A lot of years have passed in that space between 'then' and 'now'...but the memory still makes Joe Karwandy smile.
"When we started this place, we really didn't know what we were doing," remembers Joe. "We had orders coming in before we were even up and going. And I remember the very first day. We didn't even have the shelves set up yet. People were already coming in and picking up things out of the boxes. We just wrote down 'who' was taking 'what'. We didn't have a choice. We weren't really set up to sell the stuff yet!!"
From that (maybe less than perfect) first day, Joe and Bev Karwandy would see Bumper-to-Bumper/OK Ag & Auto Parts grow to become a thriving business. As Joe says: "Starting this place up was the best move we ever made. We really started from nothing, and we've gotten fantastic support from our customers over the years. This place has been very good to us."
Still...it's been over twenty years. And, as much as they have enjoyed growing their business, Joe notes that ìIt's meant years of early mornings...years of standing on a cement floor.î
So, Joe says that the couple made the decision to sell the business and retire.
"We'd like to be able to spend more time on other things. Bev is already quilting up a storm! I'd like to have time to do some fishing. I've kept all of my carpentry tools. We want to have more time for our volunteer work. But, it's time that there was some new people with fresh ideas running this business."
Larry and Nancy Fleece, who live near Broadview, have taken over as the new owners of Bumper-to-Bumper/OK Ag & Auto Parts.
For Larry...the move means a chance to come out of his own 'retirement'...and take on a new challenge inside some very familiar surroundings.
"I farmed for thirty years," says Larry. "We just had our equipment auction in 2015. So, I've been 'retired' for about two years. But, I really felt that I wanted to try working at something else. I actually worked for Bumper-to-Bumper during the 80's. And I was coming here as a customer when I was farming. So...I'm familiar with the company in general...and I'm familiar with THIS business in particular."
In contrast, this is something new for Nancy. But 'new' is not something that this lady is nervous about taking on.
"I moved out here from Brandon about five years ago. We were married, and I've got a job at the Affinity Credit Union in Broadview. I'll continue to work at the Credit Union. But, I'm going to stay involved in this business too. I'll be doing all the book-keeping and invoicing."
Larry and Nancy note that customers can count on seeing the tradition of excellent service continue at Bumper-to-Bumper/OK Ag & Auto Parts. As Nancy says:
"Customers can be assured that everything that they have come to rely on from this business will still be here. Larry will be the only new face that people see, the rest of the staff will remain the same."
That said...Larry admits that there ARE a few changes that they are considering.
"We'd like to bring in some new product lines. I'd like to have fishing tackle and bait in stock. We'd also like to bring in smaller lawn and garden equipment...and maybe steel for welding. We're really just tossing around ideas right now."
Although the Fleeces are determined to see business at Bumper-to-Bumper/OK Ag & Auto Parts continues as usual through this transition...customers can look forward to a 'Grand Re-Opening' sometime in the future. Until then, Larry hopes that customers will be willing to get involved in helping the business grow on into the future.
"We'd be open to ideas that people might have about what things they'd like to see at the store."
