• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Boise Car Upholstery Closes After 70 Years

July 25, 2022 By Nadeem Muaddi 4 Comments

The Hog Ring - Boise Car Upholstery Closes After 70 Years

After more than 70 years in business, Boise Car Upholstery is calling it quits.

“I’ve had customers come in and cry because I’m closing the doors,” Terry Botkin, who has owned the trim shop for the last 40 years, told the Idaho Statesman.

Terry bought the business in 1982 from local businessman Jack Rhoads, who opened the shop 30 years prior. Rhoads had learned to sew in the US Navy, where he was tasked with repairing parachutes.

“It’s not something I ever pictured myself doing,” Terry said. “But it was intriguing to me, because I could do something with my hands, which I enjoyed. … going to a desk job wearing a suit and tie was not for me.”

After Jack sold the business to Terry, Jack stayed on for a few years to teach him the craft.

“He was a great mentor,” Terry said. “It was all just hands-on learning. No schooling, no training, just learning on the job.”

Since then, Terry has run the shop in an “old school” fashion, and has been quite successful. He attributes it to his customer service.

“This is one of the few places you can go and not feel like you have to take a number, like you are a number,” he said. “I didn’t ever want to be that way. And this industry is becoming that way, as well, and I guess if you want to grow, you have to be that way.”

Terry says he wouldn’t change a thing. “I could have done other businesses that maybe would have been a better business, made more money,” he said. “But this was very gratifying for me.”

Now he looks forward to spending more time with his 19 grandchildren and fishing.

Please join us in wishing Terry a happy, healthy and fulfilling retirement.

Related Stories:

  • Ayer Auto Trim Closes After Four Decades
  • Trim Shop Closes After 111 Years in Business
  • Who Will Take Over Your Shop When You Retire?

Filed Under: Archive, Shop Profiles Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Boise Car Upholstery, Car Interior

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rich Tice says

    July 26, 2022 at 8:16 am

    Questions I have; Is it a sign of the times that trim shops close instead of being sold to another owner? Is it because of the less serviceable interior components, a lack of interest in this type of work amongst young people, or something else?

    Reply
    • Richard burns rayco auto top Cleveland ohio says

      July 26, 2022 at 9:15 am

      All of the above. 59 years same place can’t believe where all the trades are at.not a good sign for this country.

      Reply
  2. Robert Webb says

    July 26, 2022 at 4:14 pm

    I dont think its the trades I think it is this trade. A plumber can offer a 20 year old kid $20 to start how can we compete? .My shop has been in my family 60 years . I would not let my son come into the business. There will always be a need for our work but the expense/profit ratio is not like other trades. Don’t get me wrong I am busy but I own my shop I would not want to pay rent for it.. . I look at some of the new talent on this site and I am amazed at the product they put out. That is a specialty I believe falls outside a traditional Trim Shop. From seasonality to car dealers having techs do our jobs to people buying everything online that we used to mak.e all eats away at our trade .. When you hear a company like Miami is getting out of auto and our main supplier of originals (Detroit) goes out well you see the writing on the wall. Anyone hear remember the 70s putting a minimum of 5 vinyl tops on a day?

    Reply
  3. Bert McDowell says

    July 26, 2022 at 6:10 pm

    I know Terry, he helped me alot when I started our shop. He is a kind, competent, patriotic American and as fine a person as you will ever know. This is a great business. Raise your prices and you can pay better and bring in the talent you need.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation RIght Rail - Ad 2
Top Down Group
Apex Leather
  • Premium Auto Fabrics
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • Moore & Giles Ad 1
  • Albright's Supply
  • Hyde Leather
  • GAHH Automotive
  • Keyston Bros

THR Favorites

The Hog Ring - Customs by Vos 1967 Ford Mustang

Customs by Vos Built a Mustang Interior That Will Blow Your Mind

Elite trim shops do more than cut, sew and … [more] about Customs by Vos Built a Mustang Interior That Will Blow Your Mind

The Hog Ring - Meet Oksana Ignatova of Stitch Girl Inc

Meet Oksana Ignatova of Stitch Girl Inc

Oksana Ignatova of Stitch Girl Inc is a … [more] about Meet Oksana Ignatova of Stitch Girl Inc

10 Questions for Trimmer Jay Teske

You may have heard the name, but you’ve … [more] about 10 Questions for Trimmer Jay Teske

The Hog Ring - Watch Carlex Design Trim a Mercedes C43

Watch Carlex Design Trim a Mercedes C43

I don't know about you, but Carlex Design's … [more] about Watch Carlex Design Trim a Mercedes C43

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Motorcycle Seat - Design Studio

Design Studio: Two-Up Motorcycle Seat

Designing and upholstering custom motorcycle … [more] about Design Studio: Two-Up Motorcycle Seat

How to Build a Display Motorcycle Seat

In April, I wrote an article titled "Why I … [more] about How to Build a Display Motorcycle Seat

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • The Genesis GV60 has a Crystal Sphere on its Console
  • Mississippi Auto Trim Shop Destroyed in Fire
  • Find a Job in Auto Upholstery
  • There’s a New Bitchin Stitchin Class for Building Consoles
  • Enter to Win Hydes Leather Build of the Month!

Recent Comments

  • Izet on Find a Job in Auto Upholstery
  • Janice Lamp on Impacted by Coronavirus? Apply for a Forgivable Loan
  • markspencer on 2019 SEMA Show Hosts Student Career Day
  • Jerome on Convertible Tops in Any Color You Want!
  • Christopher Collins on Custom Dashboards Made to Order

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.
anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in