Yes, Autosport Labs is a garage business. One of tens of thousands across this country – and world- that, in aggregate, are making the next industrial revolution. And, the time has finally come where we take that substantial step forward, make that big investment and affirm: “this is much more real”.
After many months of off-and-on searching, including an aborted near-move across the country to Arizona (!!), I came across a small slice of commercial property listed on CraigsList. It looked pretty good- not too big, not too small, and the lease price seemed right. Kelley, our Chief Operating Officer (and my lovely wife) took a look at it and excitedly called me. “This place is perfect!” she gushed. Being a bit hardened by “affordable” commercial properties that ended up being absolute dumps, I was, admittedly, a bit skeptical. But it was worth checking out, as we were starting to painfully run out of room for our home-based business in our two-car garage. Painfully: as in race cars and race car parts stacked in one garage bay, and electronic assembly equipment, benches and inventory stacked in the other. Pain. Full.
Everything comes with catches, and this place was no exception. For years the previous lessee ran a business distributing “impulse items”- you know, the trinkety garbage you find at checkout in most stores. The entire place was packed with shelves- shelves so haphazardly assembled they seemed as if they were built during a work-release program for an insane asylum. Just seeing them gave me fits, so I left most of the work to Kelley, Scott and John to clean up while I continued plugging away at R&D.
Cleaning up and prepping the space has been quite an experience so far. Crazy shelves excised from walls yielded space for a clean room, an assembly / inventory area, and a spot was made for our lift. A 2nd level has been added, making further room for storage or a play/relaxation space (we’ll see what theme wins out!) And, we even have a little bit of office space!
I think it will work quite well.
It’s not offen John and I get caught on camera holding hands. Our wives already suspect we’re more then friends.
Here at Autosport Labs we’re a tight knit family. 🙂
“The entire place was packed with shelves- shelves so haphazardly assembled they seemed as if they were built during a work-release program for an insane asylum. Just seeing them gave me fits, so I left most of the work to Kelley, Scott and John to clean up while I continued plugging away at R&D.”
I’m glad your team could help resolve your fits! Can’t wait to see the lab transform the rest of the way…and find out if the storage space or the play/relaxation room wins out!