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eeDee Morris is the owner and “With more than 30 years of experience work that needs to be done, let them know. artisan of Ellen Claire Soapery, in automotive diagnostics and repair, The customer deserves to have all of the and right next door is husband we can take care of all of your family’s available information. They just want to Bobby’s business, Home Town Auto Care. automotive needs,” he says. “It is this type know that they have someone they can As entrepreneurs, their products and of experience and knowledge that allows us trust with their automotive needs” services may be very different, but one to provide service and diagnostics you can Bobby and DeeDee take the thing they have in common is a profound count on.” responsibility for excellent customer commitment to family—theirs and yours. Home Town Auto Care has two service and product value very seriously “We are small family-run businesses, so locations—Bloomingdale and Pooler—and and treat every customer as if they were it really is ‘our family to your family,’” says performs services on both foreign and their own family. DeeDee. domestic cars. A Family Affair Bobby and DeeDee are both Georgia Having served eight years in the United Before opening her soapery, DeeDee natives—Bobby was born and raised in States Marine Corps Reserves, Bobby is and Bobby worked in separate locations. Effingham County, while DeeDee was proud to offer military discounts, as well as Now that they are located in the same born in Augusta and has called Effingham discounts to police, fire, and other public building, she says, “It’s really fun seeing County home since the age of 16 when her service members, as does DeeDee. my husband at work every day. We’ve family moved next door to Bobby’s family. Mo’ Southern Collection never really had the opportunity to work Both bring a wealth of experience and The couple also is proud to offer another side by side until now and we love it!” expertise to their respective companies. brand—the Mo’ Southern Collection— They both employ family members in Bobby is a Master Certified Automotive which includes a proprietary blend of their respective businesses and wouldn’t Technician and worked in the automotive Southern roasted small batch coffee, hand have it any other way. industry from Hilton Head to Savannah poured candles and wax melts, casual At Home Town Auto Care, Bobby’s before opening Home Town Auto Care in apparel, and fine chocolate. brother Jimmy Morris manages the 2000. Pooler location, and his aunt DeeDee is an RN and her Kathy Harvey manages the nursing career included accounts and office. teaching (CNA, PCT and Being family can make communication easier or The couple’s daughter CPR) as well as geriatric, Katie Morris works in Ellen harder. At the end of the day, we love each other cardiopulmonary and Claire Soapery creating pediatric nursing. She was a and give each other more grace and forgiveness. many of their products school nurse for 19 years at while attending college for Sand Hill Elementary School nursing. Their niece Abby in Effingham County before The line also has handmade natural body Morris is in charge of web design, apparel retiring after 30 years in nursing to open care products formulated especially for design and special events, and niece Ellen Claire Soapery. men, such as beard oil, beard balm, shave Amanda Lavin—also studying nursing— Ellen Claire Soapery soap, and handmade soaps in masculine works in the store and is their field DeeDee knows how essential good skin fragrances. DeeDee says the men’s care representative. care is to overall health and wellness. products are a great fit in the Mo’ Southern Both businesses occasionally have “What we put on our bodies can affect our Collection and have been very popular. the next generation of family health,” she says. “So I created a line of skin babies in the shop. Abby has Stellar Customer Service and body care products that are not only her niece with her sometimes The Georgia Business Journal recently good for your skin, but you can feel good and in the early years of had a statewide “Best of Georgia” about using. Our family creates hand crafted Home Town Auto Care, competition and Ellen Claire Soapery won Kathy frequently had her soap, bath, body and skin care products with the Best of Georgia Skin Care Specialist luxurious oils, butters, and additives such as granddaughter in the category. goats milk, kaolin clays, silks, phthalate free office in her playpen. It “It was an absolute honor! As a nurse, fragrance and essential oils.” truly is a family affair skin care is my passion, and we were They give their customers individual with the Morris family. thrilled to be voted ‘Best in Georgia,’” says attention and create many custom orders DeeDee says, “The DeeDee. She adds that they were nominated girls get my vision and because “Natural skin care is getting a based on their products and superior lot more attention,” says DeeDee. “My what is important to customer service business practices. number one priority is creating naturally me is also important In 2020, Bobby was nominated for the fabulous products that smell good, are fun to them. They have Ratchet & Wrench All-Star Awards and he to use and great for your skin!” our work ethic, says the key to great customer service and especially as it pertains Home Town Auto Care repeat customers is simple. to customer service Bobby has been working on cars since “It’s just being up front and honest,” and superior products. he could hold a wrench and most of his he says. “Tell the customer what’s going They’ve learned how to technicians have decades of experience on. If it’s going to take longer than they make products by hand, as well. expected, let them know. If there’s more formulate. They’ve learned
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36 February/March 2022 | www.EFFINGHAMMAGAZINE.com
