Tyler Stager and David Symonds figured all businesses are slow at the start — so they might as well dive in during COVID.
By Kelly Burch, Granite State News Collaborative
When Tyler Stager and his friend David Symonds found themselves working reduced hours at their jobs as automotive technicians, they started chasing their long-held dream of starting their own auto shop.
“It gave us time to think,” said Stager, 27.
At the time, Stager and Symonds were working at two different New Hampshire auto shops. Both had had hours reduced, and Stager was ultimately laid off. But despite that, the duo became convinced that the pandemic could be a good time to start a business.
“Any business you’re trying to start is going to be slow to start,” Stager said. “If everything is going to be slow now anyway, we decided to try to be efficient with that time.”
So, in July, Stager and Symonds signed a lease for a space in Hudson, officially starting European Auto Solutions LLC. The shop services primarily BMWs and other German car brands. It also sells used vehicles and works on specialty automotives like race cars.
Since July business has been steady, Stager said.
“We had that initial time of pumping money into everything,” he said. “Now we’re at the point where it’s kind of self-sufficient.”
The owners have been focused on building a customer base. During the pandemic, that’s even more centered on creating a trusting relationship with customers.
“We have to make them feel that if they do business with us they’re going to be safe and their investment — their car — is going to be safe,” Stager said.
A lot of the networking has been done online.
“We are pretty active on Facebook and in all the Facebook groups, and that’s a really big part of it,” Stager said. From local community groups for New Hampshire cities and towns to groups specific to car enthusiasts, Stager and Symonds regularly promote European Auto Solutions online.
Stager also does more traditional networking too. He’s been known to go to parking lots and pass out lots of business cards. Getting people to switch their automotive care, particularly for high-end cars, is never easy and is even trickier during the pandemic.
“When people show up there’s always that first initial thought of ‘who is this guy?’” Stager said. “A lot of it is just being friendly, and listening to what their concerns are.”
Although business is going well now, Stager and Symonds are preparing for the winter months, when auto work typically slows down. To combat that, Stager is networking with race car drivers to service their vehicles during the sports off-season. Selling cars also helps level out the ups and downs of requests for maintenance work.
“That’s why we’re doing the sales too,” Stager said. “They offset running just the shop.”
Despite the economic uncertainties of the pandemic, Stager said his friends and family were supportive when he shared his idea to open the shop.
“I’ve been talking about doing it since I was 16, so they’re all like ‘he’s finally doing it,’” Stager said.
He’s glad he decided to take advantage of the pandemic.
“We’ve been doing this 10 plus years each. We’ve been making other people money. It’s probably the best time to start our own thing when we don’t have wives, mortgages or big commitments,” Stager said. “When I tell people I just opened a business, some people look at me like I have two heads. But some of the other savvy people in their own business are like ‘it’s a bold move, but a smart move.”
This story is part of the 50 Businesses, 50 Solutions series, shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative, that aims to highlight how business leaders across the state, from mom and pop shops, to large corporations have adapted to meet the challenges and disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus in the hopes others may be able to replicate these ideas and innovations. Tell us your story here. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.