Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Bussey.
Hi Eric, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We started in my garage in 2018 just selling tools online and locally. We realized that there was so much demand that we should open a warehouse to give us the room to scale. At the same time, one of my business partners opened a warehouse in Charlotte as well, where he lived.
We did so well in the warehouses that we opened our first retail store in Dawsonville, Ga in November of 2020. Since then, we’ve opened another store in Newnan, Ga in February of 2022 and plan to open a smaller store in Alpharetta by the end of the year.
We sell tools, Traeger and Big Green Egg grills, flooring, and other home goods at discounted prices. Some of our items are between 15-60% off retail prices.
What has made us successful is our willingness to take care of the customer and build a relationship. We’re not after just after the transaction. That’s important of course to keep the lights on but building the relationship with a customer is way more fun and satisfying.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our journey before Extra Mile Tools was not smooth at all. My business partner and I struggled with different business models for years before we settled on this one.
We went from garage sales to storage unit auctions, to selling retail store products on Amazon and hiring a team all around the country to shop for us, etc…
We even did some woodworking in there somewhere…
Most of these didn’t pan out like we had hoped but we knew we wanted a sustainable business that created jobs so we never stopped trying.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the CMO of Extra Mile Tools. I used to have a marketing agency but when Extra Mile Tools got bigger, I needed to fully dedicate my time to that business. I had to let all of my clients go but had learned a ton and was able to use that knowledge to grow Extra Mile Tools.
I am most proud of finding strategies and tactics that most retail stores don’t know or don’t make time to do and go against the grain a little bit with my marketing strategies. I believe that has played a major role in our success
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success by asking myself these three questions:
1) Do I like what I’m doing?
2) Is it sustainable?
3) Do I like who I’m doing it with?
If I can answer “yes” to all 3 questions then I’m successful.
Pricing:
- 15-60% off retail pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: extramiletools.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/extramiletools/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/extramiletools
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJXZSFoNev2puFLNUhXHt2w
