Independence, Mo.--During an economic time that includes a 5.5 percent unemployment rate, all-time high gas prices, and a weakening dollar, many businesses make cuts. They cut expenses, people, and programs, said Chris Ripper, vice president of sales and marketing at Chux Trux.
Chux Trux Owner Seth Gortenburg on the other hand, is doing just the opposite -- he is remodeling all four stores, adding inventory, people, programs, and redoing his Web site, Ripper said.
"Investing in the company in a down time is a unique position to be in," said Sean Kacsir, chief operating officer. "We are not a Wal-Mart, where you have billions of dollars in funds behind you--we are a privately owned company where the investor is the only person who owns the company, and he has foresight to invest during a time when most are stopping all their programs."
While many similar truck accessory businesses are cutting back on inventory and instead ordering only on customer request, Ripper said he is going to be in the place that has the product in stock when the customer gets to the store.
"When the market turns around, we are going to be in a remarkably strong position," he said.
Along with remodeling, and the adding of inventory, Ripper said attention has been given to training.
