Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Davis.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was a 3rd generation auto repair shop owner in the Houston Heights, my grandfather started in 1937. I got a finance degree in college and wanted to be a commodities broker in NYC, but my father swayed me back to Houston to take over the family business. I ran the company for 10 years then sold out. I then wrote a book “What Your Mechanic Does Not Want You To Know” which I sold online for a while. I then started a website in 1998 dedicated to helping people with auto repair problems free of charge.
My website took off and became very successful, and I eventually created over 1000 websites and became a self taught internet marketer. That business was very successful for about 10 years until Google made some radical changes that crushed me.
2013 I was asked by a local business owner for internet marketing help with his hydraulic motor business that was failing. I was able to grow his sales from $1 million to $5 million a year in 18 months. He and I had our indifference in how the business should be run, and I left in 2016 to start a competing company, FinalDriveMotors.com
This fairly new company has rapidly grown to $2.5 million in sales in about a year and growth is steady looking forward.
When I helped this business man, I had no idea what a “final drive motor” was, or how to market it online, but I dug in and learned the business on my own and figured out how to grow his business…and mine.
We currently have a total of 5 employees, but I expect to double in size in 2018 and we continue to take market share from my old partner and other competitors. I have taught myself everything I now know about this niche, and have been working with Asian manufacturers to develop our own motors, cheaper, faster, better than anything else currently on the market.
I would not be where I am today if not for the auto repair shop giving me a generalized background of mechanics, and my education in online marketing.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. I have been kicked around by Google many times as they adjust their search algorithm, and each time I figure out what they did and how to beat them at their own game, until one day they finally crushed me and I had to admit defeat.
My current business was by accident, a now competitor needed online help and I was the guy he sought, and I took the time to learn his business…better than he did.
I have made lots of money, and spent lots of money along the way, all in the name of “education” learning new things and learning how to do them better than the competition.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about FinalDriveMotors.com – what should we know?
We sell hydraulic motors that turn the metal tracks on excavating machines, the motors are called “final drive motors”. This is a small niche, and has been dominated by 1-2 large established companies who have done things the same way for decades, and their online presence was not important to them. I took advantage of that weakness and built my business 100% online with just a small office and shipping warehouse.
We are known for our very low prices and our industry first Lifetime Limited Warranty. We consider ourselves the “Walmart” or “Amazon” of the final drive motor business.
We are also known for innovation, due to our custom manufacturing of these motors. We have taken 6-7 versions of a current motor and condensed it into 1 motor. This saves us money on inventory, and we can purchase a larger quantity which brings our manufacturing costs down, so we can pass the savings on to our customers.
Our competitors are all selling the exact same motors, at a higher price with a shorter warranty period.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
PERSISTENCE, I never give up, and I do not take no for an answer. I dig in and figure out the problem and come up with a solution. Everything is possible.
Contact Info:
- Address: FinalDriveMotors.com
29101 FM 2978 Suite B06
Magnolia, Texas 77354
888-866-3462 - Website: FinalDriveMotors.com
- Phone: 888-866-3462
- Email: Sales@FinalDriveMotors.com
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