39 years today !

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Yes, 39 years ago I started my journey as a small business owner. It has not always been easy. And it's not like things you see on TV. There is no college degree that will teach or guide you.  But is has put me into a a fun "E" and afforded me many other pleasures over the years. One day I will retire... but I'm not quite ready yet....

https://www.aanddtruckautoparts.com/

[Challenger in NC]

Congrats!! My dad worked 39 years for the same company and retired in 2000. I asked him "Don't you want to go for 40" and he replied "Nope, I 've had enough".

[dodj]

Congrats Biggs!
I don't know about Nikki's story. Did she come into your hands through your work somehow?

[usraptor]

Congrats on 30 years!    I did 36 in my career and was more than ready then.  Good job.  BTW, went to your website and sent you a parts search/request.  LOL

[Brads70]

Congratulations ! Great to see your successes! 

[Dakota]

Congrats Biggs!  Thirty nine years in business is no small feat.   

[Jay Bee]

Happy anniversary Chris. But who starts a business right after Christmas, oh Biggs does. 

[blown motor]

Congratulations BIGS!

[Chryco Psycho]

Congrats for sure , no small feat to navigate a small business for almost 40 years !

[anlauto]

That's awesome...have you seen the episode of American Pickers where they are at some Dudes awesome collection of cars and toys....that guy started a similar business by buying a few wrecked cars and parting them out.....or was that episode about you ?

[jimynick]

Congrats Chris, that's a great feat to do what you've done! Glad to see that that choice also allowed you to develop a good taste in whisky, too! LOL 

[70/6chall]

Congrats 39 years is quite an accomplishment. I retired from the USPS in 2015 with a 42 year run myself. Really didn't care to work past 70 years old so I decided to retire. I've worked with co-workers that have gone 48-50 years punching a time card that's not me.  Thanks,   Al

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Thank you all for the kind words. With this kind of tenure , yes there is a back story for sure. There are very few of us left as employee's or owners with that long a run.


dodj - NIKKI did come thru a connection/friend's of the shop. Without these guys I would never have known about her. As of today one has bad dementia, the other passed just this past year. These are guys my age. And really were great friends, guys you could trust and rely on. Miss them both, think of them often. These scenarios could have been prevented IMO but what does BIGS know

anlauto - I've seen that episode w Ron. I've known Ron for a long time. As you can tell from the TV show he is a bit quirky to say the least. But he is a car guy for sure! Great business mind, big real estate investor. Got this many only dream of, but paid his dues for sure.

jimynick - life is to short to drink cheap liquor !

Looking back over the years I made some mistakes that cost me. But I never gave up. Made lots of friends but a few enemies too. I still remember guys from back in the day talking they were going to put me our of business..... ho-hum, still waiting.

[scf100]

CONGRATS.......... a small business owner has to make it happen every day.....I am 3rd generation owner....

BTW how do you get parts off cars in the snow!

[BIGSHCLUNK]

scf100 - Congrats on being 3rd gen ! Years ago I thought I had a nephew who could carry things on.... nope. Snow, rain, hot, cold, on and on we go. Granted I've graduated from all that for most part. But I have guys out there everyday. And I've been blessed with guys that have been here a minimum of 20 YEARS. I guess I'd consider us a big dysfunctional family. Sometimes I actually think, am I doing this for them or me. I work yet, but it's not a "have to" it's a "want to" A few of you know more of the story as I came close to pulling the plug not that long ago. Then covid hit...