH AS I CAN IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A "WORKIBLE" BUSINESS PLAN

I really don't see this happening this year, but I need to research this out to see if it is a VIABLE business idea.

Now I'm thinking of the name and don't have a clue on what to call it......this is where I need your help.....

Any suggestions?

MarkD · June 18, 2002

Where are you located?

Danbury,Ct according to his profile Frank

doverarjim · June 18, 2002

We used this one a long time ago and it worked out pretty well for us, "Performance Center" when we first started it my brother used just his name and then we changed to this, which you could do depending on how well you are known around. If you have a name with a certain group you could call it "Big Jim's Performance Center" or "Danbury Performance Center". We were know as Big Block guys in our days so we used a picture of a BB as our logo. Hope this helps.

Greg · June 18, 2002

I believe Danbury was one of the cities burned by the British during the revolution, leading to folks moving west to the Firelands in the Western Reserve (now northern Ohio). If that heritage is still known in the Danbury area, maybe "Firelands Performance" would work.

BIGBADSILVERADO · June 19, 2002

I believe Danbury was one of the cities burned by the British during the revolution, leading to folks moving west to the Firelands in the Western Reserve (now northern Ohio). If that heritage is still known in the Danbury area, maybe "Firelands Performance" would work.

HMMMMM Historian here!

Yep this place was once burned to a crisp!

Good theory you got there....but...with all of the foreigners we have here, they can't even pronounce DANBURY, never mind even know the history! But I do like your idea!

Still deciding if I want to even get involved with this rice crap or not. I know it will be income, but when your really not into it yourself, it's kinda hard to get with the craze...If you know what I mean.

I really like the truck/suv market and may still decide to go in that direction. Learning the import stuff, to me is like starting life all over! (I'm 34 and still OLD SCHOOL somewhat)

June 19, 2002

"Anything Automotive"

"Your Performance and Accessory Center"

I was gonna use this when I was thinking about doing the same thing that you are doing. What an awesome idea! Put it to work, live your dream!

Now I've kinda lost the fire for that line of work, so my (would be) shop name is yours.

Greg · June 19, 2002

Still deciding if I want to even get involved with this rice crap or not. I know it will be income, but when your really not into it yourself, it's kinda hard to get with the craze...If you know what I mean.

I really like the truck/suv market and may still decide to go in that direction. Learning the import stuff, to me is like starting life all over! (I'm 34 and still OLD SCHOOL somewhat)

What is the balance of vehicles that sell in your area? Here in Michigan, dealers sell lots of domestic 4x4s so there are lots of accessory shops with that focus. Your local business publication or auto dealer's association may have info on sales volume by brand / vehicle type. I suspect you may have a larger market share of imports - maybe tilted a bit toward European brands. When I lived in southern NY state in the early 80s, VWs and Volvos were very popular. If you have local dragstrips, what are people running?

Performance add-ons are becoming more mainstream. Recently, I noticed one of the national muffler chains (the one with the former boxer as a spokesman) advertising performance mufflers on TV. (Sorry, don't remember the name of the firm or the boxer - getting old.) Automakers are trying to build this business as another profit center for dealerships.

One fear I'd have is the Manhattan factor. It seems that lots of New Yorkers don't care about cars or even owning a car. Hopefully this disease doesn't infect folks around your area.

MountaineerTom · June 19, 2002

New England Performance

Connecticut Customs

BIGBADSILVERADO · June 19, 2002

New England Performance

Connecticut Customs

That "NEW ENGLAND PERFORMANCE" has a pretty good ring to it!

We only have 2 shops in the area (not counting the AUTOZONE crap). One stricly does trucks/suvs---mostly bedliners/caps/running boards/tonneau's been in business for 20+ years

The other is a "ALL AROUND" type of accessory/performance shop. It's located in an ol' barn that was sorta renovated for retail about 30 years ago. only has 7' ceilings. stuff thrown all over the place, very unorganized and unprofessional IMHO.

Store closes every night at 7pm ( I would be open until at least 9 pm). Been in business for about 5 years now.

The hardest part is deciding to "SPECIALIZE" in a certain market, or do it all? This will also help in deciding on a name!

The closest tracks are 50 to 100 miles away (not counting GO-KARTS). The tracks include 2 DRAGSTRIPS, 6 OVAL TRACKS, 1 ROAD RACE TRACK.

We had a few "SPEED SHOPS" in the area in the 70's -90's that closed doors due to whatever reasons...I liked their names:

NORTHEAST SPEED

HOUSE OF SPEED

SHOW & GO SPECIALTIES

PERFORMANCE CENTERS OF AMERICA

I hope to come up with a name soon!

MarkD · June 19, 2002

Couple of ideas...

Redline or bust

Advanced Timing

Perfomance Supply

Rides & Rigs

Pit Road - "Keeping YOU at the front of the Pack"

American Aftermarket

SnakeEyeSS · June 19, 2002

A name I will use if I ever open a performance shop, or auto related place: REDLINE

99silveradoz71 · June 19, 2002

Damn, I think we may need a marketing section on the board here. We've got some talent here. Had a few business ideas in the past, which makes me laugh because when I went to a local landscape distributor here they asked for a company name and I gave them one. Well last year I got an invoice for some product that I did not buy as I pay cash with them. Turns out someone else used my name for their business.