ARMO named The Stop Shop as the council’s latest member spotlight company. In this week’s feature, company owner Todd McClure shares the story of his company and what projects The Stop Shop is working on in 2021.
SEMA: Tell us the story of your business. How did you start?
Todd McClure: The Stop Shop was founded in 2015 as a wholesaler and retailer of classic car parts and automotive hardware. The company has evolved from a single person packing and shipping orders from a basement to a five-employee manufacturing facility just a few years later. We provide fluid transfer solutions for brake, fuel and transmission components. These products include both the materials shops and DIY customers need to make their own fluid transfer lines. We also manufacture fully prebent and assembled tubes for both new model and classic vehicles.
SEMA: What was your breakthrough moment?
TM: We decided to start manufacturing in 2018. We take a lot of pride in being a true USA manufacturer of many of the products we now sell. It was a big leap for a small company to invest in the equipment and people needed for this step, but it has opened a lot of doors for our company and we couldn't be happier that we went for it when we did.
SEMA: Tell us about your business now in 2021 and what projects are you working on?
TM: We have worked hard to keep our projects diversified through wholesale, jobber and retail customers. We find ourselves currently working on new parts for anything from musclecars to Jeeps to import vehicles. We also manufacture some products that aren't used in the automotive industry at all.
SEMA: Tell us about a particular project, product or build you are proud of.
TM: Last year we completed our first complete restoration (but is a restoration ever really complete?!). Many of us have worked for decades in the restoration market, but none of us had ever actually done serious work to a car. We completed work on a ’67 Firebird convertible and we learned so much throughout the process. While we consider ourselves experts in classic car brakes, we certainly had a lot to learn everywhere else on the car. That car is now my daily driver whenever the weather is permitting.
SEMA: What advice do you have for young professionals contemplating a career in the automotive aftermarket, particularly in the restoration segment?
TM: Pick a specialty or a product and become an authority on it. Be an expert on something, no matter how small, rather than trying to know it all. This will let you stay focused and become the woman or man that people in the industry look to for your specialty. Focus on products that people need, not only the fun and flashy products that they want and you will do well. There is an incredible amount of opportunity in our industry and we have a lot of fun.
Fill out an ARMO member spotlight form to highlight how your company is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on ARMO’s and media, SEMA eNews and future ARMO member updates.