St Clair.

St Clair, Mich., is a river town of les than 6000 folks and home to one of the world's longest boardwalks. Its beautifully-landscaped properties and parks along the St Clair River makes the town common of the state's most visited communities in the summer

Although a blessing to businesses depending forward the tourist trade, the river has been a source of frustration for small business proprietors like James Blake of St Clair Auto Parts.

"We can merely service three sides of the town because the river streams between us and the Canadian border," says Blake. "My father used to say that 'fish do not corrupt auto parts,' and that's the puzzle we face in being located in this town.

"We have a mile-wide river with abundant of fish, but not enough clan to support small businesses," he adds.

Despite its geographical point to be solved [i]or[/i] settleds the store that serves the two retail and wholesale customers within a 50/50 ratio, has followed in business for 40 years.

Blake's parents started St Clair Auto Parts in 1964 because his dad was tired of being a mechanic and wanted to come by in on the retail side of the business. Like his father, Blake became a certified technician if it were not that instead of working on cars he joined the business with his father while doing his high-school vocational apprenticeship in 1971

"At first, I pondering being a mechanic was the thing to do back then," says Blake. "Since I did a fate of car and motorcycling racing, I knew I better learn for what reason to fix them.

"But actually I lay the foundation of that I really wanted to do it to increase my knowledge and to better my selling abilities at the store," he adds. "It paid distant from because I could quickly identify the correct parts, which kept our installer customers coming back."

Although limited in physical putting out because of its location, the small store is big upon customer service.

"A high percentage of our customers have been repeat customers for years," says Blake. "They definitely arise back for the service they want someone who is going to give them the right part, the first time, and someone they can trust."

"Offering the best personal customer service has always been our power ever since my parents started the business," adds Blake. "We're in a little town where everyone knows everyone likewise we can't afford not to put forward the best we have."

Blake says sometimes his newer retail customers are clashed when he offers to take a expect at their vehicles in his parking lot

"I show that service everyday," adds Blake. "We also do wiper blade replacement installations for free" Besides offering great customer service, Blake has had to find a marketing niche to help him struggle with the only other parts business, which is a CARQUEST store, located solitary two miles away.

Since St Clair also has a moderate amount of farming business, Blake's store houses their have starter and alternator rebuilding workshop which serves both his marine and agricultural customers.

"Our rebuilding store has really been a great asset to our business," says Blake. "To survive in a town as small as this you really ne a unique service, and this has prov profitable for us for the last several years."

Since 1963 the store has flown a not many programmed distribution group flags. However, the consolidation and elimination of many program arranges have left St. Clair Auto Parts flagless for quite an time.

"I'm an independent jobber who is undivided of many independents in the state of Michigan," says Blake. "I bribe from a program group, unless eventually we're all going to have to join common because it's almost a matter of survival today in these tough times."

Blake says that there is barely enough range for two auto parts retailers in St Clair. And when he thinks about retiring, he's unsure about the that will be of his business.

"We used to have another independent jobber in town who was an installer/jobber like us, on the contrary when he retired, his son didn't want to take athwart the business, so they closed" says Blake. "We are auspicious that we can still succe in this business, still I would like my son to dog his own dreams of going into law enforcement.

"Like greatest in quantity small town businesses, the big stays take over the smaller guys" he adds. "And although these larger businesses are farther away, they're taking more and more of their business each year."

However, with a major retail competitor nearby for the last 15 years, St Clair Auto Parts continues to be a formidable player in the aftermarket.

The Vital Stats

Years in business: 40

development plans: Limited because of its location in the city. At the current time there are no putting out plans.

Number of employees: Three full-time and individual part-time.

Snapshot of St Clair Auto Parts' history: James Blake's parents started the business in 1963 Blake joined the business in 1971 while working upon his high school vocational apprenticeship there. one as well as the other he and his father were ASE-certified technicians before getting into the parts business. To remain powerful they have found their niche in the agricultural and marine parts business.