2020 will be IPGparts 15th year in business. It’s hard to believe that this thing has been going on that long. I’m looking back on the trials and tribulations of not just this past year but the course of this business over the last 7-8 years, lots of highs, lots of lows but a good pattern of what we are good at and what we are not good at. 2020 is also the year that I will turn 40 years old so there is personal reminiscing as well about what I have achieved, what I have failed at, what I enjoy and what I still yearn for. With age comes wisdom? Perhaps, but also with age comes regret and anxiety as we continue to work our way through our path.
IPGparts has been good to my family and the employees we have had over the years. But it has also been a struggle to keep going at the level I expect it to run at. There are changes in the marketplace, market saturation and an evolving world of social media that makes every week and month a constant learning cycle to try and stay ahead. I have tried to commit to a less is more mentality in life over the last couple of years and with every few consistent months of this idea I have a couple of weeks of falling off the wagon. I look for experiences now, I look for family time and I look for comfort both with the people I surround myself with and financially. 2020, for lack of a better term, is going to be a selfish year for me. I am going back to the roots of what built IPGparts, and that is providing real information, selling you parts from manufacturers I believe in and going racing at venues that I want to experience. There is no way around the idea that if you are passionate about something you will excel at it and to me when this business is concerned that is buying/selling, experiencing different cars and road racing.
There are many great events that I have yet to experience and those are happenings where I want to be. You know what else I enjoy? Writing and documenting. There has always been a fondness for me to the written word and documenting events, experiences, and adventures. How about video? I wish I had more confidence in that but perhaps I can grow that realm more in 2020. So what does that mean for you? New and exciting content based on what we are doing any given week or race event. More in depth product information and the continuing use of any racing or car activity we become involved in being shown from all angles.
I am not a one trick pony, I like all sorts of cars from the Honda based vehicles that have been at the core of this business to your $2k beater Rally Cross car to the finest from Germany and everything in between.
I am not a collector, I am a user. That means looking for the next adventure or experience with any car I own is a priority. Secretly I have always wanted to have a group of like-minded people that want to join me on those adventures and experiences. Whether it is at our local SCCA Rally Cross or competing in something like the One Lap of America. The thought of having people join me with the same interest and desire to experience has always been a want for me.
So there you have it. IPGparts is in its 15th year and needs to continue to develop itself through its teenage years to support my family and employees. And I am at my midlife crisis point apparently so it is a good thing a Mid Engine Corvette is finally on the market. But in all seriousness I am still passionate about cars and using them for various experiences. That is what ultimately drives me on a professional level. IPGparts has been a great base for allowing some of those experiences to exist but there is a long list of things yet to accomplish so building on our parts business and creating customer experiences that make for repeat customers will continue to be the an important part of my daily routine. - James Innes
