Meet Rich & Kim Scott | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rich & Kim Scott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rich & Kim, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It was always my dream to be my own boss. I had worked for many dealerships throughout my career and had always felt like I was just missing something. I had the chance in 2008 to work for a friend who had a independent shop. I really enjoyed getting to know each customer who came in. After 10 years my friend decided to retire and my wife and I decided now was the time. It was the scariest decision I believe we had ever made.

We made a promise the day we started. We wanted to be the Automotive Service & Repair shop you can trust. A place where you knew everyone from the office to who is working on your car. It is important to us that everyone feels like family. Where honesty and quality service is standard.

Yes, every business owner wants to make money but it’s about so much more. It’s about people, and keeping them safe..

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

We are a family owned and operated independent Import Automotive Service and Repair shop. We recently won Best of Hall Automotive Service, Best of Hall Automotive Repair, and Best of Hall Oil change.
We are an automotive shop you can trust. One you can send your family or friends to and know they are getting honest, quality work at without paying dealership prices. We can do most anything a dealership can do but for far less. We are here for you and look forward to establishing a long term relationship and remembering who you are each time you come in. We want to be the place you want to come by even if it’s for just a cup of coffee and to say hi!

Rich has been a technician for 39 years. I have been in the automotive industry since I was 18. We are a dynamic husband and wife team and enjoy working together. We are where we are today business wise because we have kept our promise to each other and to our employees and customers from day one. It isn’t always easy. Being honest Is the road less traveled by many but it’s worth it. Stay true to who you are, stay true to what you want to be, stay true to the brand or business you are or want to be. That’s our best advice.

We have learned though it’s okay to not bring work home. Working with each other and coming home we tend to want to talk shop talk every night around the dinner table. We have learned that you can keep your business and personal life separate and still be successful.. Balance is key. We are practicing it daily!

We want you to know if you have a dream of owning your own business you can do it. If we can do it anyone can. Have your support system. I remind myself often of Steve Harvey’s success story.. Get a notebook and make yourself a vision board. Write down what you want for yourself, where you want to be to be in one month, this year, 5 years and so on. Scratch it off each time you accomplish that dream. Owning your own business is so rewarding and you can do it!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well we love our food and we always take friends to Longstreet Cafe. A old home style cafeteria line southern cooking at its best. We eat there several times a week. Another family owned business as well is Alpha Gyro Grill in town. The best Gyro and cannoli we have been had!

During the summer we would recommend Lake Burton. What a beautiful relaxing place to be. There is nothing better than unplugging and enjoying some peaceful time in and on the water.

Lastly we would have to show them some clogging. Our daughter is a competition clogger with Power Taps in Woodstock. We would have to entertain them with a little dance from the team!

Alright, so let’s jump right in! The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there a person, group, organization, book, etc. that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?  
We could write a book about the love and support we have received. First I have to shoutout to our employees. If it were not for them we would not be who we are today. They are the backbone of our business. Art, Andrew, and Amber our technicians are the best. They came on and understood that we wanted Pro Import to be the best independent shop around and together our team has done it.

Secondly is our family. My Dad who is a retired pastor just kept praying for us the moment we decided to start this business and of course our family and children who believed in us and encouraged us. They are our rocks. Our children and grandchildren are the best!

Lastly and certainly not least. Our customers who remind us weekly of why we do what we do. Those smiles and relationships we have established over the last four years will last a lifetime. Our friends have become our customers and our customers have become our friends.

Website: www.proimportservice.com

Instagram: proimport_gainesville

Facebook: Pro Import Automotive Service & Repair

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Image Credits
Posh Photography-Thea & David Dubose