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