Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Hamilton.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Christian. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The business started in my garage while being the station with the Army in Hawaii back in 2012. All my friends would bring over their Jeeps for me to fix or build up. After coming back home to Houston (Kemah) I slowly opened the shop back up once I got word that there wasn’t as reasonable and trust worth shop for the Jeepers in Houston to go to. Before I knew it I had a month waiting list and they just kept coming! I reached out to Ross Bryant, ASE certified tech and all around off-road guy. He joined the team in 2015 and we haven’t looked back since then.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting a business you always want it to be great! Having a business set directly towards one type of vehicle is a challenge at times, but we do have our customers bring in their wife’s car or husbands truck to fix also. The swings in the middle of the year are the hardest to plan for and stay on top of; tax returns, summer vacations, kids going back to school, the holidays.
Planning the busy months in preparation for the slow weeks or months is a key to success. Customer service and guilty of work are what I have strived to set over the years. Then everyone that owns a toolbox thinks that they can open a shop in their backyard, we get a lot of Jeeps and other vehicles that need to be fixed from those types of places.
Please tell us about Jeep Slop Shop.
I would like to think we run the best Jeep specific shop in the Houston area. Word of mouth has been a driving force of our business. We specialize in the Jeep brand vehicles, from basic light bulb changes to full out custom builds. We make custom in-house bumpers, step rails, cages, as well as stocking most parts that are broken or bent while off-roading over the weekends.
Early 2016 we set out on a journey to race in Nitto tires “King of the Hammers”, it has been a dream of mine for the last 7 years. We finally were at a point to start working to that goal, and come Feb 2018 myself and tech (Ross Byrant) will be racing in the 4500 series. But I would say I am most proud of is being about to give back. When I first opened in Houston it seemed everyone needed money or donations to different charities.
At first, I was pulling out of my own pocket to help out. Going to the events and seeing the kids faces at Christmas getting a tree or a toy sure puts a smile on your face. After Harvey we had a command post set up at the shop and ran by Jeepers, collecting supplies, delivering them and food to the families in need. Customers and friends risking their live and personal vehicles to save others during the flooding. It was a hard time, but coming together as a family to help each other out is what sets us apart.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing at all. If I already knew the mistakes I have made and never let those happen. I wouldn’t have learned anything from that. We all should strive to be a better at whatever it is that we are doing in this life, and right now I love my life.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2031 Andres Ln Suite E.
Kemah, TX 77565 - Phone: 281-549-4650, 281-799-1307
- Website: www.jeepslopshop.com
- Email: jeepslopshop@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jeepslopshop/
Image Credit:
Kimberley Hamilton
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