Welcome one and all. You are there and we are here. This is the URG On the Go podcast, the true voice of the automotive recycling industry. We do our best each and every episode to bring you new, informative ways to improve your business, and I mean anything that would help you bottom line. We are here with Brian, our producer. In the studio. I'm DJ Harrington, better known as the cardiologist or the doctor. We'll give you a checkup on the neck up and today Amanda and Kristen from URG are here with us. So, Amanda, how about you say hi to our listeners first?
Speaker 2:Hi everyone. Thanks, DJ for having us on. We always love jumping on and discussing what's new with URG and what's coming up. We obviously have something huge coming up that we've been talking about for a while. So, um, our conference will be in st louis april 4th through the 6th. Coming up here, uh gosh, next week, right, oh, my goodness, can you believe?
Speaker 1:it.
Speaker 2:This will be one right there playing during the conference beautiful, yeah, and so we've got kristen on here as well, and then we also have a special guest and we'll I'll let her introduce, her introduce and kind of ask some questions. We want to get to know another yard and kind of go through what URG has done to help him.
Speaker 3:Yes, we are so excited for our conference and with that we're excited to introduce a yard who has really stepped up with sponsorship, not just this year but last year as well. You know they came to us and said you know we want to sponsor in every possible way. So we thought it'd be great for our Get to Know you series to use them as kind of our highlight. With that, we're excited to have Jason with Holbrook. Jason, thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker 4:Kristen Amanda DJ. Thank you guys so much for having us. It is a pleasure to be on this podcast. And we're Kristen Amanda DJ. Thank you guys so much for having us. It is a pleasure to be on this podcast. We're very thankful for this partnership that we have with URG.
Speaker 3:Yeah, well, we're thankful as well. I know, you know, when you guys first came to us, it was kind of like hey, you know, we want to help you guys, we want to show up at the conference and we want to make our presence known, and so we're so thankful for you guys, so thankful for, you know, the presence that you guys have had in our conference and, um, the huge part that you play.
Speaker 3:So, thank you again absolutely, it's our pleasure well, so with that we're going to go ahead and get started. Like I said, this is our get to know you series, where we kind of highlight some of our yards and our members so that you all can hear about how they got started, a little bit about the background behind it and then, just you know, learn some more about your fellow yards. So, jason, we're gonna get started. Can you kind of jump in and tell us a little bit of the history of Holbrook and how it got started?
Speaker 4:yeah, absolutely so. Holbrook has been open for just about 75 years now. The current owners, thomas Pulas and Simon Savaya, have been owners of Holbrook Auto Parts since 2004. So they came in, they purchased this from another gentleman who owned the yard for quite some time as well, and we've been owning it since 2004 and and basically when when we purchased the yard, it was one shop, one location and three acres and we've been able to, in the last 20 years, basically expand our and we've been able to, in the last 20 years, basically expand our business.
Speaker 4:We've moved into different areas of the Detroit area. We're currently located in our Detroit city right now and we've been able to kind of build our yard and try to really, you know, build up the inventory here and then start building stores. So we actually have stores that are located within 10 to 20 minute mile radius of where our yard is located. So that's the growth that has happened here. It's been amazing. I actually started here a little over a year ago. I came in as a logistics specialist, quickly moved into the head of logistics role here, was in charge of really building our processes for shipping, kind of came in and, as well, took in the PRP process and was able to build that as well, and I've recently moved into the chief operating officer role here at Holbrook Auto Parts and this has been an amazing ride.
Speaker 3:Oh, my goodness. Well, you just gave us so much helpful information. Just a little bit about you. Know how you guys started and then you kind of dropped this bombshell that you came from a logistics standpoint. So we'll get back to the history of Holbrook and kind of the multiple locations that you guys have and being in Detroit. But I kind of want to highlight on that. So can you tell us about where you came from, what your background is Like, what part of logistics you know you have history in, and then can you tell us kind of how that's helped you in your position and then how that's helped you grow? I mean, you said you started like almost a year ago. You started as a logistics specialist and now you're chief operating officer. Tell us more about that.
Speaker 4:Yeah, absolutely, I'd love to share that. So I actually come from a mortgage and title industry background. I was actually in that industry for about 17 years, moved out of that and then joined Holbrook Auto Parts beginning of last year, came in here. I really just wanted to take on the logistics role and figure out how we can start delivering our parts a lot better to our customers, how we can get it to them. We're actually shipping parts. We send stuff on the runner through PRP as well, and we actually had three different people here at our yard that were running logistics, but nobody was actually full-time doing logistics here.
Speaker 4:I was to come in and start taking one one by one. So I first came in and took over. What we do is delivery manifest, so basically figuring out how we're gonna deliver to our shops in the area. I kind of built a process around that what that looks like, worked with our drivers to ensure that they're having the best optimizations for their deliveries possible. Then I took over the shipping department, basically shipping parts out to our customers outside of the state of Michigan, then kind of jumped into PRP and tried to figure that out as well.
Speaker 4:We got a process, going in our back room as well, really built that as well and then took over. What we have is hot shots. So hot shots are basically shops that are located within a five mile radius from where we're located right now and we basically do same day deliveries to them. If there's a part that they need and we have a great partnership with them we get that part pulled, we get it cleaned and we get it over to them as soon as possible. So you know, I came in, I built all these processes and then moved up. I was able to hire a couple of people to come in to be a part of this logistics role and then, yeah, it's just been growth ever since then.
Speaker 2:Wow, you sound like a powerhouse. That's amazing. I can't believe that you've come so far in just a year Like that. That kind of shows me and Kristen. Both we look at each other and we're like how do we end up in the automotive recycling industry? And you know it's. It's so incredible to see all of the growth that can happen within this industry and how much passion can come to it, because there's so many different ways you can help these businesses and just with the processes, and then you have the loyalty behind it as well yeah, absolutely, and I cannot leave out the fact that ownership here Simon and Tom have both been.
Speaker 4:I'm just an amazing support system. They've been very patient with me and learning really about the auto industry and what it looks like to be a salvage yard and what it means to run multiple locations. So they've shout out them. They've been absolutely amazing in supporting me through this journey.
Speaker 2:Bosses make the world run round. It's got to be a good boss, sounds like it.
Speaker 3:So another thing I picked up on that you talked about are these and I may mispronounce this hop shops. Is that what you call them?
Speaker 4:Yeah, we call them hop shops here. They're basically same day local deliveries.
Speaker 3:So how did you guys? This is a new concept to me and maybe this is because I you know I'm not on the ground here, but can you maybe tell our listeners a little bit about that, how you guys got into that and and kind of what that is really? I know you said it's it's kind of like a little local spot that kind of helps you do the local deliveries and fast delivery. But I guess can you maybe talk a little bit about that?
Speaker 4:Yeah, absolutely. So. We have shops that are located anywhere between five to ten minutes away from our salvage yard and we've actually went in there, we've had ourselves build a relationship with these shops, basically get connected with them and then let them know what kind of parts we can actually sell them. And they asked us hey, like, if we have a car in the bay and we've got a customer here, this is basically something urgent that we're trying to get out to the customer. Can you guys get us our parts the same day? They took that away, found out how we can make that happen for them, and then we were able to build a process around that, and now we've got a delivery driver who basically goes out every single day and delivering to these shops instantly as soon as they order the parts.
Speaker 3:Okay, I love that. I think that's such a cool concept and that's a really great way to modernize their, like, your business. And you know, that's something I hope all of our listeners are kind of, you know, taking advantage of and hear that and they're like, oh, that's a great idea, because I do think you know, that's one thing that can really help grow the industry. Right, it's just the fast shipping, because our world is Amazon-based, right? So everybody's so used to jumping on their phone or their web browser and they're used to buying the part and getting it either next day or two days. So I think the way that you guys have found to do that is so fascinating.
Speaker 2:Yeah like revolutionizing the shipping with that.
Speaker 1:This would be a good time, though, kristen, if we take a fast break now. Okay, and that way folks hang with us. We'll be back with Jason from Holbrook. This has been great, and we're going to learn more about how he's progressed up the ladder. Hold tight, we'll be right back after this brief commercial, back after this week's commercial.
Speaker 5:Urg Scholarship Foundation was founded in 2014 in honor of individuals who give their talent, time and, very often, their own finances to ensure the growth and success of the automotive recycling industry. We understand college is not for everyone, so each year the foundation offers substantial financial scholarships to auto recycling employees and the children of employees that are attending four-year and technical or trade schools, to assist with their education. Don't leave money on the table. If you have a child or if you're interested in attending continuing education, this money is available to you. Go to u-r-gcom and click on the Scholarship Foundation tab. Urg keeping our industry strong through education.
Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you're listening to URG On the Go podcast. Of course you're listening to URG On the Go podcast. Remember, each and every week, we do our best to give you episodes like this one with Jason from Old Brook. Please remember to listen. We're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, google Play, stitcher, iheartmedia, amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, kristen, this has been a great one, so you go ahead with Jason's interview here awesome.
Speaker 3:Well so, jason, thank you for giving us the background of kind of how you got started in this industry as well as how you progressed up the ladder. Now let's kind of take a step back to what you were telling us about the history of Holbrook. So you said they've been in the business for 75 years. Is that correct?
Speaker 4:that's correct. Yes, it's been open for 75 years and the current owners right now have been owning a whole book auto parts since 2004 and Wow, that's so impressive and that's something that you know.
Speaker 3:There are the diamonds out there that you know there are so many yards throughout the US and Canada and you know all over the world, but the ones that have really stayed in business, you know there's a reason. So tell us a little bit about Holbrook in terms of how they grew this business from where it started to the multi locations that you're saying that you guys have now all within 10 to 20 minutes absolutely so.
Speaker 4:Again in 2004. That's when the owners came in three acre property, one location. As we got to know our customers here around the city of Detroit, we basically started to listen and find out what else were their needs. Now, one of the couple of needs that we really found out out was that they were requesting tires or wheels for their cars as well. So they'd walk in, they'd be looking for a part off a car. But they also would ask us hey, do you guys change tires? Do you guys have tires? Do you guys have glass? Can you change out the windshield on my car? And so we kind of took that away and we started brainstorming how we can make this happen. We ended up buying a building on our lot, but maybe be about a half a mile down, and we opened up a tire and glass shop. So we opened up a tire and glass shop. Now we're providing glass for our customers and providing tires and wheels there. We're fixing any kind of tires. If they have any flat tires, we're fixing that for them. We're changing it out for them. And then after that we continued to listen to our clients and they would ask us hey, I just bought a body part. Listen to our clients and they would ask us hey, I just bought a body part, how can I get this body part on my car? Can you guys put this door on for me?
Speaker 4:And the more that we listened to our customers and found out what their needs were, again we ended up buying another building across the street from the tire and glass warehouse and we ended up opening a repair center. When we first opened it up it was just a couple of bays I believe it was three or four bays and instantly filled up. All the bays busy. At all times constant traffic was happening. They'd come by their parts over at the salvage yard. If they needed tires or glass, they'd go to the tire glass shop. If they needed a repair done on their vehicle, they would now go to the repair center. And because the repair center was so busy, they couldn't handle all the clientele that was coming in. We ended up expanding from three bays to 13 bays. Now it's a 13-day operation.
Speaker 4:It is a state of the art. It's filled at all times. Constant traffic is still happening. I mean, right now every single bay is filled with repairs that are being done on cars that customers are coming and buying parts from us at.
Speaker 4:After that we started to continue to listen to our customers. They kept walking in and obviously your yard is only big enough to have as many cars as you can have there. But somebody would walk in and look for an alternator for a specific vehicle If we only had a couple of those vehicles. We're only able to sell one to a customer. But what if a customer also walked in that was looking for the same type of alternator? What we're gonna do?
Speaker 4:So our owners looked into dabbling into the aftermarket new parts world. After we built a repair center and the tire and glass shop, we ended up stabling a little bit of the aftermarket new parts world and basically it was because we only had so many parts based on the used cars that we had on our lot. But we wanted to continue to provide our customers with the parts that they needed because they were walking and requesting them and we just didn't have it for them. So our ownership built partnerships with other vendors that had new aftermarket parts and we ended up eventually selling new body parts as well and we ended up purchasing the warehouses across from us directly from the salvage warehouse and we stocked it up with new body parts. We wanted to maximize the most of our used parts without affecting inventory and financing.
Speaker 4:After that we ended up also dabbling into having radiators, new batteries, new brake pads, new rotors, new struts, new axle shafts, new control arms. We became very heavy in retail and providing new aftermarket parts to our customers that we thought, hey, how do we get these parts out to a five-mile radius, a 10-mile radius? Well, we came up with the idea of how about we open some Holbrook Auto Parts stores not a yard, but a store that maximizes on the aftermarket new parts that we're actually selling? Here we can start really providing them the inventory from the warehouse, filling up the stores depending on what location they're at, and then also giving them the ability to still continue buying used parts from the yard as well.
Speaker 3:Wow, that's insane. And this is all from, and I'm gonna say it really clear listening to your customers.
Speaker 3:Listening to your customers, that's how this all started. You said multiple times, that's how you kind of you know went from the tire and glass to the body shop, to this, to that it's all because you listened to your customers and you adapted your business and kind of grew with them. You kind of you know, when they needed this, you gave them that and then you went full circle. So cool to hear. So cool to hear, and I can actually attest to, you know, that huge body shop you guys have currently, where you said you have the 13 bays and started at three.
Speaker 3:So I actually attended the Automotive Recyclers of Michigan a couple years back it was like my very early years at URG and we did a yard tour at Holbrook and they shuttled us from each of your, I think at that time it was just, it was a less, it was less of the locations, but we did do a couple of them. Excuse me, that was one of the coolest yard tours. So I will say, if any of you are out there, any of you are in the Detroit area, I highly recommend you check out Holbrook, not just their salvage yard but also their other different locations, just to see kind of how they do it and how it all is so encompassing.
Speaker 4:Yes, absolutely, and if you guys absolutely need anything as well, feel free to reach out to me. I'd love to give you guys a tour here.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean, it's so crazy. So let's go back to the three acres, right? So you guys started at three acres. Holbrook grew this business, right. So how many are you still at three acres for that original location?
Speaker 4:So at the original location we're still at three acres. We actually own two other yards. We have a warehouse yard in Ypsilanti, michigan. That is a 12 acre yard that serves as a warehouse yard for us. So we stock a lot of our used parts there as well. Our customers have the ability to purchase parts here from our McNichols location in Detroit, michigan. They can also come into our store and purchase parts from our Yves Saint-Yard and we can get it to them the next day. They can even go there and pick it up if they really wanted to.
Speaker 4:And then we also have another yard located in Brownstown, charter Township, michigan as well. That is also a three acre, four acre yard salvage yard in that area as well. And then, yeah, that's what we have, and then we also have. So we have our repair center, we have our tire and glass shop and then we currently have five Holbrook auto parts store. So these are retail stores that are located within a 10 minute to 20 minute distance from our salvage yard right now, and they mostly stock new aftermarket parts there, but they have the ability to purchase used parts from us as well right, and that's what you're saying.
Speaker 3:That's so cool. I love that concept. Before we go on a quick break, can you tell us a little bit about? Obviously you have the original location and you still have the same size, and then you grew from that. Tell us about how many employees you guys started with and what your current number is, and then we'll jump on a quick break.
Speaker 4:Yeah, absolutely so. From my understanding back in 2004, I believe the place had around 12 to 15 employees at the most. Here we are currently sitting at 72 employees right now.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh, I think my mouth just dropped. That's insane. And that's in a 20-year time span too, like literally. That's so crazy. Well, I mean huge hat off to you guys. You guys are doing a really great job. It sounds like the processes and listening to your customers are really kind of the key to what Holbrook does. Dj, we're going to let you kind of kick us off on a quick break and then we'll come back.
Speaker 1:You got it. Listeners, let's take a fast break. Jason has been great, and when we come back let's talk about the conference and what's happening April 4th through the 6th in St Louis. Take care.
Speaker 5:We'll be right back. I don't know what it's like. I don't know what it's like. I don't know what it's like to be in a war, to be so far away from my family. I don't know what it's like. I don't know what it's like. I don't know what it's like to be the one who stays home. But I do know this no matter how patriotic you are or how loving you are, being in a military family, it can be harder If you're feeling at a loss.
Speaker 3:you're not alone. There's help If you need to talk to someone, please call this number.
Speaker 5:It's confidential and free. Your family needs you, we need you. Thank you for your service.
Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to the URG On the Go podcast. This is the ultimate, the most attended event of the year. They call it we Are One Conference because it's URG and Team PRP teaming up together to put on this great event. So, kristen, let me pass it over to you. Oh, before I forget, if you want to hear another industry expert like Jason from Holbrook, by all means you dial our hotline number here at the podcast center 706-409-5603. And we will do our very best to get that industry expert on the podcast so you can learn more about it, like this one with Jason. All I could think about, kristen, is God gave you two ears and one mouth. It was a hint, and Jason proved it to us. He listens to his customers and that's how Holbrook has built up such a great reputation. So I'll pass it back over to you, kristen.
Speaker 3:Yes, absolutely, you know. Jason has told us such a good example of how listening to your customers really, so I'll pass it back over to you, kristen. Yes, absolutely, you know. Jason has told us such a good example of how listening to your customers really just benefits and helps grow your business. It helps your, you know your customers understand you. It helps them, you know, have loyalty. There's so many different aspects of just listening to your customer that can help you guys. But I do have a couple more questions for Jason and then we will switch over to kind of talking about our conference. So, jason, just like I said, a couple more questions. You mentioned you are a part of PRP and you guys do that network. What other associations or networks are you guys utilizing?
Speaker 4:yeah, so we're part of PRP. We're also part of the cross doc collaboration team as well, so we also use the runner to be able to ship parts through that as well. We're part of URG, and those are ones that I'm familiar with right now.
Speaker 3:Okay, so can you give me just like a quick snippet of how URG has helped grow your business?
Speaker 4:Yeah, absolutely. Urg has massively helped us with networking. I think really that's one of the biggest things that I've heard. When I've spoken to employees here, especially ownership Tom and Simon, they've told me that networking is really has been the biggest thing. We've met people like JC Cahill. I know JC has been on the show a couple of times.
Speaker 4:Jc actually has been instrumental to our growth here and helping us find new ways to be able to, you know, solidify the operations of our company here, and so JC shout out to JC. Jc has been awesome for us. I've actually had a chance to actually connect with him a couple of months ago when he came out and visited our yard. He does a great job of consulting us and really providing us with information. Another guy that deserves a huge shout out as well is Rob.
Speaker 4:Rainwater, of what rainwater came in, had a great relationship with Tom assignment as well, and he's actually one of the main reasons why we have a great warranty program here for our clients at Holbrook Auto Parts. Rob helped us really put together our warranty program. He's given us the ability to provide lifetime warranties to our customers and he's helped us basically have the knowledge and the wisdom to be able to do that for our customers. So that's really one of the biggest ways that URG has been a benefit to us. Obviously, going to the conferences from what I've heard, those conferences are amazing. I can't wait to go to those building relationships and really getting to know the yards because, realistically, not everybody does things the same way, and so really talking and listening to some of the yards and trying to find out how are some ways that they're actually maximizing on their operations at their yards and how we can bring back that knowledge here and try to incorporate that with our yard here, is going to be amazing and awesome. So I'm looking forward to doing all that at the conference.
Speaker 3:Again with the amazing points I just want to like we did not coach him, we did not coach him everybody. This is live. This is live. We did not coach Jason on what to say here, but, wow, jason, you just took the words out of my mouth. Everything that you just said encompasses exactly what our conference brings right the education, the networking, the growing your business. I couldn't have said it better, honestly. But you did mention some great industry experts JC Cahill, rob Rainwater, both amazing speakers. Both will be at our conference, Both have sessions, so we're looking forward to having them there. You mentioned you're excited to attend the conference, so have you been?
Speaker 4:I have never been to the conference and I am really, really excited to be there next week. I cannot wait to meet some of the folks that we've connected with. I can't wait to see some of the people we have relationships with. I cannot wait to connect with yards we haven't even connected with yet and really just listen and try to gain knowledge and wisdom from them on how they're doing things in their own ways.
Speaker 3:It will literally blow your mind, jason, and everybody listening out there. Look for Jason. Clearly he has, you know, so much, so much knowledge on the industry for being in it for such a short period of time. I mean, wow, I'm still not over the fact that you went from, you know, being a logistics specialist to the chief operating officer. So logistics specialist to the chief operating officer, so you know, I just again, if you're at the conference and you see a Holbrook logo, which you will thank them because they are again such a huge sponsor of our conference, along with our other diamond sponsor, ebay Motors.
Speaker 3:You know Holbrook has really, really stepped up and they are always willing to help, they're always willing to get involved and always willing to share important. You know Holbrook has really really stepped up and they are always willing to help, they're always willing to get involved and always willing to share important you know information, just like today. You know he gave us some little nuggets on the business. So I really want to highlight that. I really want to highlight Holbrook again Great people, great company, and I can't wait to meet you in person, jason. But also I do want to say you know we are so, so excited for this conference. You guys will all see it. I think we're almost to 1,000 attendees, if we're not over it by next week. So it's definitely going to be the biggest conference yet. Dj, tell us something. Tell us something about the conference that you can't wait for.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm going to tell you all I think the golf and raising the money for the Scholarship Foundation is phenomenal. The people that have donated to the auction, I can't thank you enough. I can't thank NABC enough for their free program of exploration that's going to go on during the golf. So if you don't want to golf at a Jack Nicklaus golf course, by all means there's another program for you. But this will be the largest attended program and Rob Rainwater Jason was right. Rob Rainwater, four months ago, predicted it was going to be the largest attended program in our industry and it was making history. And you're going to be there. This is it.
Speaker 3:That's it. And, like DJ said, alongside with Holbrook's logo, you will see them. If you're golfing they're going to be on the scorecards. So again, if you see it, thank them. They're amazing, jason, tell us. I know you said networking was one thing that you were looking forward to getting to meet the people that you've worked with that you haven't worked with. Can you tell us a little bit? Lastly, before we sign off, one thing that you're excited for on the conference, that's not networking. And then can you tell us one takeaway for all of our yards listening out there, just about growing their business?
Speaker 4:absolutely one thing. Can I say golf. I'm excited to play golf, I'm going to be playing golf, we're going to be playing golf. That's going to be exciting. Another way to just build relationships, but no, honestly, I think, um, like I said earlier, really just getting to know how people are doing operations at their yards and just trying to figure out new ways to be able to better provide customer service here for our customers, and that's. That's just one of the things that happens when you build relationships with yards, and really being able to just get to know people, that's that's something. I'm a people person, I love people and I get to meet a thousand people. That's my goal. I'm going to try to meet as many people as I can. There we're going to ask you.
Speaker 3:We're going to get you back on this podcast, Jason Gosh, I can't talk. We're going to get you back on this podcast, Jason, and we're going to say how many people did you meet at this conference?
Speaker 4:All right, I'm going to take out my notes and I'm just going to be writing names down.
Speaker 3:I can't wait. That's awesome. All right, so give us one takeaway for all the yards listening out there aside from the conference, just business focused, tell us something that these yards can take away that can help them grow their business.
Speaker 4:You know I think it's really something we've been talking about throughout this whole call and it's listening to your customers. If you want to grow your business, if you want to find out how you can expand your network where you're located, listen to the customers, see what they're looking for, register any type of lost sales that they're calling you about, that you don't have, keep notes of things that they're requesting from you, and that's going to be the way that you're going to build your business. If you're listening to your customers, that way, you can provide them whatever they're going to need and you're going to be able to grow your business.
Speaker 3:That's great feedback. So if you're out there listening, make sure you take that little nugget and run with it. Jason, thank you again. Thank you to all the employees at Holbrook.
Speaker 4:Thank you guys so much for your support. We appreciate this partnership that we have with you guys. You guys are absolutely amazing.
Speaker 3:Thanks so much, jason. All right, dj. With that, we'll let you close it off.
Speaker 1:You got it, guys. Thanks for listening, thanks for being part of URG and enjoy the conference. See you there.