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Article Excerpt
Southern Comfort Conversions
By Joe Escobar
Focus on innovation leads to growth and success
When some people hear the name Southern Comfort, they may think of a popular whiskey liqueur. But those in the truck and SUV aftermarket industry know of another Southern Comfort -- Pinson Valley, AL-based Southern Comfort Conversions, to be exact. Through a dedication to product innovation and customer support, the company's CEO, Rod McSweeney, has transformed the company from its humble beginnings to the industry innovator it is today.
EARLY DAYS
Southern Comfort Conversions was started because of a passion for the industry. "My dad was basically a hot-rodder. He loved cars and loved to work on cars that went fast," McSweeney tells Light Truck and SUV. "So because he liked cars, so did I. And as I grew up in that environment and began to drive, I had a hot rod and wanted it to go fast and wanted it to look good. So I basically took my upbringing in the automotive side of it and began to build racing motors and things like that."
Early on, McSweeney knew that he wanted to do more than just build engines. "The one thing that I didn't have a great deal of experience in was paint," shares McSweeney. "And so I basically started to dabble in paint work, and had the privilege to work with some guys that really knew a whole lot about it. I basically taught myself how to do custom paint."
During high school and after graduation, McSweeney honed his skills. The experience that he developed over this time led him to an opportunity that presented itself in 1979 -- chassis remanufacturing.
CHASSIS REMANUFACTURING
In 1979, interest rates were at 22 percent. Companies like Frito-Lay and Krispy Kreme used vans to deliver their products. As the vans accumulated high miles and experienced wear and tear, the companies couldn't afford to purchase new vehicles to replace them. Instead, they would have them remanufactured. "Our business started out as a chassis remanufacturing business,"...
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