Exploring Life & Business with Zach Simms of R.S. Restorations (RSR)

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Zach Simms.

Hi Zach, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I got married to the love of my life when I was 20 years old in 2003. One year later, we moved to Nashville for me to chase a career as a drummer in the music industry. It wasn’t long until I auditioned for a Christian rock band called Day of Fire and got the gig as the drummer. I toured for about six to seven years until we went on an indefinite hiatus in 2010.

I have always worked on cars as a hobby since I was a little kid, so my fallback when touring was slow was being able to do mechanic work. I worked for about a year or so at an auto shop but didn’t get fulfillment from that. So I went back on the road for a couple of years doing tech work for some major artists but quickly realized if I was going to be on the road away from my wife, not playing drums, that wasn’t what I wanted.

So, I taught myself how to do digital design. I got my foot in the door at my first corporate job in Brentwood, TN in 2012. I climbed the corporate ladder and went to a couple of different companies between 2013 and 2018, designing ads and websites for various companies. In 2018 I took another corporate job where I could use my problem-solving and creative skills to help this company grow and get more contracts based on some design choices I made on their products.

I really enjoyed working there, but as it seems with all good things, they must eventually come to an end. Lack of project management issues and a lack of understanding from upper management about how certain processes work led to some less-than-desired work experiences. One of the core values of the company was to “surface bad news quickly” and to “tell the truth even when it hurt.” I did both of those things to the letter, but apparently, that wasn’t what they really wanted.

In the summer of 2022 after leaving for July Fourth weekend, I came back to a meeting with my superior and HR only to find I was being let go. No warning, no information about what I did wrong, just gone after having celebrated my four-year anniversary, where I received praise for my hard work.

This event left a very bad taste in my mouth for the corporate world. I found out who my friends really were and realized quickly that I didn’t want someone else deciding my family’s future anymore. So, while taking some time off with severance money being paid, I had some time to reflect on what I might do next. I kicked around different ideas from an entrepreneur standpoint but nothing really stuck at that point.

I ended up taking another corporate job in the fall of 2022 at a company in downtown Nashville. I worked there for three months, and two weeks before Christmas found out I was being let go (yet again) along with seventeen other staff members due to a contract falling through. I decided right then, and there I would never again be a business decision for someone else’s bottom line. Sounds good right? It was harder than it seemed.

Seeing that it was two weeks before Christmas and I also had a major issue with the water supply at our house simultaneously, the holiday season just didn’t seem as merry that year. I have never, up to that point, really struggled with anxiety or depression, but I did then. I would go out to my on-property shop at the house we had just purchased in 2021 with all intentions to sweep the floor and would end up just sitting on a stool staring at the wall or floor for hours.

My 40th birthday was in January of 2023, and I was in a pretty dark place. My wife surprised me with a small birthday party with some of my closest friends, and it was great! The next day, I felt a little better, so I decided to go back to the shop again (which was my refuge so many times in the past) to, as I mentioned, sweep the floor. Unfortunately, this time was like before, and I ended up staring at the floor.

I am a strong believer in God and knew the whole time He was going to see me through as he had done many times in my past. I knew in my heart this time wouldn’t be any different, but I wasn’t getting an answer, and time was ticking. My severance this time was only through the end of January, and I had about two weeks left.

So this time, on the stool, I was praying and, quite frankly, a little mad about the situation. I remember praying and asking God, what do I do? What do I do? And I felt a small whisper say, “Look up, son.” – I looked up, and I felt the same voice say, “I blessed you with this 1,500 square foot shop that is heated and cooled. Stop chasing a salary and chase revenue.” That was all I needed. I had a plan, and it was freeing.

My depression and anxiety were gone, and I was on a mission. I realized at that point I could do whatever I wanted. I could use my design skills and do work for people when needed, mow lawns, pressure wash driveways, work on cars, and do customizations. It didn’t have to be one thing. Revenue is revenue. I figured out what I needed to take care of my family, and that was the target.

I did a few different jobs but jumped right into the classic car industry and opened my doors to doing customizations, repairs, and even full restorations, it wasn’t long before word of mouth got out and I got my first client. A full restoration job on a 1972 Alfa Romeo. It wasn’t long, and R.S. Restorations took over all my time. I have since worked on many classic cars and trucks, and they just keep on coming.

I now have one employee and am about to look to hire my second. I feel honored to be able to do something I love to do, and though owning your own business isn’t easy, I love the challenge and love seeing my customer’s reactions when I get their project done. I don’t know what’s next, but I’m excited for whatever that is, even if it’s something entirely different.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely not all been smooth.

A lot of it has, but certainly not all. To this day, I haven’t spent any money on paid marketing. So, that part of it has been pretty awesome, but I’ve also had customers back out, and what I thought was a steady schedule has shifted a few times, which is stressful. But it’s worked out every time to this point.

Also, because the business is growing so quickly, figuring out how to make the transition from less maintenance of the business to having time to grow the business has been tough.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about R.S. Restorations (aka RSR)?
R.S. Restorations (also known as RSR) is a classic car and truck customization, repair, and restoration shop. My passion for classic cars and trucks was inspired by my Grandpa and Dad, Ralph Simms, whose names make up the “R.S.” in the shop’s name. RSR quickly gained notoriety on Instagram (now up to 46k followers) from a C10 build I did with a friend of mine known as “Black Dice.”

Growing up in southern Illinois, I spent countless hours working on cars with my family, learning the ins and outs of these beautiful machines. I have been living in the Middle Tennessee area since 2004 and recently founded RSR to pursue my passion full-time.

At R.S. Restorations, we are committed to building classic cars and trucks with class and integrity. We understand that each classic ride has its own unique story and work closely with customers to ensure that their vision for their ride is brought to life in a way that is authentic and true to the vehicles’s history.

From suspensions, engines, interior upgrades, and full restorations to facilitating custom paint jobs, R.S. Restorations has the expertise, connections, and resources to make your dream classic car or truck a reality. I take pride in my work and am dedicated to providing my clients with the highest level of service and quality.

Our tagline is – Keep Class in Classic Rides™.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
That’s an interesting question. I know that the car industry, in general, will move more and more to the electric grid.

Classic cars are classic cars for a reason, so I think they will be around for a while to come, but it will all depend on legislation and things that are beyond my control, so I’ll just have to see. I would like to think there will always be a place for history in the American spirit.

Contact Info:

• Website: rsrbuilds.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r.s.restorations/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rsrbuilds
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@r.s.restorations