Owners, Mike and Suzanne Dunn were presented with the award on Friday, Dec. 9.
Each year, New Jersey’s Small Business Development Center honors small business owners throughout the state who have achieved high marks, while seeing both growth and success. At its 2016 awards ceremony held in December, Moorestown’s Ed Ebert’s InTown Auto Care was one of 16 companies in the state to be presented with a NJSBDC Success Award.
“The NJSBDC is a great resource. They have been there and done that — and the more time ‘in the saddle’ the better they get at it,” Mike Dunn, who co-owns the business with his wife Suzanne, said. “The organization takes a multitude of businesses and creates a list of best practices, but business owners need to be willing to use its ideas, and to mold and create their own.”
Although the couple, who resides in Shamong, has received this award for their success, the path to this point has not been an easy one. From 1980 until 2013, Ed Ebert’s Automotive, located at 309 Mill St., was originally run by Ed Ebert. When Ebert retired, he put the business up for sale and ultimately reached out to Joe Rossini, a Medford native who owned the 22nd largest automotive parts company in the nation, Mechanics Auto Parts.
Rossini had recently sold his business to move to Florida, and upon hearing this news, Ebert reached out to him for advice on selling his own company. Rossini put Ebert in touch with the Dunns, because he was aware they were trying to purchase an automotive repair business, and the couple proceeded to purchase the business.
Yet, even before opening their doors to the community, the couple knew they needed guidance on this acquisition, and thus they reached out to the NJSBDC at Rutgers-Camden to converse with consultants, Steve Applebaum and Clarence Fullard. Through these interactions, the Dunns were able to effectively identify and evaluate local business opportunities within the automotive repair industry.
Then, upon re-opening the company to the public, the Dunns began to experience various struggles, from having clientele accept the new leadership to managing existing employees due to new operations, procedures and policies. Yet, by eliciting the help of the NJSBDC, the couple was able to overcome many of these difficulties — including a 35 percent reduction in gross dollars upon taking over.
Providing the Dunns with ideas and suggestions, the NJSBDC helped motivate increased business for Ed Ebert’s Automotive. Ultimately, the Dunns believe they were recognized with the Success Award for their hard work and dedication, not only to improving their business but also to utilizing the NJSBDC’s resources to the fullest.
“Having won this award is mind-numbing from the standpoint that we were one of only two companies in South Jersey to be given this award,” Mike Dunn said. “From here onward, we plan to continue to grow and bring better operations to the business.”
The Dunns plan to maintain their high-level of service and customer-oriented advantage, as well as to continue to build local relationships which they feel are the foundation for successful business opportunities. Additionally helping them to grow, the company now employs seven full-time, certified automotive professionals and uses state-of-the-art equipment and tools to provide its services.
Customer amenities include a courtesy shuttle service, bicycle loans, discounted rental cars, no interest financing if paid within six months, a customer referral program, service discounts and a free carwash with every service also help Ed Ebert’s Automotive gain and retain customers. Through this community service, and due to the company’s business associations, rotary membership, good citizenship and friendly nature, the Dunns plan to continue exemplifying small business success for years to come.
As for this year, the Dunns plan to officially change the name of their business to “In Town Auto Repair” by the spring.
