Meet Jim Mutimer of Long Tire & Brake in Marietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Mutimer.

Jim, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I had always wanted to own my own business and an opportunity presented itself in that a friend of my father-in-law was interested in selling. We did our research and thought it seemed like a very good opportunity. Billy Long started the business in 1973 and was looking to sell in 2000. I did not have any experience in the automotive industry.

However, I had a great deal of experience in sales and customer service. At the time, I was a pharmaceutical sales representative in the area and to advance, I would most likely have been required to relocate. My wife and her family were originally from Marietta and we were expecting our second child and did not have a desire to move.

So, after evaluating the opportunity, we decided to buy. There were many challenges in ensuring the transition was successful and that the business continued to prosper under new ownership. These included learning the industry, retaining the customer base, both commercial and retail, and holding onto the workforce. We are still going strong 18 years later.

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?
It certainly has not always been smooth. For the first three years, there seemed to be a revolving door for our employees. It definitely took me some time to learn how to identify strong employees and how to make a job at Long Tire & Brake more enticing than other alternatives. However, now we can say we have mechanics that have been with the company from 5-18 years. Also, retaining managers has been challenging, but we now have a great manager that has been on staff for 3.5 years. Soon after the business purchase, we lost one of our big commercial clients.

At that time, commercial clients made up over 50% of the business. The economic downturn presented challenges as well as many clients involved in real estate went out of business. So, we have had to work very hard to retain and gain new clients, both retail and commercial, and the mix is still about 50%/50% which provides good stability.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Long Tire & Brake story. Tell us more about the business.
We are an automotive shop that does everything but body work. We are known for our exceptional customer service and honesty. We are most proud of the fact that our customers regularly refer new customers to us. We do very little, if any, advertising, but continue to grow and thrive.

In our industry, you only thrive by being honest and treating customers how you would like to be treated. What sets us apart is that we are not a national chain. We are an independent shop that relies on a teamwork mentality and treating the customer right.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have certainly had good luck in my life and business. First, finding my wife (now of 21 years) was very good luck. She is the glue and the backbone of the family. Second, I wouldn’t have learned of the opportunity at all if it hadn’t been for her. I originally learned of the potential business purchase from my father-in-law who was taking my wife and me to the airport for a vacation. He heard us talking about making a change and he said he thought this business might be for sale and it sounded like a great opportunity.

Also, I landed a commercial account early on that had about 10 trucks and built a strong relationship. This company has grown to an entity that now has about 400 trucks and is still a great customer. I feel blessed every day, through luck and/or hard work, that when we open the doors, customers still come to see us and trust us to serve their automotive needs.

Contact Info:

• Address: 4365 Canton Road, Marietta, GA 30066
• Website: www.longtireandbrake.com
• Phone: 7709264385
• Email: jimmutimer@longtirebrake.com
• Facebook: @longtireandbrake
• Yelp: Long Tire & Brake

Image Credit:
Grace Mutimer

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