By Gary Butler
There are those in the automotive repair business who are willing to dip their toe in the water, testing it to see if it feels right, maybe make a decision about investing themselves. Then there is Scott Large, owner of Newport Pitstop, 513 Cosby Highway in Newport, Tenn., who held his breath and took the plunge in May.
Large had worked as a manager of an auto parts store, then later operated a fairly small shop that did lubes and oil changes for three years before he decided to jump into the deep end of the pool. He said he didn’t hesitate about taking out a 20-year mortgage to open a 2,500 square-foot mechanical repair shop with a 3,200 square-foot retail shop adjacent to it.
“The three years I put in at the other shop gave me the confidence to take a chance on this place,” he said, adding that, “it didn’t hurt that the people I had done work for during those three years were incredibly supportive.
“Many of them have already been by here to check out our new place and let me know they want me to have their business, even though we didn’t even have our sign up at the repair shop until today,” Large said.
That kind of confidence is a plus for any owner of any new small business, but especially when that business is located in an economically-distressed area, such as rural East Tennessee. Large doesn’t seem worried, though, perhaps buoyed by a steady stream of former and current customers coming through the door.
“There are only three or four shops that do our kind of work in this community, but I believe that we, as a group, can satisfy most of the repair needs our customers bring to us,” he said. “Naturally there are some proprietary issues, especially having to do with the vehicles’ computers, that we have to refer to the dealerships, but those are the minority.”
Large may not be an “old-timer” in the business, but he had enough savvy to know that he would need state-of-the-art equipment and highly-qualified technicians to be successful.
“We have a new Hunter computerized alignment machine on the way, and we already have the best Snap-On diagnostic analyzer,” he said. “And four of our five technicians are already ASE-certified.”
Although the repair shop was always meant to be the focal point of his new endeavor, Large said he believes changing times dictate the need for diversification.
“I think the retail shop will help create a much more well-rounded business, and I also think the area will support the kind of products we are going to carry,” he said, giving a particular nod of appreciation to the influx of car enthusiasts brought to the area by the local drag strip.
“I can already tell the weekend racers are going to be regular customers, and some of them have told me they are looking forward to being able to buy turbochargers, headers, custom wheels, and other high-end performance products,” Large said. “They like being able to get what they need locally, without having to order it online or drive long distances to get it.
“And, truth be told, it also brings out the kid in me to be dealing with this stuff,” he said with a sheepish grin. “This is pretty much a lifelong dream of mine coming true.”
But Large didn’t stop at diversification and hiring qualified technicians. He said he worked with a prominent national bank to be able to offer customers, many of whom live right on the edge of economic stability, a way to afford mechanical repairs and performance parts without paying high interest rates.
“We give customers an option, if they need it, to have no interest for six months on purchases or repairs more than $200, and no interest for a year on purchases or repairs more than $800,” he said. “We see it all the time around here, where someone’s car tears up and they’re stranded, short on cash. This interest-free financing gives them a way to get their car back on the road without paying brutal interest rates.
“And if things go well, we want to expand the business to include a wrecker service, possibly add a couple more bays to the repair shop,” he said.
Large said he has enough land to easily accommodate such an expansion, and in fact he has already been approached by a representative of a national fast food franchise about purchasing the vacant lot adjacent to his repair shop.
“But I’m not sure I want to give up the option for expansion,” he said. “Even with the mortgage hanging over my head, I may turn down that fast food money if it is formally offered. This place means a lot to me, and I think we will be good for the community.”
So what else does this small town automotive Renaissance man have to offer his community?
“We are installing stereos, in fact we did our first install yesterday,” he said. “I don’t think anyone else in the immediate area is doing that right now, so that’s another niche we want to fill. And we are offering window tinting. The one other place in town that does that can’t handle all the requests they get, so we are optimistic about that part of the business.”
Large said he doesn’t work on transmissions, which is usually a specialty item anyway, but does most other repairs, including engine swap-outs.
“We did our first engine swap last week, and we hadn’t even been here a month,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with some of the high-quality manufacturers, like Jasper. I’ve heard some really good things about their engines, and I can’t wait to get my hands on one.”
While the Automotive Report was interviewing Large, one of his previous, and now current, customers came in to pick up his car, and noticed that Large’s shop was to be featured in a trade publication.
“I can tell you this,” said Eddie Cox, “Scotty Large isn’t just A guy, he is the guy! I promise you I would not take my vehicle to anyone else.”
At least Cox had a conventional repair and his praise for Large and his crew was straight from the hip. There are other customers who obviously appreciate Large’s shop, but sometimes show it in unconventional ways.
“There is a sweet lady who has slow leaks in a couple of her tires, and she stops in here just about every morning and asks us to top off the air pressure in her tires,” Large said, shaking his head in apparent wonderment. “Naturally, we’ve asked her to let us fix the tire, plug the leak, whatever, but she says ‘no, just air it up.’
“But she always brings us beef jerky, so it is fine with us,” he said with a grin.
So what’s next for this fledgling but very enthusiastic business? For one thing, a grand opening celebration on July 2, partially sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce and with an appearance by the state representative from the district.
“We will have a cookout, there will be giveaways, door prizes, and a live radio broadcast,” he said. “We plan to make a big day out of it.”
But a grand opening is just one day of many for a new business, and Large knows he has to deliver every day after that to keep his commitment to himself and to the community.
“I figure as long as we keep the customers’ needs first, stay abreast of the changes in the industry, and give everyone who takes a chance on us the best repair and the best products we possibly can, we’ll do just fine,” he said. •
