Ashworth Barnes of 713 Motoring Talks Car Customization & COVID-19
When it comes to car customization, 713 Motoring is taking it to the next level. The Houston based company owned and founded by Ashworth Barnes, has been customizing cars and trucks for years. With clients ranging from rap artists, youtubers, and investors 713 Motoring has made a staple in the customization industry. You don’t have to look no further than their finished product to understand the detail and patience they put into every vehicle. We recently caught up with owner Ashworth Barnes and asked him a few question re his success with 713 Motoring:
With the founding of 713 Motoring how has your life changed?
When 713 Motoring was founded nearly 18 years ago, several things have changed. The use of the internet and applications that keep us connected like you tube and various other social media apps, it has changed lives with the ability to reach many different prospective customers by being able to showcase your automotive talents trends and designs in different cultures across the country without having to travel to those perspective areas. Everyone and everything is a click or a direct message away. Being able to adapt these ever changing technological advances has been very profitable to the automotive business entrepreneur that is willing to evolve. Creating your own liberty and freedom, while working in an industry you love to generate a strong income that you can use as a springboard to other lucrative investment by meeting likeminded entrepreneurs in other industries to increase your network and net worth.
How do you think the COVID-19 pandemic altered the custom car industry?
COVID-19 pandemic has had a swift and severe impact on the globally integrated automotive industry. Symptoms include a disruption in Chinese parts exports, large scale manufacturing interruptions across Europe, and the closure of assembly plants in the United States. This is placing intense pressure on an industry already coping with a downshift in global demand, and likely leading to increased merger & acquisition activity. Locally several manufacturers had to shut down their operations as well, this shutdowns made it difficult to receive custom orders as each state had different shut down requirements and many aftermarket parts are made in different states. This complication made pre existing projects difficult to complete and extremely lengthy wait time periods for the business owner to reel in those profits. On the bright side the downtime during quarantine made many custom automotive builders want to use the time without their cars to completed some tasks they previously didn’t have time to tackle.
What current projects are you working on that we can expect in the future?
With Several projects consistently in the rotation for some of entertainments biggest stars, athletes, and social media influencers. There are a few that definitely stand out. Custom old school restorations have become increasingly popular on the local scene More than ever before millennials are increasing their interest in collecting classics as showing ways to display their style while understanding that classic cars appreciate in value and are actually a solid investment. A current in progress 1974 Chevy Caprice is in progress for Pro Bowl Safety and Texas Native Earl Thomas. Super Bowl Champion Tyrann Mathieu is also finishing up a complete transformation on an 87 Monte Carlo SS. Brand Identity is also increasing as an automotive trend by customizing a fleet of automobiles with the same style and color way that is indicative of a certain brand or individuals likeness. 713 motoring is currently working on a fleet design of multiple custom high end luxury cars for The Sauce Factory’s lead artist Sauce Walka with a black and pink color concept. Popular HOUSTON hotspot restaurant The Turkey Leg Hut has also commissioned 713 Motoring to do an all red personal 1 owner fleet, that is set to Debut at Houston’s Dub Show later this summer.
What would you tell upcoming custom car companies trying to make it in the industry?
Some Advice That I would give other custom car companies trying to make it in the industry is to collaborate with other companies and business owners that have proved themselves successful in the industry. Your connection with those type of people in your network will later prove to be beneficial to the strength of your business because the custom automotive industry is based off of experience and know how. Keeping a good rapport and name for your company is very important because everyone will reference the strong contacts in your city about the seriousness of your commitment to completing custom projects. Also don’t be afraid to outsource when needed to a specialist that is more seasoned in aspect of customization than you are. There is more power in collaboration than there is in competition in this industry.
To keep with with 713 Motoring you can follow them on Instagram @713 or visit their webstie www.713motoring.us
