#024 Origin & Impact: David Light of Lighthouse Automotive

Join host Brad Hurlock for another Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast! This week, we sit down with David Light of Lighthouse Automotive, located on the iconic Outer Banks of North Carolina.David shares how he and his wife built their auto repair business from the ground up—literally starting with a backyard, a tree, and a metal shed. Hear how they grew to two locations, how they weathered a changing industry, and what it takes to build relationships that last decades.In this conversation, we talk about:Starting a shop from scratch in a small, tight-knit communityThe unique challenges (and opportunities) of running a business on an islandBuilding a team by hiring entire service departmentsCreating a “grandmother” level of customer careThe importance of coaching, peer groups, and tracking your numbersHow word-of-mouth can build (and sustain) a business for decadesThe next chapter for Lighthouse AutomotiveIf you’re a shop owner, operator, or anyone curious about what it really takes to build a sustainable business, you’ll get value from David’s journey and hard-earned insights.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment below about your own shop’s origin story or lessons learned!🔗 Learn more about AA Shop Marketing:https://aashopmarketing.com🔗 Join our Facebook community for auto repair shop owners:https://www.facebook.com/groups/forautorepairshopowners🔗 Listen to all Garage Grit episodes:https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/garagegritTimestamps00:00 – Intro: Starting from scratch on the Outer Banks02:40 – Building a team by hiring specialists04:15 – Customer care: Treating everyone like family07:00 – Training, coaching, and continuous improvement10:00 – Running a business with your spouse12:50 – Finding and keeping customers in a small town17:30 – The power of coaching and tracking KPIs25:00 – The impact of peer groups and community34:30 – Managing for growth, not just survival36:00 – What’s next for Lighthouse Automotive