Mudlick Mail Triples Sales and Customers in 2010

Despite a struggling economy, direct mail service provider Mudlick Mail tripled its sales and customer base in 2010. The company, which caters to the automotive repair industry, grew sales to more than $7 million in 2010. The company’s customer base also increased significantly, expanding from just under 100 in 2009 to more than 350 in 2010.

“We credit our growth to providing repair shop owners with direct mail campaigns that are very targeted and very effective in driving business,” said Mudlick Mail CEO Greg Sands.

Some of Mudlick’s customers have increased their business by as much as 40 percent by using the company’s direct mail programs, which allow repair shop owners to target customers by income, neighborhood and even vehicle, make. Mudlick’s campaigns serve as a one-stop shop, offering graphic design services, printing, listing services, postage and delivery for one flat fee. In addition, Mudlick provides free training on customer service, sales techniques and other strategies to help shop owners maximize the effectiveness of their direct mail campaigns.

“Our goal is to take what we’ve learned from our wealth of experience in the automotive service business and apply that knowledge to ensure that other shop owners succeed,” said Sands, who also owns and operates more than 20 auto repair shops in three states.

Sands founded Mudlick in 2008, after searching for years for the right advertising vehicle for his repair shops. Direct mail was the only method that allowed Sands to accurately reach high-caliber customers within the market area of his stores.

Mudlick sent out more than 25 million pieces of direct mail nationwide in 2010. The goal is to increase that number to 36 million in 2011. The company is currently growing at a rate of 10 percent per month and projects sales of more than $10 million 2011.

For more information, visit www.mudlickmail.com.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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