Titan Motoring in only 8 years has grown to be a $2.8 million dollar shop, on track to gross 3.5 million this year.
After working for local Nashville car audio shops, Philip Lindsley saw an opportunity to do more expediter business with dealerships. He opened Titan Motoring in 2011 with one employee.
He now has 15 employees and services 25 car dealerships.
At least three of Titan’s car audio installers are multiple Mobile Electronics magazine Top 12 installers.
On average, including dealership work, Titan works on 50 to 75 cars a day, 6 days a week.
“I’m an audio guy. I’ve been an installer since I was 14 years old. I’m MECP certified,” said Lindsley, adding, “For years I worked at different shops in town. I saw a need for more car dealership service. I started this from a van in 2011. I still have the van.”
He began offering car audio but customers started asking for wheels and tires. So his next hire was a shop manager who formerly built race cars. From there the shop added window tint, with an installer who could also do vinyl wraps.
Titan now offers upholstery, leather kits, detailing, lift kits and suspension, engine upgrades, wraps and tint and partial restorations. It has five full time ASE certified mechanics, 7 car audio installers plus one tint guy, one wrap guy and two detailers.
“I had one employee in 2011, three in 2012, five in 2013, 7 in 2014, ten in 2015 and it kept growing from there. Over the last 8 years, we’ve added more and more services, which is why we’ve gotten to the point we do pretty much anything for a vehicle. We did tint for years, then I got a guy that not only did tint but vinyl wraps and paint protection. The margins are great. “
Even with 15 employees there’s still a month and a half wait time for custom fabrication work, done by appointment by deposit.
“We started in the beginning being really focused on a good reputation so people would want to work at the place,” said Lindsley. The bays are fully air conditioned, there’s a health plan with dental insurance and even AFLAC fully paid short term disability insurance.
Installers receive a 50 percent commission with labor at $95 an hour preferred rate and $120 an hour if you bring your own equipment.
Car audio is still about 35 to 40 percent of the shop’s sales.
Brands carried include Audiofrog, Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony and Audio Development.
“I grew up reading Car Audio magazine. I got an issue when I was 13 and fell in love, and not just with audio;I read Low Rider magazine and anything custom,” said Lindsley.
The shop regularly builds cars for NBA, NFL and NHL players.
