From business idea to grand opening: Tuscaloosa business shares their story.
Wayne Brown recalls the moment he realized a need in the Tuscaloosa marketplace, which would develop into a new opportunity for his business. This was nearly 10 years ago. He’d been drinking coffee with his wife, Karen, on their front porch overlooking the river, and noticed all these trucks passing through. A thought crossed his mind: Where are these trucks getting fixed?
He knew where the cars were getting repaired. After all, the Browns had owned Brown's Garage & Body Shop in Tuscaloosa since 1985.
New Business Idea
After some digging, Wayne found no major shop in Tuscaloosa that serviced big trucks. Those were sent to Birmingham. That’s when he decided to expand his business, opening Brown’s Fleet and Collision Center in Tuscaloosa in 2013.
The large commercial vehicle repair and paint shop houses the only paint booth large enough in the entire Southeast Alabama area to handle fleets, buses, 18-wheelers, and all other large vehicles for professional all-over paint.
Finding a Bank
The Browns knew that to go from having a business idea to making it a reality, they would need a strong financial partner. Someone to help with refinancing and big equipment purchasing. Someone easily accessible. Someone who trusted them—and could be trusted. The Browns found what they were looking for at West Alabama Bank.
“We felt so secure with them and comfortable with them,” said Karen Brown. “We got to know the people very well. I love it when I call a phone number and actually get the person I wanted to talk to, and not get taken around to everybody else. I love that, and this is a big thing with West Alabama Bank that we have found.”
The Browns knew that to go from having a business idea to making it a reality, they would need a strong financial partner. Someone to help with refinancing and big equipment purchasing. Someone easily accessible. Someone who trusted them—and could be trusted. The Browns found what they were looking for at West Alabama Bank.
Getting Support
Sometimes smaller, local businesses don’t get as much attention from their bank as big companies get. That wasn’t the case here.
“They service a lot of people here in Tuscaloosa, big companies, but we never felt that we were too small for them to take care of us, and I love that,” Karen said.
Wayne added: “It’s not just a corporate company. You’re not just a number.”
From idea to grand opening, West Alabama Bank was at their side, providing financing, offering guidance, and ensuring an overall smooth and quick process. The constant support helped alleviate a lot of the anxiety that can accompany the opening and running of a new business.
“I really cannot imagine any other bank that could take care of our needs like they have. Nobody was in the same ballpark with customer service and making us feel that we could really count on them and feel secure with them,” Karen said. “They truly have been a godsend to us.”
As a testament to the strength of this banking partnership, the Browns’ first customer was their banker. The dollar bill hangs on the wall of their shop. To them, it’s a symbol of trust.
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