Titan Motoring

Nashville, Tenn.

iNNovative Concepts

Now operating out of a newer location in Wilbraham, Mass., iNNovative Concepts is owned by Nicholas Frazier, who has been in the industry for 16 years.

Looking back, he said the biggest mistake he made as a young technician was believing others who said “some cars couldn’t be touched. I obtained the knowledge to know better. It’s hard to say you’d do ‘X’ or ‘Y’ differently If you could. Would you still be where you are?” Frazier wondered. “Make a standard that you want your shop to live by. Yes, we need to make money to survive, but don’t cut yourself short. Don’t give in to petty people and petty things. Stay strong and the rest should work itself out.”

In the near future, Frazier hopes he’ll be able to step back from the managerial aspects of his business and focus more on building and tuning.

Sudbury Car Audio

Sudbury, ON

Conrad Leduc, the owner of Sudbury Car Audio, started installing in 2003 and moved into sales, becoming one of the top sales associates in Canada. “I ended up getting out of the industry for almost 10 years, working in the mining sector, while always installing on the side,” he said. “In 2013, mining slowed down and our workplace closed. That’s when I started Sudbury Car Audio, basing the company’s core values on proper install practices. Things took off.”

Currently, Sudbury Car Audio is planning to purchase its own building. Leduc said he hopes to have a newly designed showroom with wallmounted boards and interactive displays themed in the shop’s colors—a simple, clean look. “We are also planning to expand our business by adding a detailing division, ceramic coating services and car starter installation,” he said.

In the past, Leduc said he’s learned a lot from dealing with his business’s clients. “If we have a client who requests that a job be done too quickly, the wrong way or with the wrong gear—we want to help educate them. Sometimes, when you say no or contradict their previous belief, they become upset or negative,” he explained. “Getting into an argument in business—even if you’re right—is never worth it.”

He noted that he’s become more skilled in dealing with clients “who can’t be helped or won’t listen to the proper installation method.” While this doesn’t happen often, he said, “It’s better to let them walk away instead of being upset about it, which affects other aspects of the business.”

Absolute Electronix

Rockville, Md.

Ata Ehdaivand is the owner of Absolute Electronix, and he has been in the industry for 26 years. He feels honesty is an important component of his work and his business. Ehdaivand noted that Chris McNulty is one of his greatest influences, adding, “He believes in me more than anyone else.” In the future, Ehdaivand simply plans to stay the course and keep “building cars.”