RR 244: Brian Sump from Avalon Motorsports

Brian Sump is not your typical shop owner. A former professional athlete, Sump had never turned a wrench in a shop before starting Denver-based Avalon Motorsports in 2007.  But in the years since, he has used his business acumen and a detailed, process-based management philosophy to grow the German-specialty shop into what a number of industry consultants consider to be an industry leader.

In 2014, Sump opened Urban Autocare, his second facility in Denver, to cater to the general repair market. He now leads six different organizations. Sump has been recognized with multiple industry and business awards and was the cover subject of Ratchet+Wrench’s premier issue in July 2012.

Talking Points:

• After football, he decided that his second love was the automobile.
  • He decided to buy Avalon Motorsports.
• He needed to learn all the facets of the business. It was like a football playbook.
• He is a specialist at Avalon working on BMW, Mini, Audi, Porsche, and VW.
• 40% of his business is BMW
• At his second shop, Urban, he works on all makes and models.
• A a multi entity business he heavily rely’s on his people in all aspects of running his business.
  • A luxury car rental, a candy company and a cyber security company, among his two shops.
  • He says opportunity’s to grow come when you least expect them.
• Process improvements:
  • It is the small things. They recently moved the technician files to be closer to the technician’s work areas, saving time by minimizing the walk.
  • 70% of the time to procure inventory in any business requires walking.
• The Company Mission: To create an uplifting customer experience.
• Amazon working to remove customer interaction from the equation.
  • If you study the newest generation ‘Z’ (1996 – 2010) there is room for analog! Relationships may come back.
• You need to be networking up and networking down.
  • Learn from others and teach others.
  • Find resources like mastermind group or a peer group. Meet people in and out of the industry.
• Diplomacy is a conscious choice. Sometimes inherent or practiced. You need to involve people and change and adapt.
• Co-founder of Transformers Mastermind.
  • It is different running multiple stores.
• To know where the future of automotive repair is going, study the upcoming generations.
• “When you find a fork in the road … take it!” Yogi Berra
• Brian is also the co-pastor of his church.

Company Profile:

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