Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Coates.
Steve, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My father, Harold Coates, was a true entrepreneur. He didn’t graduate high school, but after many years of working for others in the heating industry, he started his own manufacturing and parts distribution business around 1981. I was learning under him from the beginning and helped run the businesses from 1991 thru 1996.
Both businesses were successful and he decided to sell them in 1996. I continued to work for the new owner who had an MBA, while I only 15 years experience. In 2009, the new owner decided he no longer needed my services and fired me.
By 2009 I had nearly 30 years in the heater parts distribution business, so I started my own company in my basement. Due to very cold weather and longtime business connections, especially in the tool rental industry, Space Heater Parts was profitable from day one.
In 2013, we sold our home and bought a smaller home that included a 3000 square foot building in Valparaiso, IN, which is where I currently operate. My sister and my wife are part-time employees. Our annual sales range from 350-500K, depending on the weather.
Has it been a smooth road?
While weather can always be very unpredictable creating many sales problems, being sued for non compete in 2009 was my biggest impediment.
From the day I graduated from college, I started working with my father in our heater and tool rental business. So for 30 years, that was all I knew. My attorney and I thought we would easily win in court. Wrong. We lost. Settled out of court for a large sum. I couldn’t make the payments, so I was sued again. Filed for bankruptcy in 2016 and finally settled for a smaller sum and made the final payment in 2017.
For eight years, I had to constantly deal with attorney fees and debt payments. 2018 will be my first calendar year not having to deal with these issues. Despite all of this, the business remained profitable (barely).
So, as you know, we’re impressed with SpaceHeaterParts.com – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
At SpaceHeaterParts.com we specialize in parts for construction heaters used in garages, buildings, warehouses, farms, and areas that needs heat. Most of the parts we sell are for oil-fired heaters. Heater brands include Master, Remington, Reddy, Pro Temp, Heat Hog, Stanley, LB White, Mi-T-M, Dyna Glo, Thermoheat, Dayton, Deere, Toro, Champion, Porta Heat and many more.
I have been doing this for nearly 40 years which has allowed me to help customers with just about any type of torpedo heater problem there is. Not a lot of us old timers around.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Chicago is a great city. I love the restaurants, shopping, theater district, but most of all, Garrets Popcorn!
What anyone likes least about Chicago is the gang crimes. In the downtown area, parking is always a challenge.
Contact Info:
- Address: SpaceHeaterParts.com
212 W 700 N Valparaiso IN 46385 - Phone: 219.242.8778
- Website: SpaceHeaterParts.com
- Phone: 219.242.8778
- Email: SpaceHeaterParts@gmail.com
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Kent Eisener
January 9, 2018 at 10:14 pm
Cant see where to see the parts! Maybe I need you to just get them for me!