Owner starts association for ?independents only?

Jan. 1, 2020

Grassroots effort builds a membership that sets out to put the ?Customer First,? discourage insurer control

SnapshopShop Name:
Autolta Body Shop
Location: Okatie, S.C.
Shop Size: 4,000 sq. ft.
History: Autolta started out in a converted barn in 1976, which owner Lloyd Adams rented for $125 per month. The barn was later moved and renovated (above) and an additional building was added to the shop.
Volume: About three vehicles per week; 12 per month
Gross Annual Sales: About $200,000 per year. Grassroots effort builds a membership that sets out to put the

About the Author

Tina Grady

Tina was associate editor and then senior associate editor of ABRN from 2001-2004 after serving as an associate editor for a group of agricultural business and biotechnology trade publications in Northeast Ohio. While there, she wrote about the people, businesses, and trends shaping those industries, many times traveling to research her articles. Before entering the business-publishing industry, she was a reporter for the daily newspaper, covering Columbus, Ohio, and the surrounding regions. She has also reported for a suburban Cleveland daily newspaper and for several weekly newspapers in Northeast Ohio. A graduate of Kent State University, Tina holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism and mass communication and a bachelor of arts degree in theater studies. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Society of Business Press Editors.