Not giving up yet!!! SO-CAL L.A here to help!

I know it has been a topic on here lately that the folks in retail have had a really tough season and that's a bit of a comfort since I wasn't really ready for my first Winter with a store to be pretty much totally silent- thought I was alone, but apparently many felt (& still feel) the impact of a totally ****py economy.

Things seem to be warming up a little, but only waiting for people to come through the door would ***ure it will be time to pack up and shut down in 60 days or less. And that's sad because it's such a great and exciting time to be involved with hot rods and the business of supplying people with the parts they need. The parts available today are SO MUCH better than the **** we were left with 10-15 years ago. In '91 I wanted a '32 SOOOO bad- but Roadster bodies were so rare my only choice was to start with a gl*** one (ultimately if just didn't feel right and I sold the project)- if I would have EVER thought NEW steel '32 Ford Roadster bodies would be available someday soon I would have definitely waited- and the list just HUGE from there as far as all the cool traditional stuff you can get compared to those "darker days".
One of the things that TOTALLY inspired me today was a visit to Bobby Walden's shop and seeing all the great things he's working on there- one of the big pieces he has coming up is NEW STEEL chopped '32 3-window bodies with a chop very close to the Cl***ic Doyle Gammel Coupe style chop. He also had a bunch of WAYYYY cool cars in the works and some upcoming products that for BOTH rodders and customizers to make life WAYYYY easier.
Also the car show season started and has allowed us at SO-CAL L.A. to get out and see the people and slowly the phones are ringing again- and HAMBers are calling for help with some of the bigger things like ch***is and suspension parts. I had a post that I will be carrying a full line of Automatic transmissions built by the best builder in the country- and I'm also working on being a major dealer of custom open and enclosed car trailers- so let me know if you might be considering buying a new transporter.

I apologize to those who view this solely as a self-promotion piece, I really just wanted to talk out loud and thank my HAMB family who has seen me through many different steps in life during the last decade. Still working on the side on the magazine stuff- and will actually being doing more of it coming up real soon. That was impossible at first as the business was taking up 25 hours of my day, but the possibility of my bleeding ulcer from last year returning from worrying about the new business made me make some choices that will help pay the bills in a more secure manner. You can't make people buy a t-shirt, but if you write a good story- the magazines will actually send you a check! love how that works!

So thanks again all for helping with SO-CAL L.A. and look forward to helping you all in the future! Remember- we are an ALLIANCE VENDOR! Thanks, Jim

 

Thanks man! I actually think 50% of my sales are to Alliance Members- so I do VERY MUCH want to say thank you for the support! You all are the best! Jim

 

do what ya gotta do...
who says ya can't be forced to buy a t-shirt happens here every day..

 

There was thread about having a HAMB swapmeet! Maybe you could take the ball and run with it!!!! If it was at your shop,guys would come and look inside while they are at the swapmeet. Just a thought....I always thought it would be a great idea to have a parts board in a shop. That way guys could put up pic's of old speed parts and if the guys know it's there,they will come in to check it out. You could have a rule that the board gets "cleaned" the last day of the month. When I worked in a VW shop,back in the early 80's,I put up a parts board and it was a big success. NO business cards! Just parts and cars.I even bought about 8 cars off my own board,LOL!!!!

 

not a bad idea Bob...........then have a sale inside at the same time and .....Whamo..........business!!

 

Maybe every three months or something.

 

Hey Jim,

I'm a So Cal boy and will be stopping by your shop to say hi in the near future. Thanks for being a vendor for the H.A.M.B. Alliance.

 

I know I'm not a major customer but I have bought a few things from you. With that said, I'd be camped out at your place if I lived out there. Being an Alliance dealer should turn a lot of HAMBers your way and with your shipping policy it's a win/win deal.
Now, figure out a no interest payment deal on a Brookville 3w or a '33-'34 3w from Steve's and I'll pick up the Brookville at the factory or you can deliver the '34 the next time you come east.
BTW, I'm pulling for you to make a go of this venture of yours, it's got to be a dream come true.

Frank

 

...how many zeros do I hafta put on a check to get my frame pushed to the top of the list? ...hang in there Jim...

 

Actually- I think I got you preferred placement today Larry- but don't tell anyone! Thanks man- you are a hero! Jim

 

if your health is being compromised and you have something for income to fall back on by all means "fall!" no shame in it. personal history: beat cancer in early 90's and last three years battleing a sleeping disorder and slowly winning. keeping your health is #1. having poor physical health leads to poor mental health which is bad thing. if you decide to stick it out might be time to find a partner. good luck!

 

Ride it out.....better is coming.

 

I've actually wanted to do that for a long time- I have the parking lot- it's on!!!

Here's the idea- we do the swap at my shop on a Saturday- the parts not sold can go on to a Virtual Swap Meet here on the HAMB on Sunday. I've been on these on some cl***ic bike boards and they RULE. I was going to approach Ryan about doing this- this is the shove I needed. Let me know if you approve Ryan, there will be something in it for the HAMB- maybe a donation for "swap spaces" in a special section below the regular topics would be good. It will certainly get a huge ammount of eyes checking it out- and I have learned lately how much that means to the value of a website. I mean even the Alliance vendors like Coker could get in on this with some blow out items. I am SO INTO THIS! People can send us their items for sale- we can help catagorize- and then we go live with one big swap meet once a month on a Sunday afternoon (that way nobody misses any good events). This was my idea a year ago, but it's making so much more sense now. Screw evil bay- lets sell our junk to each other and have a fun time doing it. Outsiders will come and buy, but that's the fun of it. You don't have to pack up your truck and waste a day having people paw your stuff- get in and out in an hour or two and watch that pile of leftovers in your garage or next to the house turn into cash.

If there is a down side I'm not seeing it right now Thanks Jim

 

I've looked- would really like to expand into actual car building- have the space available in a great shop that shares my parking lot. The only thing is that it means even MORE $$$. If somebody wants to move into a great shop with a good neighbor to do some clean construction they should hit me up. Also have a complete line of traditional parts designed, but again- all it needs is money and I have a direct ready made pipeline to distribute the stuff.

 

Damn, Jim. This is a lousy year for me, health and moneywise, but I don't want to see ya go ***s up. I'll come score a T-shirt or something.

Phil

 

Jim,
If it's about cars and the HAMB,i'm all in! I'd love to help you with the swapmeet. I hate going to Long Beach or Pomona and see Raider towels,beach chairs,Taiwan tools,etc,etc. I used to go to a swapmeet at RioHondo college that just had old car parts,no new ****!!!! Don't know what ever happened to it.

 

Jim you are a great guy, hang in there and thanks for all you do,. Good seeing you in Austin

Rusty

 

I do not want to rain on your swap!!!!!!...

state taxes collected and paid by whom...?
so real parts are sent to you or pics of parts ?

we have had a push for business tax ID's at local swaps here ..
a dollar amount cap is what keeps some guys from IRS trouble

really who figures tax and makes coin change at a swap meet?

i like the idea of ALLIANCE vendors or local shops run by HAMBERS having a HAMB DAY SWAP where this could happen all across the country...
where stuff is seen ,exchanged ,delivered..

HAMBSWAP ACROSS AMERICA...

 

I know "occasional sellers" do not require taxes or sellers permits at the big local swaps here so I'm sure we could start that way until Joe Law cracks down.

Bob- I went to Pomona for the first time in 5 years last week. We were regulars 20 years ago and went strong for 10 years. ****s now- nothing like the old days. People aren't even there to buy. I saw awesome stuff there at the end of the day that would go nuts on e-bay- that's where people shop these days- swaps are junk fests- I don't need ANY mix CDs or framed Kat Von D posters so I won't be going back to Pomona soon.

 

I agree! The last three times i've gone,it was just to meet Dreadman or Outlaw52 and hangout with them. Didn't even go into the swap area. If i'm looking for something,I go to Long Beach. HAMB swap would be much more fun.....

 

Okay Then "on With The Show!"

 

OK- Sounds like we need to kick this Swap Meet off May 17 at my place, SO-CAL L.A. 517 Figueroa, Wilmington, CA 90744 310/830-2291 (right off the 110 Fwy at the "C" Street offramp)- anybody see a problem with that?

 

Off the 110 FWY...

 

I corrected- typing too fast! Thanks Jim

 

No Problem, see ya there! Tex

 

May 17 it is then!!! Right?

 

Jim.....start a separate thread , make a flyer..........kick it off right

 

Jim,

I still have a list of ch***is parts needs from So-Cal. I'm trying to gather all of my ch***is parts before starting in on it & have been buying the smaller stuff first.... working my way up to the So-Cal order.

I hope to order within a month.

Thanks for all you do for the HAMB & its members. Hang in there.

JH

 

Jim - the swap sounds like a killer time. Hang in there man.