U-R-G On the Go
An informative podcast for the United Recyclers Group. Each week we will feature an entertaining guest that will share their knowledge and information with you, providing you with tips and tools to help you become a more profitable business.
U-R-G On the Go
Bionic Auto Parts' Evolution and Industry Insights
Curious how a small family business can grow into a massive industry leader? Join us as we chat with John Catalano Jr. of Bionic Auto Parts, who shares his dynamic journey from inheriting his family's three-acre auto parts business to expanding it into a sprawling 15-acre facility in Chicago, with a recent expansion into Milwaukee. John’s story is full of personal anecdotes about growing up in the business, the relentless hard work, and the challenges of running an ever-evolving company in today’s competitive market.
Ever wondered how cultural diversity impacts the auto parts industry? John reveals how Bionic Auto Parts has excelled by employing multilingual salespeople, catering to a diverse customer base, and enhancing communication and satisfaction. Furthermore, he uncovers innovative marketing strategies like multilingual Thanksgiving Day cards and stresses the pivotal role of accurate data management in improving customer service. Discover the significant support organizations like URG provide in business growth and the myriad benefits of networking and training opportunities.
What’s the secret to employee loyalty and navigating the future of automotive recycling? This episode dives into Bionic Auto Parts' strategies for treating employees well, fostering autonomy, and motivating staff through shared company performance data. John also discusses the industry's future, tackling challenges such as electric vehicles, regulatory pressures, and the increasing role of data and automation. We also cover the importance of state associations, legislative involvement, and industry shows for collective growth and success. Don’t miss this enriching conversation filled with insights and practical advice from a seasoned industry leader.
Welcome one and all to the URG On the Go podcast. Remember this is your podcast. It is for the pros that have a need to know that are on the go. The URG On the Go podcast is the number one auto recycling industry podcast and I can't thank you enough for having it grow so much in the last couple of months. It has been fantastic how you shared. Now I'm DJ Harrington, better known as the cardiologist. I'm the co-host, but the real true co-host of the program is the talented Amanda Morrison, who is Director of Member and Vendor Relationships at URG. Amanda, how are you this wonderful day?
Speaker 2:I'm doing great DJ. I always love your intros. You're so good at them.
Speaker 1:And I tell you what we have a guest today on this podcast. I could be president of his fan club, so when you told me he was a new board member of URG and then you told me he was going to be on the podcast, I got excited. So I'll turn it over to you so you can share with all our listeners a wonderful guest for today.
Speaker 2:Thank you, DJ. Yes, we have a very long-awaited guest on the podcast today. We have John Catalano, otherwise known as Junior, from Bionic Auto Parts, and he is one of our newest URG board members, and we're so excited to learn a little bit more about Bionic and how it got started and a little bit more about you, Junior. So thank you so much for being on the podcast today.
Speaker 3:Well, thank you guys for having me. I really appreciate it. Dj, big fan, you're a legend. Amanda, I love working with you. I really appreciate you guys getting me on here and it's an honor to be on with you guys and happy to share our journey through the auto recycling industry here.
Speaker 2:So yeah, thank you so much for coming on. It's always great talking with you and we met gosh five over five years ago now at one of the shows. I think it may have been PRP or maybe even URG, the first conference that I was at, and you kind of took us under your wing and took us out to dinner and showed us the ropes and I've learned so much from you and it's awesome to have you on. So can you tell us a little bit about how Bionic got started and how you guys started the business long ago?
Speaker 3:Sure, absolutely so. You know, family owned and operated business started in 1976 by John and Tony Catawano, senior Uh, a lot of people out there listening know them, they're great guys. Uh, they really uh, you know, brought us into the industry in like 1996. So that's when me and my cousin, anthony, started Um, and that's my partner in the business now. And you know, our dads were hard knocks guys. They just were grinders and started out really small and small piece of property like three acres, and over time they just kept growing it, buying property and building the business and buying more cars, building more racks and just buying buildings until it just erupted into this massive facility that's 15 acres, located in the uh in the heart of Chicago.
Speaker 2:Um when did? You guys end up expanding that acreage when about that time, oh God, it was just, it seemed like we were always expanding.
Speaker 3:I would say, probably in the 80s they really started grabbing property wherever they could, buildings, whatever would come up for sale that was connected to the original property. So and then it just it was like every five years it seemed like they were doing something every ten years and then just, it just was like always just expanding, you know, and making things bigger and rolling with the times, and it was uh, quite the uh, quite the projects that would take place and grow the business. You know, you know just the hard work that they put into it. But, uh, me and my cousin, when we started, you know, coming into work, they always would have us doing projects. If it wasn't, you know, driving construction equipment, uh, whatever building stuff, working, working in business, whatever it may be, we were always helping them, helping them grow wherever we could.
Speaker 2:So Well, it sounds like you guys still kind of are hands-on with all that stuff. It sounds like you were just I was talking to you the other day. You were in Wisconsin building racks.
Speaker 3:Yes, I'm in Wisconsin today building racks, as a matter of fact, and I took a little break in the account because I'm dying out there. I did not realize how hard it is to build a whole racking section by hand. Thank God I got some great employees that are helping us out Kenny and Jocko, and they're good guys and my little nephews here helping today. So, uh, yeah, we're all we.
Speaker 3:We're always doing projects, always making things happen and uh, um, you know so, but a little bit more history on bionic Me and me and uh Anthony bought the business from them and gave us the opportunity to take it over ourselves. So that was uh awesome. So, uh, you know, those guys really mentored us over the years and uh brought us up to where we needed to be and then felt we were ready and gave us that opportunity. And then in uh 2022, we bought milwaukee. Me and my cousin anthony bought this place and you know we're just trying to get everything in order and, you know, follow the lead of our Chicago company. So, yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 2:What was it like kind of growing up in, you know, in a family deeply involved in the auto recycling business? You know you guys obviously followed your dad's footsteps and you and Tony are kind of taking up that lead. But what was it like kind of just being in the business, you know, growing up?
Speaker 3:Well, let's see, saturdays we're usually working at the yard. We were open on Saturdays, so we'd be there on Saturdays working running around. You know, there was always. There was always the employees there'd be like, all right, there's two years and two eyes running around here Watch what you're doing. That was that was. That was always. Always in my memory, though, but it was great. We always, you know, our dad's always fixed us up cool cars and we always got to be around around a bunch of really interesting, neat stuff, and I think that's what drew me to the, to the business. You know, I always loved cars and, uh, I just thought it was fascinating. We went to work and there was always something exciting going on and, um, interesting people, a lot of interesting people over the years and, um, they just kind of drew me to it. And then we both started. In 96, I think it was my cousin went to college, I didn't go to college, so I just started right in the business and kind of went from there.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. So what job did you start? Obviously, you kind of had odd-end jobs, but when you actually started with the position there, what did you start as?
Speaker 3:I started out as a salesperson. Mainly that was my main job once my dad kind of found what he thought was right for me. So I started out in sales, obviously growing through the company a little bit too. I would do different things. It would make me do different things go work in dismantling, go break in dismantling, go break down tires, go work in shipping, do some delivery.
Speaker 3:So I did a little bit of that before I actually got into sales, just as kind of get my knowledge of what really what goes on in the business. So, and then probably in 98 ish I'd say I was full-blown sales and just a salesperson and just kind of uh, kind of working my way through it. I stayed in sales for I'd say, good five, five years, and then uh, and then after that I was a sales manager and probably did that for another boy. It's hard to put all the years together, so I'm just going to estimate them. But five years I would say, and then uh, and then the gm role I took on, and then um, and then my cousin bought the, bought the business.
Speaker 3:So and um yeah, my cousin following up that mike. We always say I'm the front of the house, he's the back of the house. So he would do production stuff and I would do and I would do, uh, you know, sales, sales stuff orientated and office stuff. So he would be buying cars, production, inventory, shipping, receiving. So it goes hand in hand. We're a good yin and yang, for sure. We complement each other nicely.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. Yeah, I've been seeing you show up on social media, your face, big Cat Fridays, those are pretty awesome. Big Cat Friday. Yeah, yeah, big Cat Friday check it out.
Speaker 3:I'm trying to keep them going. It's tough but my daughter was pushing me to do Big Cat Friday.
Speaker 2:I love it. I think it's perfect. It keeps your faces up there. We'll see I'm working on it.
Speaker 3:I'm working on it. It's going to get better as I go.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like it gets a little bit more of a touch base and creates a little bit more loyalty with your employees.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it really is a good way to get the word out, though, and what we really do, and you know how we operate and some of the special things we do to really provide a good, good quality product for for customers, you know definitely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I kind of want to revert a little bit back to um, when you guys started the yard, when your dad and your uncle started, what got them kind of thinking that they wanted to do the recycling industry, automotive recycling industry and what started that off? Did they just have a couple cars that they started working on, or how did that?
Speaker 3:well, there was grandpa grandfather wasn't frank was involved, he was their. So he was definitely seeing the dollar signs and buying cars and selling parts off of them. So he actually owned a salvage yard by himself prior to Bionic which was called Cats and he just, you know, said, hey guys, this is what we're going to do. Let's pool all our money together, what we got, let's let's buy this piece of property and make it happen. That's kind of what they did.
Speaker 3:And then my uncle, jerry, he was a partner as well and uh, they just, you know, he he kind of did all the accounting stuff and back end of stuff and my dad and my uncle would just grind it out every day and we would go buy cars you know we had tow trucks then and stuff and you know, buying cars off the street and then, um, and then it kind of, you know, started to flourish. And then they've seen the uh potential at the all the repair shops and garages that there was, you know, this need for for parts, for these, for for these customers. And then they just kind of transitioned more to catering to that and it just kind of exploded after that yeah, saw the need and was able to follow the trend yeah, they worked super hard, those two, those three, four, I should say the four of them.
Speaker 3:And then, uh, you know when, uh, when my grandpa passed away, that's really when my dad and my uncle exploded, the business basically put a computer in there, which I think it was Hems or Hollander or something like that before then, and they had the old voice lines and you know whatnot. So and they just saw that. You know, computerizing the inventory would really make a big difference, and I believe they did that in the 80s at some point, early 80s, probably one of the first that was getting out people were starting to see it.
Speaker 3:They definitely saw the benefit of having everything on a computer system.
Speaker 2:I love it. This is all awesome. Alright, DJ, I think it might be time to take a break you got it.
Speaker 1:We'll take a fast break and we'll be right back folks.
Speaker 4:URG can help you streamline your business for maximum efficiency and increased profits. Access powerful software and unique tools. Receive top-level training with industry experts. Network with hundreds of recyclers. Employ e-commerce solutions to boost business. Receive support, resources and discounts Starting at just $150 a month. It's the smartest investment you will make for your business this year. Go to u-r-gcom and click on Become a Member. Your path to a profitable future is just a click away. That's u-r-gcom.
Speaker 1:You have been listening to the URG On the Go podcast. This is a special edition where we have a new board member, john Cantolano Jr, and it's been fantastic. Now I want to tell all of our listeners we are available and I want you tell all of our listeners we are available and I want you to download and listen. We're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia that's the number one podcast Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. Just like and review us. And, amanda, I have to ask you a question up front here. Yes, I know our listeners are saying let's pick his brains, while we got him Junior on the website in the Chicago one. I know you're going to have one for Wisconsin, but in Chicago you start off your sales force and you got Middle Eastern sales and you got Hispanic sales and you got normal sales and it just seems like you let people know whatever language you want to speak at Bionic. We speak your language, yeah definitely, dj.
Speaker 3:I mean, we try and cater to our customers for sure. You know, if I have the opportunity to add a different ethnic language in there, I definitely will. It's just a matter of finding the right people too. But yeah, we definitely our salesperson, omar. He's Middle Eastern, he's a great guy. He actually worked out of Jordan, uh, remotely for a while.
Speaker 3:Uh, he was kind of back and forth and um, uh, he's uh, we just saw that there was such a uh a need to communicate with the customers better, um, and really so we could understand what they would want and get them the proper part. So that's kind of how that, you know, started and uh, he's been with us probably almost 10 years now, I think, and um, turned, it turned out to be really good and he's like our middleman there between the, between that clientele base and, uh, same thing with the super. We were able to get a huge, huge spanish following and at our business, uh, know, I would say the majority of our repair shops speak Spanish, or the people in the repair shops working speak Spanish. So they like to. You know, they like to speak Spanish. There's no doubt about it and it makes for good communication and it's been a real helpful benefit to offer that to our customers. So I think that's why people love us.
Speaker 1:I was thinking to tell Junior, when he and Anthony send out a Thanksgiving Day card, they could actually say Happy Thanksgiving in four or five different languages and then at the bottom say at Bionic Auto Parts and Sales, we speak your language.
Speaker 3:That's a great idea, DJ. I'm going to have to put that one in there.
Speaker 2:If you ever need a slogan, DJ's got it.
Speaker 3:I like that. I like it a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because I tease Amanda Jr, because I said to her last week I said you know, you know your business, but URG helps you grow your business. He's got all the good taglines he does.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's true, that's true. Back over to you, amanda. Yeah, that actually kind of goes into my next question. What are some of the most significant changes you've seen in the industry since you've started? Obviously there's, you know, car buying and all that stuff, but language barriers, all that kind of thing. What are some of the most significant changes you feel have impacted the industry?
Speaker 3:Probably data. Data seems to be everything. So in the amount of data that's being pushed around to different places, it's absolutely crazy and it's just kind of mind-blowing the amount of people that use different search engines, or whatever you want to call it search methods to find your parts, and it seems like you need to really have your data in check to you know, make sure you're giving the right descriptions and and everything else that goes along with it. It just it. It really seems like data is just driving a lot of stuff. Um, so you got to really be be on top of it and thank god we got a great partner like you, rg, to uh meet our data everywhere, so that's a good, that's a good thing.
Speaker 3:If we don't want to, you know send, send it out to somebody, or you know you guys do a great job keeping track of that.
Speaker 2:So exactly, yeah, that's a.
Speaker 3:It's a huge focus that we have, and also, I just feels like sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off there. It just feels like the pace, the pace that everything is going, everything's fast, everything's now, everybody wants it right away and you know they want an answer asap. And it just seems like, um, as the years go on, it's just the amount of the volume and the amount of uh, recycled auto parts that are being used on repairs are.
Speaker 2:It's just crazy so it's, it's really yeah, I feel like it's kind of getting your name out there and making sure that you're being seen as well. You know your best salesperson is the person in the seat and it's the same with there and making sure that you're being seen as well. Your best salesperson is the person in the seat and it's the same with your data Making sure your data is being seen in tracks collision, like what you guys are doing with URG and Parks Trader, and tiering inventory too, that network of recyclers that you guys have. You guys have quite a few yards that you tier through Parks Trader and CCC. I feel like that's a great way for you guys to know your data is being fed safely, as well as being able to be seen by those.
Speaker 3:Yeah, data tiering has been huge too. I'm glad you brought that up. It's definitely a big. It makes a big impact when you're giving your data out to other people that are using it.
Speaker 2:Definitely, what are your key requirements, kind of for people that you cheer with? Are there certain things that you expect from those yards that you cheer with?
Speaker 3:uh, yeah, we, they got a match up to our warranty, um in our case we're we're a team prp yard, so they got to be a team prp yard. Um, they got to you have a certain timeframe which they can provide the part to us, and they got to have good quality. I mean, we've got to get good quality parts and their description's got to be accurate. So we have some really great tiering partners that we use right now. So shout out to those guys and they know who they are.
Speaker 2:Hopefully they listen, I love it. Yeah, that's a big part of being part of URG and I kind of wanted to go into what got you involved with URG in the first place. I think obviously your dad, I think, got involved in URG prior, but what got you guys interested in URG?
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, my dad just saw the benefit of all the training that was offered at the time and that's where we learned. Everything was at URG conferences. I mean, we went to area conferences too. We learned a lot at area as well. In our state shows we learned a lot of auto truck recyclers of Illinois front of training always has been, always will, and that was our education. Like I said, that was my college for sure. My dad knew that. And seeing the benefits of networking and all the conferences and meeting great people and, you know, forming these groups that you know eventually turned to PRP and so that is just such a huge, huge, uh, part of our success was attending all these URG conferences over the years.
Speaker 2:I love it. Yeah, and that and kind of going into that, obviously you guys, you, you had become a board member. What kind of got you interested in becoming a board member? Obviously you know the, the staff here at URGs.
Speaker 3:Yeah, obviously the staff for sure. And uh, you know, I just want here at URG, obviously the staff for sure, and you know, I just want to say URG's always had great, great people working for them. You know, and what Don has done with URG and now Christy what she's doing with it, it definitely has just, I mean, it's uncomparable to how it's just how it's come along over the years, is just unbelievable. To be honest with you, I mean it's, you know, used to go to a show. It'd be a little smaller and then now they're just huge. It's the show to go to, you know, yeah, so so that's great.
Speaker 3:But so at the time I was a PRP board member and I had just exited off the PRP board member, um, and I had just um, exited off the PRP board. So I was, um, you know, trying to take a little bit of a break. And then I was probably six, eight months, maybe a year, and I got a call from, uh, tom Denton from Knox and he's like, you know, we really want you to get involved in the board and, um, you know, check it out and see what you think, think about it. You know I'm thinking about stepping down. I got some things going on and I want to, I want to step off and that's kind of how it. You know, I got talking to him and then Greg Wilcox called me and a couple other board members and you know Christy had called me and and you know, I just thought it would be really a great thing to be part of.
Speaker 3:I like seeing what's going on in the industry. I like being part of the industry and bringing up any ideas I have, or you know, it's it's it's good to have when you got good people looking out for the industry. So, and our board is is great. There's a lot of new board members on there which I'm super excited about. And um, uh, that's kind of how I got, how I got going on the board and I said, yeah, I want to do this, I want to be part of it and see, you know, the great things that URG always has to bring to the industry and it's just kind of intriguing.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, and be part of it it's been awesome having you on and I think you know having that URG board is just a great avenue for us to be able to get you know ideas from y'all. If you guys have any kind of experiences that you're having that you know having difficulties with any avenues, that we can try to help with and get your parts online. That's that's kind of the purpose of the board and we we appreciate all you guys. You guys do such a great job. But, um, we just kind of wanted to also kind of touch based on you're going to be you're a part of the Illinois committee, correct? Hosting the Illinois show.
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, the Illinois Auto Truck Recyclers.
Speaker 2:Yes, we want to talk a little bit about that. That's happening October 11th and 12th.
Speaker 3:October 11th and 12th yeah, if you're a vendor, come check us out. If October 11th and 12th yeah, if you're a vendor, come check us out. If you'd like to attend a nice little show, there will be a lot of good stuff going on. Kenny from Bionic is going to be speaking and our environmental speaker and our lobbyist is speaking, so there will be some cool stuff. If you're in the state and you want to come to a cool show, yeah, it looks like there's a golf outing too at Weaver Ridge.
Speaker 2:Golf Course.
Speaker 3:Yes, the golf outing is still kind of eh. We're waiting to see how many people will get signed up. Okay, okay, I don't know if we're going to be golfing. I hope we are.
Speaker 2:Well, maybe I'll get signed up here. We can have at least a few people out there. Yeah there you go, there you go. I love it. Well, yeah, those state shows are awesome. You know, if you're in the area for Illinois show, it's great to be able to just network with those recyclers and get an idea of what's going on in your state. And, you know, see people like Junior that are doing well in the business and really getting to network with them.
Speaker 2:So it's an important, an important way to be able to help your state associations as well.
Speaker 3:It's good to be involved in your state association for sure. I mean, some guys are believers in it and some aren't, and I always have been. I've always been a believer in being involved in, you know, most of the industry stuff. And a good way to really get your feet wet on some of that is get into your state association, get involved and then you could kind of, you know, then you go to URG, you go to ARA, you go, you know, to all the different shows and it's a good way to get your feet wet for sure if you're nervous about that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and if you're a smaller yard, being able to kind of network with the bigger yards that are out there and getting ideas on training and you know, hiring tips, and actually that's something I kind of want to pivot into as well what, what do you guys have um for kind of hiring, and I know about how many um. I also want to ask how many employees you guys have at your facilities.
Speaker 3:So, total, we are just under 90 employees and the majority of them being in Chicago. Under 90 employees, the majority of them being in Chicago. I believe there is 69 employees at Chicago and the rest are at Milwaukee, and we're growing up here as well. So we'll be adding more as we need as the growth comes. I can remember when we were, you know, 18 employees just at Bionic in Chicago.
Speaker 3:So it's come quite a long way and you got to have good people Like. We have great people Kenny Jack, our whole management team, diana Wilson they're all great people and we wouldn't be able to do the things we do without having just outstanding people that really care about our business and we care about them and you know we try and do whatever we can to just bring good people on, and we like people that stay at our business. We don't like to be a revolving door, that's for sure. So we love, you know, most people that love the industry or come to us usually end up staying for a long, long time. If not, some of them have been there longer than me. So a couple of them still.
Speaker 2:Well, that's a sign of a good loyalty and a good business. But yeah, I feel like for businesses like you know the recycling, automotive recycling industry it's tough to have, you know the revolving door of employees, just because there is so much training behind all of the aspects of it. You know it takes six months to train an employee and then they leave a few months later. You know, it can really be detrimental to the business.
Speaker 3:And I think once you get those good people in, once they see what kind of what the industry is really like and not the persona of what you know either the new shows or some movie that was made with some guy walking around in a dark junkyard or whatever that's not it, you know it's technology, it's you know, everything's organized, everything's clean, the safety is there. I mean, the way that the modern auto recycler operates now is fantastic.
Speaker 2:So yeah, and I think that's kind of one of our jobs. You know, as you, and you know, united Recyclers Group the bigger players out there just getting that idea of that old, you know, junkyard mentality out of the consumer's mind and having them think about it as you know it's, it's a really great resource and it's really good for the environment as well. You know, we're doing two, two good things in one. So it's, you know, making it so that we can make sure that, and you know, that way we are also advertising to people that it's a great industry to work in. I never thought that I would be working in the automotive recycling industry and in my wildest dreams, but you know it's, I'm here and I'm I'm stuck here forever, I think.
Speaker 3:Right, I'm here and I'm I'm stuck here forever, I think. Right, I mean I've. You know, some of my best friends I've met in this industry was Ryan Falco, rob Rainwater, mike Kunkel all great people. Uh, jim counts, you know all great friends of mine and, uh, I would have met those people without this industry and you really do meet some interesting, great, smart people, and so it's awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, great to be able to go to these shows and really get some feedback like that.
Speaker 3:Yes, it is.
Speaker 2:Agreed. All right, dj. Do we need another break?
Speaker 1:Yeah, let's take a break. When we come back, we'll learn more about Bionic and the key people that work there too. We'll be right back. Keep people that work their truth.
Speaker 4:We'll be right back. No-transcript. 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 welcome back listeners.
Speaker 1:Of course you know you're listening to a special edition of this is the URG On the Go podcast for the pros, and today we're listening to Junior from Bionic Auto Parts, and he is a gift. I'm going to remind all our listeners that when you're on a board of URG, it is not a paid position. These people give their time to help the industry. It's not a paid position. These people give their time to help the industry. And I hope you're taking notes, because Junior spoke about belonging to your state association and then working your way up to a URG, to a PRP, to ARA. That way you learn the value of it.
Speaker 1:Please remember and like our podcast and, by all means, if you want to hear another industry expert like Junior, we have a hotline number right here at the podcast center. It's 706-409-5603. And if you want to hear an industry expert like a Mike Conkle or a Ryan Falco and so forth, just dial 706-409-5603. And Amanda and I will do our very best to get them on the next podcast. All right, amanda, I'll turn it over to you. This has been a great one. This is our last segment, so let's get the best of them.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Thank you, dj. Yes, we've been talking to Junior over at Bionic here and we're getting lots of information about automotive recycling and the history of Bionic Junior. We were previously talking about your employees and the loyalty that you have created with the employees that work there. What are some techniques that you use to kind of create that loyalty and to kind of try to keep your employees there?
Speaker 3:Well, I just believe you got to take care of the people that take care of you, you know. You got to treat them well, you got to pay them well, you got to give them the reins and let them kind of use some of their own ideas that they have. What me and Anthony have learned over the years is we kind of let them roll with the ball, you know, and they kind of they check with us on ideas that we have. We give them our feedback, we tell them if we like it or we think they should try something different. I think if you give them some free reign on running their departments, they'll flourish. I also think that you've got to share information with your employees. You've got to share your P&L with them. You've got to show them where things are great and where things aren't so great and where improvements need it and where everything is going really smooth and really well. And you gotta.
Speaker 3:I'm a true believer in praise. I always think a good job, you know, and attaboy goes a long way. Um, with somebody you know, there's nothing like when somebody really, you know, is hustling or busting their back and and nobody says, hey, you know, you did a nice job, you know, is hustling or busting their back and and nobody says, hey, you know, you did a nice job. You know people, people like that and I think that's you know, we try and really you know and do that and and focus on that. And then, you know, we reward our people too when they, when things are good, we, we take care of them. So that's just kind of what we do, you know.
Speaker 2:Yep, you got to share in the deal. You know Yep share in the wealth. I love it, I love it. So how do you see kind of the future of auto recycling evolving here in the next few years and what organization or what do you think organization like URG will play in that evolving future?
Speaker 3:Well, it's a little scary actually will play in that evolving future. Well, it's a little scary actually. I mean, you got EVs coming down the tunnel, which I'm not too sure what way that's going to go. You got, you know, regulators looking at our business from state or local level. You got, you know, epa stuff handling, material handling I just you, you know, as far as selling parts, I think it's going to be even more data driven than it already has and it's going to be even more automated than it's than it is right now. Um, and we got to be prepared for that and hopefully, uh, organizations like urg will you know they're staying on top of it and and bringing us the software we need to, you know, take part in some of these things. You know, I don't know, I don't know what's going to happen with ai. You know, maybe you may be a whole different way to inventory a car in the next four or five years it's just crazy how much stuff is changing and it's.
Speaker 3:It's good to have a organization like you. Urge you to keep an eye on all that and you know, say yes this, yes, this is going to work, no, this isn't. Let's, you know, definitely out to cook the pros and cons of it.
Speaker 2:So yeah, and being able to kind of, you know, talk with a network of recyclers like the board you know, urg board, and having people like that you know in the organizations and being able to kind of forecast that and and see where that's going and and see these different avenues. That's kind of what christy does is she's always looking for different avenues for parts to go on and how will it play in the, in the data-driven, you know, industry, and how can we get it out there for people to see those parts?
Speaker 3:you know I forgot you also got all the consolidation happening too so um, it's hard to say what's, what's going to happen with that. Um, I just know, as a bionic standpoint, we're staying in our lane and just trying to grow our, our business and and, uh, just keep selling as many parts as we could possibly sell you know, that's what it comes down to yeah, it's uh, you know, I want to throw one more, one more little tidbit out there.
Speaker 3:If you're not part of some kind of consulting group, it's very, very beneficial to to be part of one Um profit team. Consulting does a great job, mike, uh, mike Kunkel and rainwater and their team and, um, you know, for training and whatnot. Yeah, so, uh, it's a. That was a. It played a big success or big role in in, uh, mine and Anthony's success, for sure, for sure, for sure, huge, huge.
Speaker 4:If you're not involved in something like that try to get involved in something.
Speaker 3:The only thing that's going to happen is you're going to learn a lot and you're going to make more money.
Speaker 2:So is that kind of the biggest piece of advice you would give to starting?
Speaker 3:Yeah, that would be the biggest piece of advice I could possibly throw out there for sure. Yep and show up to your shows.
Speaker 2:Show up to the shows. Yep, love it, I love it. Yep, and you're going to ARA as well.
Speaker 3:I am going to ARA. I am going to ARA. Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.
Speaker 2:Yep one, oh exciting yeah, funny stories that.
Speaker 3:I'll keep it really short and really sweet. But we decided to buy a piece of property in reno, maybe like 15 years ago. We bought it for like pennies on the dollar and it's like in the desert. And the man so he said to me he goes, we, I better show somebody where this piece of property is at, just in case something happens. So we're actually going out there a day or two early, we're actually going out there a day or too early. We're gonna go drive out to it and check it out. This way somebody knows where it's at, because it's literally in the desert, like just like 70 or 80 acres. So so, yeah, seniors coming out there, that'll be, that'll be a fun time.
Speaker 2:So that's awesome, yeah yeah, you guys are avid show goers and that's, I feel like that's been part of your success.
Speaker 3:There's actually a warning out there Don't hang out with us sometimes. I think we've calmed down quite a bit over the years.
Speaker 2:No, you guys are great. You guys always have a good time with you. But, yeah, I feel like it's just a well and it's a good way to just get your face out there in front of other recyclers and you know the networking aspect of you know you're out there. You're working on your business and getting your name out there.
Speaker 1:That's the best way to do it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's why your dad's so famous, right, yeah?
Speaker 3:Don't forget about Uncle Tony too. He's quite famous himself as well. Tony, yes, can't forget about.
Speaker 2:Tony.
Speaker 3:I love it. Well, what are your goals for the future? For you know Bionic and you know kind of growing the future of Bionic and what you guys are planning, what our Chicago location's doing. And then, I don't know, we're talks of expansion again. I don't know if we will or not, to be honest with you, but we always have our eye out for another location if it's the right one for us. It's a lot of hard work when you do expand. I didn't think it was going to be such an undertaking and I thought the process would go a lot quicker. Uh, when we, when we did finally, um, uh, get milwaukee, and uh, it's just, it's, it's definitely a learning experience and uh, but I think we maybe got one more in this summer hopefully I love it and if not, I'm perfectly happy where I'm at right now as well, you guys are rocking it.
Speaker 2:You're definitely making it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, our goal is to sell as many parts as we possibly can until the system breaks, and then we've got to expand again.
Speaker 2:I love it. That's a perfect goal. Perfect goal, awesome. So let me just kind of wrap up. I just wanted to ask you know kind of what you're excited about about the industry and what new things you're coming out with. I know we've been working on a website for you here.
Speaker 3:Yes, website should launch what next couple of days. I think I think it's awesome. I definitely would recommend having URG do your website. I think it's especially with the integration of the new part search feature where it all appears, as you know, integrated to your site and hopefully it'll increase our web, our e-commerce aspect of it.
Speaker 4:It looks pretty piffy as well. It is.
Speaker 3:I'm excited that should be out in the next couple of days, so check out yeah we'll be posting it on ouriffy as well.
Speaker 2:It is. I'm excited that should be out in the next couple days, so check out. Yeah, we'll be posting it on our social media as well, it'll be definitely good.
Speaker 3:I mean, as far as some of the other things I'm kind of excited about that I know URG is working on is the parts accreditation or the gold program I believe it's called the gold standard parts program. I'm excited to see how, how that uh unfolds and and gets underway. Uh, I know we're going to be getting on the warranty, the URG warranty program, here pretty soon, so I'm excited about that. Um.
Speaker 2:I've got a Spanish speaker for the warranty program as well.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah. So that's good, that'll be great, and that's good, that'll be great.
Speaker 2:And um, what do you think the biggest help with?
Speaker 3:the warranty side of things will be for y'all, um, just the technical aspect of it. To be honest with you, like you know, maybe we could troubleshoot some of this stuff to where we're not giving a customer another unit, but maybe it's able to be fixed, or maybe there's an installation error that would prevent having to remove the unit from from the vehicle and put another one in and just all the legwork that goes along with it.
Speaker 3:So um the headaches for yourself takes away some of the headaches, relieve some of the pressure on our manager. You know he he does a great job, but you know what? He's not a asc certified mechanic, you know? I mean, he only knows so much and whatever we've learned is as we go. So it'll be nice to have some software to go along with it definitely some expertise behind it. Some expertise exactly exactly so.
Speaker 2:I love it, dj. Do you have any other questions for Junior?
Speaker 1:the only thing that, as a listener, if we're interested in the Illinois show, how do we, what number do we call Junior? If we have a vendor listening? They want to have a booth there or to attend what's the best way? Is there a website or is there a phone number?
Speaker 2:I have a phone number and email that I can share.
Speaker 3:That would be great if you could share that.
Speaker 2:I don't have it up on my screen right now so it's Michelle Lechner and it's 877-880-2874, and then her email is illautorecycl at AOLcom.
Speaker 1:Fantastic.
Speaker 3:Very nice you guys have shared that. I really appreciate it. I feel like, uh, you know it's very important for these state shows to still go on and, uh, you know there's a lot of the different states are are having a tough time with it because of lack of participation. So it's definitely good to be involved in your state or states.
Speaker 2:Important for legislative responsibilities.
Speaker 3:Yes, very important yes.
Speaker 1:And you grow the industry by growing the state associations. Right, exactly that's where it starts. That's exactly right, yep. Oh, this has been a great one, amanda. I'm very proud of both of you. It's been a great one.
Speaker 3:I just want to say thank you guys for having me. I appreciate it. I'm honored to be a guest on the show and I know there's going to be a lot of other great guests and I can't keep listening thank you, junior.