01. Our History
“Our” customers.
“Your” shop.
When I first opened the Black Forest Werkshop in 1985, I had recently turned 27 years old. My biggest fear was how I would remember everyone’s name. What I did not realize was that the actual remembering of a name was not as important as simply remembering someone. My daughter was always in awe at how many people knew me. She was impressed that almost anywhere we went, there was someone I knew. Everyone was glad to see me and say hi. After 22 years in business, I am proud to say that “our” Black Forest Werkshop customers are still glad to see not just me but the folks that work at the Black Forest Werkshop. It’s wonderful, but I still never take it for granted. With every job that comes in, there’s a risk that someone might not be happy. We make an effort to squeeze that risk down to zero.
Sandra and I married in 2003. When she first joined the team, she was a bit uncomfortable with customers who would drive around back and walk right into the shop. Understandably, most businesses don’t keep the back door open like that, but a trusted automotive repair shop is not like most businesses. It’s a place where folks get comfortable enough to consider it “their” shop.
We’ve gotten a lot of compliments on how nice the place looks. We’d not had that woman’s touch since 2001 (when my sister Pam ran the front of the shop) until Sandra came on board. Sandra now has her business located in the same building. She opened 3Pilates (Pilates Private Practice: www.3Pilates.com) in 2006, remodeling a former service office.
There’s not much that makes me prouder on a business level than our patrons thinking of us as “their” business.
Our customers come to us because they think we are the best at what we do. We know this, so we try not to ever let them down.
If you’re interested in finding out what our customers know, give us a call.
We’ll be proud to be “your” BMW, Mini Cooper or Pilates business.
It’s not just our livelihoods; it’s our life. So it means everything to us.
Respectfully yours,
Lee and Sandra Rector