Check Out Robert Bowden III’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Bowden III. 

Hi Robert, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started The Spartan Garage in my parents’ Garage back in Atlanta Ga in 2015. I moved to Bowling Green KY in 2017 to attend WKU to study Entrepreneurship and while living in Bowling Green I recognized the demand for the market we are in. We specialize in the Automotive Accessory business, specifically in wheels, tires, suspension, bolt-on performance parts, and accessory parts. 5 years ago, we were operating out of a 950sq/ft shop and today (2022) we are located in an 8,700sq/ft shop located in the heart of Bowling Green on Lovers Lane. We are staffed by 5 full-time automotive enthusiast whose passion for this industry fuels our drive to provide the best quality service and experience for our customers. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We have evolved over the last 5 years in more ways than one. From operating an online website out of a dorm room, to opening our first shop that could only fit 1 vehicle at a time, to expanding to a bigger location hidden in the back of an industrial park with no roadside presence to finally being located on a main road with significant drive-by traffic. The Spartan Garage has had to overcome obstacles and challenges to grow especially with 2020 & 2021 being two years heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Between hiring new employees, fighting to keep existing employees, and working hard to operate efficiently with all of the supply chain issues and lack of inventory, The Spartan Garage has been growing steadily year over year since our founding in 2015. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Being an entrepreneur is never easy, especially while being young. I started my business at the age of 17 and now I am currently 24 years old leading a team of other young automotive enthusiast. I have been fortunate to surround myself with other highly motivated young individuals that have helped turn this once dream into now a reality. We have built custom cars for a vast variety of customers, we have worked on rare cars, new cars, old cars, and expensive cars. We operate our business out of a state-of-the-art facility and continue to establish a standard that we have seen other shops try to replicate because of what we have created. Above all, we have created a family that serves the southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee custom automotive customer base. 

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest piece of advice to someone young or someone starting out in this industry would be to gain experience within the industry that you are looking to start your business in. Work with other people who are already established and really see the in’s and out’s before getting into it. Surround yourself with dedicated, honest, and hardworking people who believe in what you are building. But most importantly, take care of, respect, and treat the people who believe in you well, because without them, you can’t accomplish much. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://thespartangarage.com/
• Instagram: the_spartangarage
• Facebook: The Spartan Garage
• Youtube: Thespartangarage

Image Credits
TSG