Retail News

Freeman’s Car Stereo Opens Seventh Location

WORDS BY LAURA KEMMERER

Freeman’s Car Stereo, with shops in both North and South Carolina, celebrated its 40th anniversary with the announcement of a seventh location in Fletcher, North Carolina. The shop is currently slated to open in January 2020, and will be the business’ seventh physical location in the greater Charlotte area.

“Our mission is to offer the finest in customer experience, workmanship, and product offerings in the industry,” said David Wall, CEO. “We’re excited for the opportunity to bring our energy and expertise to the greater Asheville community.”

Freeman’s Car Stereo is best known for car audio, car stereo, remote start, car security, wheels, tires, lift and lowering kits, marine audio and other work. The new Fletcher location will

offer a range of aftermarket car and marine accessory products and installation services, including remote starts and audio/ stereo.

According to Wall, the business is owned by John and Jane Freeman. The venture experienced growth early on but did not open a new location for some years.

“We do some business online, too, and in the last couple of years we’ve gone through changes and reorganized and tried to reshape our company’s culture and some of the ways we’re doing business to continue growing and evolving,” Wall said.

“John Freeman was a pioneer in our industry, and started off paving the way. In those days, there wasn’t as much made specifically for cars, so he was adapting home audio for car use. Before he even started Freeman’s, he did installs only

and expanded into the business. He saw an opportunity and came up with the winning formula, but it’s always been a core of audio,” Wall explained. “We’ve expanded into vehicle safety, rear seat entertainment and some truck accessories.”

Previously, in 2003 and 2004, Freeman’s started in on the wheel and tire business, as well as doing some vehicle accessories.

“We intend to do the same thing at the new store. We have a formula for what works. We’re always looking to see what opportunities there are. My philosophy is, you’re either growing or you’re dying,” Wall added.

He went on to specify that 2019 has also been a good year for the company, with the venture adding sales directors and trips to KnowledgeFest and SEMA. There were also improvements made to the marketing department.

Though the new store is set to open on Jan. 2, 2020, there will be a grand opening event later in the year.

Installer Institute Graduate Joins the Team at Tunes-N-Tint

WORDS BY ROSA SOPHIA

Tunes-N-Tint in Lakeland, Fla. has a long history of attracting Installer Institute graduates, according to shop director Joe Cassity. The newest addition is Dalton Steadman, age 20, who graduated about two weeks before becoming an official employee. He has been with the shop for about two months.

“He’s doing really well,” Cassity said, adding that all new employees are cross-trained in all departments within the first 90 days, including window film, sales, wheels and tires, and more. “Dalton

has fallen into where his strengths are, though, which is going to be 12-volt and mechanical addons. He’s also proven himself to be very efficient at upholstery.”

Another Installer Institute graduate, Austin Thorne, is now moving into a management position. Until recently, Thorne supervised the install bay as the lead technician. “He will now be an assistant manager running both the front and the back,” Cassity said. “He’s going on his fourth year now. We’re the only shop he’s ever worked at.” Prior to attending Installer Institute, Thorne worked outside the industry, but he was a long-time customer at Tunes- N-Tint. After graduating, he took an internship at the shop and then became an employee. During his first year as a technician, he was named Rookie of the Year by Mobile Electronics magazine.

Cassity said he’s looking forward to 2020. “We’ve had a rocking holiday season. We’ve been very busy and we’re really looking forward to the new year. It’s been a refreshing change that things have been picking up for us.” Tunes-N-Tint is a full-on vehicle restyling center, Cassity added, and the shop handles everything except the actual mechanics of the vehicle. “We also do suspension work and exhaust,” he said.