Today we’d like to introduce you to A. C. aka StereoMan Grayer.
A. C., can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m originally from Flossmoor, Illinois; the south suburbs of Chicago, I grew up as a carefree kid, like most, riding my bike all around town. My love for cars began around twelve years old. I worked the paper route in my neighborhood as a boy. During that time, my father taught me how to drive during my paper route. As I grew older, my fascination with taking cars apart and putting them back together was a pastime of mine. I was generally into figuring out the intricacies of the wiring in vehicles. Radios, speakers, and as time progressed on, remote starts became more and more interesting to me. My father would allow me to work on his vehicles for countless hours so that I could learn my craft. My parents would purchase accessories for my cars and I would happily install. From there, my friends begin to ask me to install radios, speakers, and other accessories. It wasn’t long after that, I’d begun making money installing car accessories on the side.
I ended up in college for a couple of years and then I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Shortly after, I went to a car audio shop to get my windows tinted. The owner inquired about the sound system and the alarm with a remote start that was in my truck. He stated, “I would love to hire the guy that installed the accessories!”. I responded, “When do you want me to start? I’m available evenings and weekends.” He hired me on the spot. This was in 1997. During my tenure there, I received my certification. I was inactive duty still, but I’d take on a nickname by this time. My friends and fellow airmen began to call me “Stereoman”. It’s a name that’s stuck with me throughout my life and holds value to me now that I have a black-owned, veteran business!
After I got off active duty with the Air Force, I graduated from college with a criminal justice degree and worked as a police officer for nearly twelve years. I continued to organically grow my business brand as an auto-installer with the handle of StereoMan. I’d been working with auto accessories for about 21 years when I decided to move my business to Atlanta, Georgia. I got on with a sheriff’s office when I relocated here in 2014. After being in Atl for almost two years, I met my wife Felicia in November of 2015. She was very supportive of me as I shared my dream of owning a shop in the Atl! I’d left the sheriff’s office and decided to run my business full-time. I wanted to get my feet wet with a physical location for Grayer Auto Accessories. One day I was going to meet up with a couple of friends and found this place that had a “For Lease” sign posted. Soon after, I moved into the new home of “StereoMan,” a half mile east of the Big Chicken!
My YouTube social media presence @acgstereoman is what I take sentimental pride in. I have a growing group of nearly four thousand followers! It’s my pleasure to be in this business for almost thirty years, making an impact! My followers have recognized me in airports, restaurants, grocery stores, i.e., nearly everywhere! I’ve been recognized by the most uncommon fans ever! It’s so refreshing to know that what I’ve done in the world is so fascinating to the next man. It makes for a beautiful legacy!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think with any business, there are challenges. However, when you’re passionate and love what you do? Struggles are the fuel that pushes you to be better. If it weren’t for my ability to get out in the community and pass along my own business cards, I wouldn’t have made it in Atlanta. The folks here want to know what you’re about before they do business with you. Grassroots marketing and word of mouth is definitely the way to go when you’re moving to a new city.
Please tell us about your business.
We offer remote starts, backup cams, motorcycle maintenance, and car audio. These items are ninety percent of our business. Our specialty items are multi-camera systems, motorcycle customization, train horn systems, and dash cams. The specialty items are a growing business opportunity for us as the demand for them has doubled in the last year or so. We are proud of upholding the small business standard in the community! It’s the American dream come true for a little African American boy who grew up to serve his country, his community as an officer and now his clients with the best in auto accessory installations!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are now expanding our brand to meet the needs of a new trend setting industry; home automation and home security! We will soon be introducing Grayer Enterprises to the world! We are excited about unveiling this new brand in March/April of 2020!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1540 Roswell Road
Suite 600
Marietta, Georgia 30062 - Website: www.grayerenterprises.com
- Phone: 7088213526
- Email: ac@grayerenterprises.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grayerauto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrayerAutoAccessories/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/grayerauto
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/acgstereoman
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
