North Texas Truck Accessories: Continuing to Shine

continuing toshine

After nearly two decades in the truck accessories business, Mike Wills has learned many things — especially one that is very relevant today.

“If you think you can’t do it by yourself, you are wrong,” he said.

That has proven true with the success of Lewisville’s North Texas Truck Accessories. He and wife Kayla and their partner Scott Hamer have been in business just three years and have been recognized each time in the Best of Denton County voting. In 2021, it won for Custom Auto/Toy Vehicle Accessories and Auto Accessories.

“I’m blessed,” Wills said. “I don’t know how we win. Do I think I’m the best? I think I’m the best at what I do. I don’t think I’m the best company in general. But in selling truck accessories, there’s nobody that can touch me.”

The Lewisville Fire Department, Lewisville Police Department, various truck dealerships, and T-Mobile emergency response vehicles are among its biggest customers. All have helped keep NTTA open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We do all your truck accessories,” Wills said. “Our main bread and butter are bed covers, running boards, spray bedliners, lift kits, and suspension and RV stuff. We also have a full interior department.”

Wills previously worked for similar companies in South Carolina and since 2010 in Texas. He has a history of turning around under performing enterprises and has built his current business to revenues he never thought possible. One reason why is his background in sales. His philosophy of treating customers and employees right are among the reasons that set North Texas Truck Accessories apart.

North Texas Truck Accessories continue to shine with their customers

“One, you treat the company like it’s your own whether it’s your company or not,” he said. “Two, never lie. Always tell the truth even if it’s losing a sale. And the last thing is to be nice. That’s all you gotta do. And another thing, our customers are not our customers. Our customers are friends & family.”

Wills is looking to build long-term relationships, including warranting competitors’ items.

“I want your business forever, and I will do what it takes to keep your business forever,” he said.

Best Auto Accessories, Best Custom Auto/Toy Vehicle Accessories

North Texas Truck Accessories 972.591.0400 901 E. State Highway 121 Lewisville, TX 75057 NorthTexasTruckAccessories.com

It’s been quite a ride for Bryan McLarty since retiring from his corporate job at AT&T in 2013 and concentrating full-time on his passion for everything barbecue.

From expanding a catering business that started in 2000, then opening a trailer, later a shack, and for almost three years his own brick and mortar restaurant, McLarty has been showing his prowess to much larger audiences. Those he served were obviously impressed as they voted his 407 BBQ as the Best BBQ place in Denton County in consecutive years plus Best in the Catering and Student BBQ divisions of this year’s Best of Denton County contest.

The 57-year-old McLarty has been slow cooking meats since he was 10 — originally just for family and friends. When he started catering, he went under the name of BigFish BBQ based on his former passion of bass

“Working at the phone company, everybody called me BigFish,” he said.

competition, and they asked our team name.

So as a joke I called it BigFish BBQ. The sad part is, it stuck and sort of branded me. Once we began getting our name out there in catering, it was very confusing talking to someone about BBQ whose name events. But within 3-4 years, he was routinely handling 175-300 people. His biggest event was a combined 6,000 people.

“It took 4-5 weeks and 28 staff to plan and execute it, but we pulled it off without a hitch,” he said.

He has won a number of other BBQ competitions, including Grand Champion at the North Texas State Fair in Denton. He opened his food trailer in October 2016 in Corral City next to the liquor store and changed the name to 407 BBQ.

“It worked out. We’ve never had to advertise. It’s all been word of mouth,” he said. “When we opened up the trailer, there was no way I was going with the name BigFish BBQ, so we chose the road

out there, I could go anywhere from Rhome to Lewisville with the same name.”

The trailer’s immediate success turned into a small shack in July 2017 on an adjacent lot next to City Hall in Corral City. Outgrowing that within 18 months, he opened his current restaurant in front of the 407 Gun Club east of I-35W in February 2019.

years,” he said. “We’re still trying to add on another 950 square feet to our kitchen right now.”

One reason for his success is that he puts people in the right positions in the kitchen to succeed. by Mark Miller

“It’s all about a team. As long as everyone stays in their position we’re good. If they cross over, the wheels fall off the bus. We’re just a big family at 407 BBQ. Whether it’s an employee or customer,

It’s like I tell my people, 99 percent of what we do is all about attitude. If you have the attitude, the desire, and the passion to go the extra mile, you will succeed. The other one percent is just cooking dead animals.”

McLarty said 407 BBQ tries make the meats be the only variable. While every animal is different, being consistent in their process and work ethic are what separates 407 BBQ from a lot of the competition.

“We do many extra steps in how we prepare the product we turn out,” he said. “I’ve burned up a lot of meat in 47 years, but I’ve also perfected a lot of processes. It’s nothing different than a NASCAR driver who hits the marks on every turn. If you don’t hit your marks, you end up in the wall.

“We emphasize that above all, it’s the passion we put into our food every day. We’re not trying to

want to be the best BBQ restaurant on the day of your visit. We’re bare bones in our look, and that’s by design. It’s sort of here we are; what you see is what you get, and we let the food speak for itself. We’re pretty transparent and hope to be doing this for a lot longer. I get to work with my best friend, my wife (Leslie) every day, and I’m living out my dream every day.

“I have 5-10 good years left on these knees, then

call me BigFish again.”

We emphasize that above all, it’s the passion we put into our food every day.

Best Barbecue

407 BBQ 682.224.9225 831 FM 407 Argyle, TX 76226 407bbq.com

FILLER

by Diane Ciarloni by Design

We’ve all seen them, and we all know what happens when we see them. We oat into a semi-dream state, with our subconscious calling out: “Yes! Yes! I want one of those!”

What exactly are we seeing?

We’re focused on a full-page, color picture of

shelves, rows of perfectly displayed shoes, racks of hanging blouses, enough drawers to house every sweater ever owned, along with charming compartments for lingerie. A beautiful chandelier hangs from the ceiling, and a few silver-framed

Okay. You’re right. They’re not all that opulent, and they’re not all closets. There are also home

more. Sometimes, when it comes to closets, it may be a reach-in rather than a walk-in large enough for a king-size bed! The bottom line is: You may order as many bells and whistles as you desire but the ultimate objective is always, always organization geared to making life easier and more enjoyable.

Jay and Lisa Hemby own the Closets by Design/ DFW franchise in Addison, purchasing it more than two years ago.

“My college degree is in industrial engineering,” Jay said, “and I spent 25-years as a business consultant with an eye toward organization and productivity. Lisa has managed many home remodeling projects.”

“We decided we wanted a business of our own; one to complement our skillset, to help people improve their lives, and one that had a local footprint.”

Jay and Lisa began looking. They found several businesses for sale, including Closets by Design.

“It was owned by the same couple for 19 years,” Jay said. “It had a strong client base and an excellent reputation. The service territory was the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area, which meant we had plenty of room to grow.”

“Many of our customers will eventually move to new homes, but they can’t live without that

laundry room once they’ve had it. Often, new home buyers ask us to work with them during the build stage, making these spaces an integral part of the

tremendous value for eventual resale,” Lisa said.

There are, of course, other companies offering closet design, but Closets by Design is the only one in DFW to have consistently operated its full-line production facility for over 20 years. “We

components are fabricated” Jay stated. “All of our projects are custom. Nothing is put together out of a box, and we can respond quickly to our customers because we do so much of the work on-site.”

Jay continued, “There are many things you don’t realize about a niche business like this one until you’re involved in the daily operation. For example, needs vary and lives change from one season to the next. We may design storage for a nursery, but those needs change when the baby is six and then a teenager. Also, newer homes built with higher ceilings allow for more overhead closet storage for seasonal clothing. We provide state-of-the-art pull-

down rods for ease-of-use. Slanted shoe shelves, hidden hampers, valet rods, jewelry trays, and much-desired puck/strip lighting are other popular features often selected.”

“Our products are constructed with adjustability and functionality in mind. There are over 30 colors and textures available, providing a choice for every taste and desire. That being said, our expert design consultation helps bring the closet to life, embracing each customer’s own unique preferences,” Jay explained.

Lisa agreed. “Our sales and design staff are one and the same. A designer goes to the home and discusses the customer’s needs, including an inventory of what will be used or stored in the space. The design is drawn and reviewed with the customer in the home. They then select the

customer to complete their dream space,” Lisa said.

Jay added, “During the pandemic, with people refraining from dining out, travel and other leisure activities, much attention was then

Our greatest rewards come when people tell us how these projects, from small to large, change their lives

so important to ensure daily life operates pleasantly

“Our greatest rewards come when people tell us how these projects, from small to large, change their lives,” Jay and Lisa revealed. “Those changes come because the new organization removes a mental burden they didn’t even know they had. We enjoy organizing people’s lives, one closet at a time!”

focused on home remodeling,” Jay said. “Home

continue working from home.” More than 75% of US homeowners completed at least one home improvement project since the pandemic began.

Jay elaborated further, “With the average US household containing about 300,000 items, having a place for everything, and everything in its place, is

Best Garage Design/Organization

Closets by Design 972.361.0010 4125 Billy Mitchell Dr., Ste. 100A Addison, TX 75001 ClosetsByDesign.com