What do you see as the current trends?

Hi gang! I need some help, and hopefully you folks can point me in the right direction. I have had an opportunity dropped in my lap today, that I didn't see coming. Seems a fairly well known street rod shop here has fallen on bad times and is thinking of closing it's doors. Here's where I come in. I might have a chance to jump into this place and re-vamp it's product line and the business it's self. My first thought is to build more product aimed at the traditional rod scene. I have a few other tricks up my sleeve, but when it comes right down to it - I have to admit, I don't know whats hot outside the realm the we all inhabit here. I'm about thirty years deep in this hobby/business, but I have always been plugged into the traditional type car. I just realized as I said that I'd put together a business plan - I don't have clue what's current. So I put it to you guys - What are the current trends, and where do you see this thing going? Thanks, Chip Quinn

 

Follow your dream. I just can't see myself taking on somebody elses failed business, there are going to be a lot of hidden liabilities. If I were starting a shop it would be from the ground up. Buy the parts, equipment, property, of that failed business at the bankrupsy auction.

 

Good luck, but I don't think these are the times to be starting or taking over a car hobby business, or new car business for that matter.

 

Tell me you don't wear kicky slingbacks - then tell me how you know what they are!!!!

 

Maybe wait for it to close completely then buy all the gear at cents in the $. There is another thread on the 1st couple pages atm, "If I build it, will they come" or similar. Might be a good read.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=439025

You may also find if you start building to trends that when that becomes unfashionable so will your business. Could trad rods be the only thing to stay cool?

 

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! sorry! just couldn't help myself!

 

The 70s baby! Muriels, ribbons, stars and stripes, cowboy hats jack up kits, slot mags, mismatched wheels, buttoned tufted velour, muriels, L60 white lettered General Grabbers and hot pants for both men and women.

 

I heard somewhere to invest in brown paint, I don't know.. sounds pretty shitty to me!

 

No way NADS buttoned tuffed veleur sucks and you know it. The rest is for sure

 

what about the 80s teal monochromatic paint, late model "sport mirrors" on fat fendered cars, painted bumpers etc. you see one of these cars come up for sale now and everyone says"what a god-awful paint job" but these were all "the current trend" at the time.

 

Fuck current trends!

 

I think the trend is for more garage built cars. Rodders always seem to have money for their rods, just not as much as they use to. Instead of alot of high end parts, maybe just necessary parts that are functional and safe. The younger rodders seem to be a hands on group and would buy safe affordable parts, as would we all.........

 

No, it's not a matter of waiting 'till the end and swooping in. I actually kind of got here from there. I have my own shop that has done o.k. over the last twenty years, but is a bit slow now. This is a matter of helping a friend and very respected member of our local crew, that due to illness, can't do this alone anymore, and improving my position in life at the same time. I would come in as a business manager, weed though what we have to offer, create new product, and "re-aim" this once very prosperous business. I think this is a viable option for this company, and something I have done a couple of times over in other types of business in my life. But as I sat and started to devise a plan I realized that most of my knowledge was rooted in "traditional cars", and to be flexible I would need to kind of look into the future as far as where this stuff is going. As far as I'm concerned, the trad thing is it, and that will never change. I'm the guy that built the '35 Ford with a 265 on adapter to a top shift trans in 1978 as a first car, not because it was in, but because it was cool and cheap. But I was looking for your ideas about what people are building outside of our group. Any specific cars or trucks you've noticed allot lately in you area?

 

Cool, thats almost verbatim what I put down on my first page, only you said it a bit better. Thanks.

 

Hate to admit it, but I just spent a good part of this week polishing a set of U.S.Indy slot mags for my o/t car!

 

Depending on the area, the biggest trend I've noticed around here is SELLING to make ends meet. Not too many guys paying to have anything built. More and more guys are either forced to do it themselves or with the help of buddies, or they are selling. It seems like more guys are having much less in the "funds" department then there are guys with extra funds.

But if the area you are in is still flowing with work, I'd say your best bet would to be VERSATILITY. Do not get caught up in the current trend, but get caught up in whatever people want. The current trend just might not be one that lasts. Strive to keep the traditional stuff, and also add trendy, custom, average, mild, wild, etc. to your list and you hopefully will have more than enough work to keep everyone at the shop working. Good luck whatever way you decide to go.

 

Is this a hot rod shop or just a general speed shop?

In my part of the world, the speed shops are building street cars with really serious amounts of power and not much else done to them. As in 1000 hp at the wheels and stock suspension

 

yeah, do it yourself type stuff, that's how i'm doing it, helping family build rides, not so much paying money to have it done. if you can do it yourself...do it yourself first. unless you are a lawyer and have the need to have a hot rod with mad power, but i think they'd have a ferrari or a porsche first. unless you know jay leno...i'm not trying to dissuade you from prospects because it could very well turn around but in my eyes i'm building my own stuff on a slim pickins budget. ecology is my friend and even they charge too much.

 

With twenty years of business ownership already in the bag..you are miles ahead of most people starting out. There will always be certain niche markets (trucks, customs, hot rods, lowriders, tuner cars, etc.), once you land on your market of choice, I would purchase every magazine available relating to that topic. After reading these mags, (cover to cover) it would seem you would have a better handle on the current trends. Trends are just that though, so flexability and open mindedness on your part is in order. Good luck, whichever route you take.

 

what kind of work do you do?full on resto.ground up builds,body panels?ther is still a good market in building gasser stlye racecars/streetcars.ther are alot of manufactures makeing bodys frams susp.out there and alot of people want these kind of cars but they just dont have the time space or knoledge to do it.

 

the current trend in my area seems to be trying to stay employed. I see a lot of my friends trying and only a few having luck.

 

well I think you are already seeing the trends. I got a subscription to Street rodder free two years ago, when I first got it I kind of chuckled at the Street Rods, then as the subscription faded they started putting a ton of more traditional stuff in their rag. I almost renewed, Almost, Instead I paid my alliance membership!!!

Traditional is here to stay, it has been since the 40's and soon the rat rod phase will be over and we can buy up their heaps for penny's and turn them back into normal traditional rods!.

Good luck and business is all about risks, if you take one it has both good and bad sides. Just pray to end on the good side, oh and don't forget to add your company to the Alliance (HAMB discount!)

 

"How do you make a Million Dollars in the Hot Rod business?"

"Spend 3 Million."

Back off a few steps and look at the United States business environment as a whole. With looming taxes and regulations on durn near everything, your margin will be squeezed like never before.

Energy and air quality-related businesses are at the front of the line for governmental anal examination. This is an area over which you have absolutely no control. You can be doing everything absolutely right...and get hammered anyway.

Cash flow in general and in the automotive arena specifically is way, way down...and cash flow is the blood of life for a business.

In my humble opinion, this is a very poor time to invest heavily in any business, much less a business which serves a hobby that is in the crosshairs of the current administration.

As a small business owner myself, I'd strongly advise you to think this one through very carefully before you jump. If you are correct in your choice of product line niche, you might make it...but if you are off, even just a little bit, you're dead.

Good luck!

 

Traditional isnt a "trend".......it will always be around and always has been.

As`far as the shop ..........keep the time line promised,dont jack customers around,dont have an attitude.......

"build it and they will come"

 

Needlouvers : My Granddaddy told me long ago..."always dance with the one that brung you..."
Sounds like you've done OK with sticking to your "traditional " roots.. and your plan for this new venture sounds very well thought out...I believe if it were me in this position , I'd stay true to what I know and have experience in doing...I'd continue to think about future expansions,etc...but for the current economy ,I'd concentrate on keeping what you've got to work with & go with that...slimming down things you don't need ,etc seems to be what most business's are currently doing and expanding very cautiously..

Anyhow ,best of luck in whatever you do..

Just my $0.02 worth of inane prattle
Stan

 

Being in and around this hobby/business for as you said 30 years would put you I imagine around late 40's -50's of age. Taking over that business would be risky and if it tanks one could be disheartened. Motorsports are so widespread from Rockcrawlers to drifters, customs, chops, restos, tuners, traditional hot rods, NCRS guros, etc. They all need welding and metal prep. Media and sandblasting businesses are cropping up all over. That would not be diverse enough though. A good product line of high quality rattle cans, seam sealers, grinding materials, sand paper, specialty tools etc. may help. Maybe keep a few cars on hand for sale. There seems to be a niche for chassis, suspension, and frame work, powdercoating. Going in a different direction, everyone likes to eat! I always thought a car oriented restaurant with the "Cracker Barrel" theme would work. They do exceptionally well. There store front sells, switch it to all car oriented stuff hanging around and I think it would go. Tin signs, Diecast, old gas pumps, automobilia, clothing, hats. These are dream themes, the safe route would be to enjoy your trad hot rod quest, save your money and coast along into retirement without the headaches of a business. My 2 cents.

 

This may not be the best place to ask "Whats new" and "What Trends". Seems most on the board build their own stuff as much as we can and dont care about new trends.
So advice on opening a shop, make sure you can provide fill in work to keep the doors open between hot rod builds. Will you offer custom fabrication, chassis building? this is a cross over to all car hobbyists but its all down on volume right now. If you have the tools to do chassis you can build custom architectural pieces( handrails) etc for your local market to keep your people busy.
Will you offer paint work? get certified for small collision repair/ touch up insurance work to keep your shop busy. Powder coating? if you have a booth you can advertise properly and keep you people busy and utilize your equipment fully.
Make a name as a general tune up shop, theres more muscle cars around than rods and most of the new owners of these cars dont know how to take care of them and make them run especially after sitting around all winter.
Im an engineer for a large manufacturer dealing mostly with our external suppliers, Im seeing a lot of our suppliers shake out and the ones that are flexible in using their equipment in other markets are keeping their doors open.
You need to plan for fill in work and diversify to keep the volume up in your shop, a hot rods only shop will experience slow times, if you want to retain quality employees you need to keep them busy and a check in their pocket or they will start looking around.

 

There's a trend that never goes away. Quality and service. Doesn't matter if it's a nasty rust rod or a Duesenberg. Quality work and honest personal service SELLS ITSELF. You can't buy it, you can't start it from nothing. You earn it. The only thing a trend does is tell you who might walk in the door, not the sum total of the niche market you're looking at. Everything changes. I've seen restoration go from cut and polished frames and accessory laiden cars to those that more closely follow what it really was. Reasearch is better and easier and this generation of collectors want it real. I think hot rods are going that way as well. Nothing wrong with billet if you like it but it sure dates the car these days, doesn't it? Tubbed pro street cars are fading out as a trend but there's still those that like it. I think pro touring won't last as long as pro street did because it's almost as if a tuner car and a muscle car had sex and gave birth to mutant. My opinion not the market's opinion.

I can only offer that if you do what you do best, stay honest and work hard, go for total customer satisfaction, you'll be able to serve any trend that comes along. The reality is that the work is the same in many ways. A pro touring is built like a pro street with frame and tire size mods. A traditional hot rod is like restoration. Taking old stuff and making it new to add to your car. The look, colors, wheels, engines, that's all up to your customer. You can help em along sometimes, but it's up to them. They just need to know you live it instead of do it for your work week. Good luck man, it takes big balls to strike out after this right now. Then again with things being priced right, now could be the time after all.

 

Actually, Tradidtonal IS where the hobby is now. So your head is probably in the current place. Where it goes next is anyones guess. Restored old show rods might be a good guess, or track inspired street drivers. Those are my two best guesses.