Good Neighbor Podcast Northport
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Neighbors of Tuscaloosa and Northport!
Good Neighbor Podcast Northport
Northport Auto Supply with Glenn Crow
How does one journey from coal mines to owning a thriving auto parts business? Join us as we chat with Glenn Crow of Northport Auto Supply, and discover the compelling story of his rise to success. Glenn uncovers the intricate layers of the auto parts industry, debunking common misconceptions and emphasizing the quality of aftermarket parts. Prepare to be inspired as he narrates the evolution of Northport Auto Supply from a small store to a full-service warehouse catering to Tuscaloosa County.
But it's not all business! Glenn also gives us a glimpse of his personal life. He shares his deep affection for Northport, Alabama, the heart-rending loss of his grandchild, and the role his faith plays in his resilience. Get an insider's view of how Northport Auto Supply goes above and beyond to ensure exceptional customer experience - whether you're a professional mechanic or a car owner dealing with minor repairs. Dive into this episode for an insightful and touching conversation with Glenn Crow. From mining coal to serving automotive needs, his is a story of determination, faith, and a commitment to service.
This is the Good Neighbor podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Patricia Blondheim.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Good Neighbor podcast. I'm your host, Patricia Blondheim, and today we have Good Neighbor Glenn Crow. Glenn is the owner of Northport Auto Supply here in Northport, Alabama. Glenn, how are you today?
Speaker 3:I am doing just fine. I hope you are as well.
Speaker 2:I'm doing terrific. Thank you, and I'm really, really excited to have you in the studio. It's awesome. Tell us about your business.
Speaker 3:Well, we started out as a small auto parts store with two employees and thanks to the grace of God we've expanded to 24 employees and kind of turned into a auto parts big truck parts warehouse. So we try to service all of Tuscaloosa County.
Speaker 2:There's literal almost literally nothing, except for groceries that you can't get at Northport Auto Supply. It's really incredible, and you're always very busy. So, glenn, tell us a little bit about your story. How did you get into the auto parts biz?
Speaker 3:Well, when I was in the high school I worked in several parts stores and then went to the coal mines for seven years and realized the coal industry is always up and down. And I got to look in around because we was laid off for six weeks and come across a guy wanting to sell out in the parts business and I bought him out on April 1st 1985. And my accountant said a fool only buys a business on April foods day, so you'll get what you deserve. So that's kind of what got us started.
Speaker 2:So, glenn, it turns out you are no fool and Northport Auto Supply. It got traction real fast and you became one of the major movers and shakers in Northport. So can you tell me why? Why did you choose Northport? What is it about Northport that you love?
Speaker 3:Well, Northport is a great little town right out of Tuscaloosa and I grew up here from the first grade on and I love it. I love to be involved in our city. We have a wonderful city and we've got a lot of great people that live here and work together and it's just a fantastic place to raise a family.
Speaker 2:Northport is very special. Let's change the subject a little bit and talk about the auto parts industry, or the auto industry. Can you tell me any misconceptions you hear about your industry?
Speaker 3:Well, some people have misconceptions like an auto parts store versus going to the dealer. But the aftermarket is really regulated by the government to either exceed really what come on the car originally, and a lot of people think maybe our parts aren't as good as the original equipment, but they have to exceed whatever come on the car. So one myth is maybe your parts aren't as good as that the dealer, but they really are. They're fantastic parts. They all have a warranty and that's one misconception that a lot of people don't understand, I think.
Speaker 2:So aftermarket doesn't mean lower quality.
Speaker 3:No aftermarket just means there's a manufacturer making them and it may even be the same manufacturer that makes them for Toyota or Ford or whoever. But they can't say that because they're in patent agreements. But they're at the same quality or better than OE usually.
Speaker 2:Oh, awesome, that's so good to know. What do you do, Glenn, when you're not running this Northport Auto Supply? What do you do for fun?
Speaker 3:Well, I have eight grandchildren that I love to spend time with. We have a farm down in Hale County that we go to to hunt and fish and it's wonderful. Just spending time with family is what I love to do, especially with those grandkids.
Speaker 2:Well, you're what we call a wealthy man. Can you describe one hardship, maybe a challenge that you face that has made you a better person?
Speaker 3:Probably the greatest hardship and it's not in business. We face hardships every day in business and where to buy parts, how to buy parts, especially since COVID come. But I think one of the hardships that affected me most was losing a three-year-old grandchild in a tragic accident, and I think God showed us that he is a sovereign God and that he is with us every step of the way, and that was just a game changer for our whole family.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that changed everything about every one of you, I'm sure. And wow, what a challenge. You dug deep on that one, Glenn. Yeah, I felt it.
Speaker 3:Today's the anniversary that the accident happened 9, 9, 7, 20, 9.
Speaker 2:Today is the anniversary.
Speaker 3:Today is the anniversary.
Speaker 2:Oh, my goodness. Now let's change the subject and let's leave the listeners with something that you want them to know about your company.
Speaker 3:Our company strives to be the best they are. We strive to have the most inventory. We strive to have the best people that can wait on you and figure out, help you figure out exactly what you need. We don't try to oversell, we try to explain the product to you. Service is our biggest thing. You know we want when you come in here. We want it to be a pleasant experience. We want to fix you up and we want you to know that we really care about what you need and we want to work with you and just be a partner with you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've been in Northport Auto Supply just to do some minor repair work I didn't want to leave my car in the garage for two weeks for and have found extraordinary help from the people that work with me behind the counter at Northport Auto Supply. They have been, they've taken time. Even though the store was crowded, I never felt like I was being rushed and I even found that the people on the other side of the counter with me were also great, great sources of help. So, yeah, if you ever have the need to do something you know simple with your car, you don't have to be a professional mechanic to go into Northport Auto Supply and to receive just extraordinary service and just great people. Glenn, they're all great people. How can listeners learn more about Northport Auto Supply? How do they get in contact with you?
Speaker 3:Well, you can phone us, you can go on northportautosupplycom and there's a catalog if you want to try to look up to see if we have something. We're on Facebook. You can always hit us on Facebook or whatever if you've got questions, or you can email us. There's an email off of northportautosupplycom that you can email any questions you have. But that's the main three ways, I guess, to get ahold of us.
Speaker 2:Okay, great Northport Auto Supply. Why go anywhere else? Right, why go anywhere else? I love it. Thank you, Glenn, it was great having you in the studio today.
Speaker 3:Well, thank you for allowing me to meet with you today. It's been great.
Speaker 1:You.