From Bootstrapped to Exit: How a Father & Son Built and Sold Their Business to a Fortune 200 Company

Kyle Therriault didn’t set out to build a massive e-commerce company, but that’s exactly what happened.Starting with overstock auto parts sold on eBay, Kyle and his father, Steve, built Auto Accessories Garage from scratch during a time when most people believed “no one would ever buy auto parts online.”They faced rejection from vendors, banks, and even their own industry. But through persistence, early adoption of SEO, and a willingness to reinvest everything back into the business, they turned a scrappy startup into a dominant player in automotive e-commerce.In this episode, Kyle shares:-How they bootstrapped the business (and took on real risk)-Why Google was both a big asset and a big threat-The brutal impact of algorithm changes (and how they recovered)-The strategic decision to partner with, and eventually sell to, NAPA (GPC)-How COVID accelerated their growth-Why the future of commerce may eliminate shopping entirelyThis is a masterclass in timing, resilience, and long-term thinking.Whether you're building, scaling, or exiting, this episode is packed with lessons you won’t want to miss.