Today we’d like to introduce you to David Kikoen.
David, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My family was in the auto parts business in the Chicago are. My Grandfather and his 3 brothers founded Major Motor Supply Company in 1929. I worked my first day there at the age of 8 years old helping out around the warehouse. I have always been an automotive enthusiast and spent 25 years of my adult life in the business. I spent many of those years as a Buyer and specialized in Custom Wheels & Tires. Back in the day there were nothing but 13″, 14″ and 15″ wheels. Today wheels run up to 28″ in diameter!
In 2000 on a trip out to Vegas for the annual SEMA show, I sat next to a Manufacturer’s Rep that I had known over the years. Our meeting was just by chance. He knew that I was familiar with the Wheel Business and shared a story regarding a long-time friend of his. His friend owned a salvage yard and had spun off a hubcap business out of it. The friend had sold the business to a nephew about a year prior and the nephew was struggling. He asked if I would talk to the nephew and to see if I had any interest in the business.
A couple of weeks later I met with the nephew and worked with him for a couple of days. I was very familiar with the business and saw how I could take it along with my knowledge of the industry and expand the business. I purchased the business in 2000 and moved it from Des Plaines, IL to Crestwood, IL 6 months later. Within 6 months we re-branded as Mr. Hubcap & Wheels.
Has it been a smooth road?
Well, the road has not always been that smooth. Kind of like Chicago roads, there were many “Pot Holes”, pun intended. The industry is constantly changing. Being a small business allows us to monitor and adjust.
Most cars and trucks in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s all had Steel Wheels with full size Wheel Covers or Hubcaps. The clips would break, they would hit curbs or pot holes and fly off. Over the years Steel Wheels have dwindled at the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) level and have been replaced with Alloy or Aluminum Wheels. Alloy wheels do not require Hubcaps so we had to figure out where the industry was heading. Many Alloy Wheels require Center Caps so that slowly became a new category for us.
The Internet was really just getting going. DSL hadn’t come about yet so any access to the internet was through a dial up modem. Since then businesses and homes are all operating at lightning speeds and can access practically anything on any site. EBay was strictly a collector’s auction site when we started. Mr. Hubcap & Wheels was among the first businesses in our industry to start selling Center Caps, Hubcaps and Wheels on eBay.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
At Mr. Hubcap & Wheels we are all about Customer Service. We service both Wholesale and Retail markets. On the Wholesale side we ship out covers and wheels to every state including Alaska and Hawaii. We also ship to Puerto Rico. We are a supplier to Body Shops, Fleet Management Companies, Rent-A-Car companies, Tire Dealers and Repair Shops. We even sell OEM parts back to the Car Dealers!
Mr. Hubcap & Wheels has thousands of original equipment and aftermarket parts in stock. Whatever we do not have in stock we will get. If we cannot get it that simply means it is not available and then we will come up with alternatives. Automotive businesses all over Chicagoland refer their customers to Mr. Hubcap & Wheels as they know we will treat them like their own. Customers always feel welcome at our shop.
We specialize in making our customers happy, plain and simple. So many times a customer comes to Mr. Hubcap and they have a vehicle and do not know what they want. Our Automotive Style Consultants will help them craft their vehicle into a star. Our customers always leave happy and willing to refer others!
Mr. Hubcap & Wheels carries a full line of Wheel Skins! An inexpensive way to turn your original boring silver painted alloy wheels in to Chrome or Black wheels.
Theft has been a major issue with Alloy Wheel Center Caps. We install what we sell. We have an innovative Center Cap Locking System that can be installed to help deter theft. When a customer comes to Mr. Hubcap & Wheels they can leave their problem with us and go enjoy their day. We will be their last call. We Love What We Do!!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Chicago and Suburbs is a great place for business. We are the Hub of the Midwest. Crestwood is a great area to start a business. It has a very diverse crowd who appreciates a shopping experience. No more Hubcaps shops though!
Contact Info:
- Address: 13616 Cicero Avenue
Crestwood, IL 60418 - Website: www.mr-hubcap.com
- Phone: 708-597-4100
- Email: jkikoen@mr-hubcap.com
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