new web site

[RonOwensRacing]

Hey Guy's just thought i would drop you a line to let you know about my new web site it's going on rj soon as a dealer soon but i would like to get some input from you guy's that's the only way to make it better so if you would look thru and let me know what you think it's up and working but we still have to ad more parts witch takes for ever . but we will get it.
http://www.ronowensracing.com check it out and let me know what you think thanks again Ron owens :D

[mcracecars]

looking good ron. one think, i always found with white letters on dark background to be hard to read, must be old age of something.... :lol:
good luck with it

[woodsman]

Ron I would like to say that it looks like you have a very good start on your website. But I just have one thing to add if you would put in your Contact us at a bear minimum the State you are out of that way people can figure in the sales tax. Because I am from Texas and when I bought my engine from a Texas builder there was $1600.00 in sale tax alone. Well its like they say the longer you do it the better you will become so I think you have a good start. Wesley

[lively]

RON--NICE LOOKING SITE--GOOD LUCK ON MAKING IT GO AND GROW!!!! :lol: --IF YOU GET REALLY BIG JUST DON'T FORGET US MOTOR HEADS IN THE FORUM :shock: :shock: :shock:

[woodsman]

Ron one other thing that i have just noticed is that when you save to favorites all that comes up is HOME and that can get lost in a man's or womans favorites so it should come up as Ron Owens parts. I know that a person can change the name in favorites but I would not take the chance that they want. You need to keep your name fresh in their mind. Well just me thinking out loud. I do have one question, How big is your plan just want to make a living or do you want to be the next Jegs or Summit if so don't take the advice of a small town redneck like myself but one of those fine bean counters that we have so many of around. Just a thought. Well if I see anything else that might help I will let you know. Ron if you will notice I never say anything about engines because I cant help anyone with that so I said I will try my hand at this so maybe I want be wrong and nobody can correct me. I don't mind being corrected but dont like sending a man down the wrong road.Have fun with the site. Wesley

[RonOwensRacing]

Thanks guy's that's what i need is info like this and Wesley glad you mentioned that the address is on the site now good catch i overlooked that .
so please keep the suggestion coming i don't mind at all and that way i can make changes that will improve the site and i will have to check on the white letters and see if i can change it to another color that works better. keep it coming guy's thanks Ron. :D

[RonOwensRacing]

Ron one other thing that i have just noticed is that when you save to favorites all that comes up is HOME and that can get lost in a man's or womans favorites so it should come up as Ron Owens parts. I know that a person can change the name in favorites but I would not take the chance that they want. You need to keep your name fresh in their mind. Well just me thinking out loud. I do have one question, How big is your plan just want to make a living or do you want to be the next Jegs or Summit if so don't take the advice of a small town redneck like myself but one of those fine bean counters that we have so many of around. Just a thought. Well if I see anything else that might help I will let you know. Ron if you will notice I never say anything about engines because I cant help anyone with that so I said I will try my hand at this so maybe I want be wrong and nobody can correct me. I don't mind being corrected but dont like sending a man down the wrong road.Have fun with the site. Wesley hey wesley i think i got the favorites thing fixed also i added a button on the front page that ads it and it comes up ron owens racing thanks again for your help .

[lively]

THAT IS A VERY GOOD IDEA---THE MORE IT IS NOTICED THE BETTER IT WILL BE---USE THE OLD ADAGE IN ALL THESE IDEAS[KISS]--KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID--I HAVE WENT TO LOTS OF SELL SITES THAT YOU CAN'T GET THRU WITHOUT GOING CRAZY[I DON'T BUY FROM THEM, TOOOO MUCH HEADACHE]---YOU DOING THE RIGHT THING BY LOOKING AT OTHERS IDEAS AND COMMENTS---I HOPE YOU DO GREAT IN THIS ENDEAVOR---LIVELY

[woodsman]

lively is his name coming up on your computer in favorites and address in contact us.Can you check that out. Wesley

[RonOwensRacing]

thanks lively that's kinda what i was thinking if it don't work for the customer it's not going to work for me .
so the best thing i thought was to ask what the customer thinks .
see it's working already. :D

[lively]

NO- HIS NAME DOES NOT COME UP--IT COMES UP[ HOME] IN MY FAVORITES BOOKMARKS---JUST TRIED IT TWICE--LIVELY

[woodsman]

Thanks thats what I thought would happen so Ron I see what you have done but no one will catch that unless you tell them and its very small on my computer so you will have to work on that sorry. Wesley

[RonOwensRacing]

dang it it works on mine but not on everybody else's i guess i will have to call the web company in the morning and see how to make it work i changed the name in the editor page on the site and then it worked on my computer well back to the drawing board but that's what i need to know so once again guy's thanks for the help.

[lively]

YOUR WELCOME :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :idea: :idea:

[RonOwensRacing]

ya guy's anything you see please let me know because that's the only way this is going to work is if the site is user friendly so all your help is greatly appreciated. thank you Ron.

[woodsman]

Ron we will not let you alone until we are all happy and anybody can use it. Wesley

[topsportsman1]

Ron
Site looks nice bro,Its great to have a racer doing some thing like this for the other racers,I wish you the best of luck in your future Ron.

[RonOwensRacing]

Thanks tom i appreciate that and with out you guy's it want work .
so maybe it will turn into the best parts place ever .
and if it ever does there's one thing for sure you will always be dealing with me .
from one racer to another. i know where i came from.

[woodsman]

Ron now thats what I am talking about you are doing all the good. What do you think lively. Wesley

[lively]

HEY RON-- :) :) --I AM ELATED!!!!!! THE BOOKMARK WORKED FIRST TIME I TRIED IT TONIGHT---YOU ARE MOST DEFINETLY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION :lol: :lol: --KEEP IT UP, IT IS FALLING IN PLACE :lol: :lol: --WESLEY, I THINK WE HAVE A STAR BEING BORN-IT MAKES ME PROUD 8) 8)

[RonOwensRacing]

Ah Shucks guy's :oops: Seriously i really do appreciate all your help with this it is costing me a bloody fortune and if the customers don't like the way it works then I'm just done for . and the support from you guy's means a lot tom, Wesley, lively, thanks again and just do me the favor and look for anything . cause i know i screw up so if you see something just yell at me please . and if i can help with anything do the same i will do whatever i can to help if you need some parts i will get you the best price that i can .
there is tons of stuff to put up on the site yet if you need something just because it's not on the site don't mean i don't have it or can get it for you. thanks again guy's your a great bunch .

[bjuice]

Hey Ron:
Nice job..i will give you some business...

hey guys how about it..the next time you needing a little something..use ole Ron here...i know how it is trying to make a business fly...if i had more support in the fuel business everyone could have benfitted from this locally but...you know how people are.



thanks Brian

[RonOwensRacing]

Hey B-Man hows it going buddy ya you do know what this is like for sure did you give up the fuel deal or are you selling local .
i know you spent a fortune on that deal i remember when you started that whole thing . the shop was looking real good .

[mikeaton]

man looks good i just wish my web site was alittle busier than it is [hint hint] were fixing to soup it up we have taken over the development side so keep checking back for more "stuff" ill have to do some work to keep up with youre ron all the best!!! mike

[RonOwensRacing]

Thanks mike ya that's kinda what I'm afraid of seems like everybody is stuck on the big guy's you all know who i mean .
i know it's going to be a hard road to travel for sure.
but I'm going to give it my all for sure.

[bjuice]

OHHH MY ...this will take another thread,,,between the un-stable fuel prices and the never ending whinners..i had to shut the doors to the public...if i made $500.00 i had to do $3000.00 worth of work..

when i first opened within 1st month i was selling 20 plus barrells per month.......most of it was pre-selling with a business card and a handshake..i kept about $2500 worth of fuel on the floor (whole-sale)...then my VP dealer ( vp south)...would get in a price change and would fail to notify me...so you figure when i would go down with a pre-sale order or 10 to 12 drums and the price was jumped up by .30 per gallon this was $16.20 per drum i had to eat..the 1st time...the second time it was .40 per gallon on a 8 drum order wich was 21.60 per drum i had to eat....
on top of this the idiots had the nverve to brag in the font office of how they had a couple of Clemson University students that drove from the campus all the way to (vp south) 4 hours 1 way and paid full retail for a drum of methanol...and here i was with 4 drums on the floor just 20 minutes from the university....IGNORANCE AND GREED.......so this was the end of my venture with VP...MY CHOICE....


i have several other stories about VP South but i will shut up or i will be sorry for what i say..maybe not ..but i won't chance it...lol....at the highlight of my business i was selling more Fuel than Clements racing one of the biggest racing outfits on the east coast.......I also got out here and got one local track agree to sell VP fuel instead of Sunoco..i took this back to VP and they would not give me any incentive to finalize they deal...we are talking selling 500 gallons per weekend from the bulk truck.

ohh well i went over to Sunoco and became a fuel rep for their company out of winston salem N.C....THEY WERE GREAT..my 1st order i went to pick up myself just to get to know the people at the warehouse. i purchased $6,000 wholesale and had it sold within 4 business days...before i could call in another order i got a call from regional sales manager advising me they sold me the fuel .10 gallon too cheap...lol...
anyhow i presold another $3,000 and they delivered just to start the same circle of the jacking up the prices....SO I CALLED IT OUITS due to the market...i am still in Good with Sunoco and if the fuel market ever stablized i might make another run at it but as of now the market is too crazy with fuel

i spent a great deal of time and money to make this deal happen..(VP SOUTH) made many promises that they did not up hold...

anyhow didn't mean to steal the thread...good luck to you Ron .
and at least your doing it instead of talking about it..more than i can say for a few of mutual people we know from another life...LOL...
( If you need for me to elaborate i can pm you.... 8) 8) 8) )

thanks brian

[lotsof454sss]

Ron..Check the spelling in the Pro Comp rockers as the word manufactured is wrong and also in the Ford part of the same section manufactured is wrong...And then Romac section need to capital the word Easy and mispelled word "finish" and also capital word Rear in start of a new sentence...Man I ain't picking, you asked so I am checking...Glad to see you made the jump and good luck..The pig is on your side...I will look more when I am awake more...I have had my site for 2 years and have not finished it yet....

[mikeaton]

yep even us small guys get the "shaft" on the fuel here in new mexico dont start me on gas but "racing fuel" by the barrell is a joke to buy and heaven help you if you buy by the 5gl pail! now i know im staying with the alcohol[which is provided free of charge by our local chemical company] sponsor plug here miller chemical inc... steve tigert salesman lol ! mike

[mcracecars]

Hey Brian, that story is funny... and I dont mean that in a bad way, it just so true, I mean, if you dont laugh you would surely cry.....It is really an uphill battle to make a couple bucks in a small business these days...

Ron, good luck with the business... does this mean we all get 20% off below cost.? well we are all like friends, right? and we will tell everyone about you......lol... just kidding there ron,
You really find out who your friends are when you open a business :shock: gotta give them all free parts, free labor and no tax.
unfreakenbelieveable i tells ya... :roll:
If you want a friend in business, get a dog.....or maybe a pig....or a goat... :lol:

[woodsman]

mcracecars I hope the pig and goat dont see that post.LOL. Wesley

[lively]

THE PIG WILL BE ROOTING RIGHT IN THERE!!!! :lol: :lol:

[RonOwensRacing]

Man Juice i hate to here that but i know what you mean i have a warehouse that i deal with and depending on what salesman i talk to depends on the price and it should always be the same or they should let you know if there has been change but they don't because they know it's gonna cost you to return it and then they don't give you a refund they credit your account but even then when you place a order they want use your credit that you have unless you keep reminding them of it .
i think i know who you are talking about but when you can pm me .

And Mr.pig i did say Mr. i don't mind if you bust my chops i did ask I'm glad to have your input sir. i thank you for that. these fat fingers and my hillbilly schooling I'm bound to screw something up sure .
i think i got it fixed thou. so keep it coming.
With you guy's if it's there I'm sure you will find it.

[RonOwensRacing]

Ya that's for sure ed i already have been getting that from the guy's that i race with all the time and don't forget you have to deliver it also and while you are here help me put it on and a life time warranty to did i leave anything out . if i did someone will let me know right. I'm here for ya

[woodsman]

Ron I still have that one question how big do you want to get ?? Wesley

[RonOwensRacing]

Well Wesley i don't think i will ever get to be as big as two of the other guy's but i would like to see it grow to say as big as Herbert .
i sure would like to get big enough that i can force some better deals from these guy's i mean the buy in is bad enough .
But then they make you meet a yearly sales amount to keep your rate down so there is not as big of mark up on this stuff as a lot of people think .
I was on the phone today with one company trying to get a little better deal on there product and long story short they told me that i need to buy another 15K worth of parts to make another 5% witch right now i make 10% on there line of product .

[woodsman]

Ok Ron you ask for it so I am not going to beat around the bush. Redneck to Hillbilly. Ron DO NOT TAKE OFFENSE to this post because I only mean you well. I will start by saying I have never heard of Ron Owens in my life until I became a member to Racing Junk and I subscribe to ever magazine on the market. I am only saying these things as I said before. How big is your plan. Well you have picked a mighty tall order because I have seen the Herburt name in big black bold letters before you get my drift. Ron it take money to make money and it takes big money to make big money so get your act straight from the start and dont start something you can't finish. Know what you are getting into and better yet UNDERSTAND what you are getting into well before you start the business that you are wanting to become. Word of mouth on this forum is great but how big is the audience are you talking about 3000,4000 or 8000 not big enough you have to let ever eye see and ever ear hear the name Ron Owens. You got to get the name out Billboards at the track Radio, Television exposure of advertisement. You will have to be able to handle the volume of orders before you start the ball rolling other wise you will end up like Brett Bowers with a supply and demanded issue and as you can see thats bad for business. Your going to have to forget about easy. Making money dont come easy so get ready to get very passionate about work and hope you have a strong back bone called your wife because everbody has to be onboard. Ron dont ask me how much money I make because I am a 9th grade drop out. I will just say one thing this is America so you set the standard on how big or small you want to be. All the best and I dont want a deal just quality product and quality work. Wesley

[mcracecars]

Wes hit the nail on the head here.....
Why should I buy from Ron Owens..... what does he offer that the others do not?
Look at your business from the customers point of view.
Look past all your racing buddies that encourage you to get into this business, they just want deals, and they will ping pong you on price from the others, you know s and j.
10% is not a lot, but volume is what you need.....if one thing I found out in my own business these last 5 years, is that you dont make any money working for a living..... it is selling the parts. A buddy of mine told me this, he runs a bridgstone tire store, he says its not the labor you make the money on it is the parts you sell the customer.
Choose your buy in products wisely, the last thing you want is an item (read that money) hanging on the wall for a long time not moving.

Ron , do yourself a favor if you have not already, go down to Chapters, or whatever big book store you have in your area, and buy a book called "Small Business Marketing for Dummies" a wealth of info on promoting and selling and written in terms we hosers, hillbillies and rednecks can understand...

[RonOwensRacing]

Well let me say this i don't mind your comments.
i encourage them I'm not new to the parts business iv been doing it for about 6 years and i know it takes money to make money this was not just dreamed up over nite i had a lot of concerns about even doing the web page to start with . but i decided to go on with it after spending long hours on the phone with some warehouses and many meetings with my suppliers .and i never advertised in magazines or radio or TV because i have been dealing mainly with the local people .
and this is my second time doing the parts business i did learn a lot from the first go around .
i used my name for a reason also I'm not using some fancy name to try to draw customers and i also know it takes a long time to grow i may not ever be very big but as long as i take care of my customers and stand behind what i sell i have a chance to grow these other companies started out small also it is a very tuff business I'm a honest man and i will do what i say i will do .i do have a advertising budget set in place and have put a lot of time and money already into this plan this has been in the works for a few years now . it just wasn't a plan to get rich real quick thing that's not going to happen in the parts game for sure .
i wanted everybody's opinion good or bad that's why i asked that also was in the plan because the customer is the biggest part of the business i want your input because without the customer you will never go anywhere .
O Wesley i don't know what you meant by called your wife but you can talk to her also she also is part of this deal .
This is one of the things i should have done years ago was to get on board with the rest of these guy's but i never was in to hi tech as far as computers and all that goes who knows where i would be today if had done this six years ago .kinda like they say you have to move with the times and i haven't done that it maybe to late i don't know for sure and wont unless i try so I'm gonna try . so thanks for your thoughts and no hard feeling from me .

[woodsman]

Ron about the wife. You know what they say behind ever good man stands a good woman and thats a fact. And Ron its never to late You will do fine. And like Ed said get you that book because knowledge is priceless. Well stick to your plan you will do fine. Wesley

[RonOwensRacing]

Ed i understand what you guy's are saying i really do you see this was what i wanted because i do have to spend my money wisely .
this is why i wanted everybody's opinion that i could get the customers opinion is very important to me and very valuable also it helps me spend my money where it is going to count most .
Everybody is use to calling the big guy's for there parts and that's going to be a hard one to get over.
There always going to be there they have made there name and money and if they wanted to they could drive all the small guy's out of business and some they have . I buy direct from big name companies also just like they do and have for years . They don't make these parts and neither do i we just sell them .
There are some items that you can make 25 to 30% on and then there a lot that you will only 10% on .But the bottom line is this i have to take every precaution i can i have to spend my money where it's going to do the most for me i don't have millions to spend on advertising .
I have a budget set for everything that i want to do .
So hopefully one day Ron Owens will be a name that everybody knows and like i said before I'm a honest man and i will stand behind everything i do and sell .
I know this is not going to be easy that's goes without saying it's not been easy from the start .And it started a few years ago

[RonOwensRacing]

Ron about the wife. You know what they say behind ever good man stands a good woman and thats a fact. And Ron its never to late You will do fine. And like Ed said get you that book because knowledge is priceless. Well stick to your plan you will do fine. Wesley
Wesley i do believe that and my wife is a very big part of this she is the one setting up meetings setting budgets and also this web site was here ideal she wanted to make the business larger and do the web page we have been researching and talking about this web thing for a couple of years now .
so if it don't work i will blame her

[mcracecars]

Seems you got a smart head on your sholders there, Ron and a very supportive wife.
America, with all its problems and concerns is still one of the best countrys for a guy to take the plunge and chart his own course in life...

The problem with selling fast car parts is the market is so small compared to other markets. These are not things the average person wants or needs.

Good luck with this Ron, i am sure you will do well.
Were is Florence Kentucky anyway, is it off I-75, ?

[RonOwensRacing]

yes it is ed I'm 5 minutes from I-75 it is 20 miles south of Cincinnati Ohio I'm just across the Ohio River in Northern KY .
Yes the high Performance business is very Competitive i always wanted to be bigger but was not to sure about doing the web page because it is a huge step and there was a lot of planning in doing so we have been meeting with suppliers to make sure that we could get the parts delivered without a problem getting shipping set up thru post office ,ups and fed ex
it is a job alone getting all this set in place before we launched the site .
and i wanted some information from the public on the web page also .

[RonOwensRacing]

OH Ya ed i got a very good friend that moved up there were your at he got married to a lady from there and her family still lives there and she wanted to go back home so he sold his place in Cincinnati and moved up there two years ago he's into the speed boats he sent me some pictures from a lake up there where he was running his boat looks nice in the summer cant say much for the winters thou from the pic's iv seen.

[woodsman]

Ron I am glad to see that you have an out if the website don't work. You can look at your wife and say I tried to tell you. You know the joke. Well best of luck. Wesley

[RonOwensRacing]

ya that's what i told her it would be all her fault .
she really in the past 6 or 7 years has got to know the parts pretty good she takes orders and sells some parts a lot of the women have gotten to know her around the race tracks they see her helping with the car and i don't just mean putting fuel in and checking tires she helps adjusting valves and changing pills in the injection brakes packing the chute she does a lot it's kinda funny in a way a lot of the guy's will have there wife 's call and see if we have something in stock and i will answer the phone and they will ask for her and take the order from her or she will ask me while there on the phone if we have what there looking for , i love it
i told her this web site would be her baby she has to keep it up and list everything . you know what she said why me .

[woodsman]

Ron sounds like you have met your match just as I have in my wife. With out them you know what we are TROUBLE. Wesley

[RonOwensRacing]

Ya i would say so and from reading your wife's post i would say that they have a lot in common for sure my wife don't ever post on here but she will set and read thru the forum some time and crack up iv kinda turned into one of the guy's i think.

[alscoupe]

Ron/Wesley;

Just had to chime in on the wife thing, had to go thru a couple to find the right one. (That's more expensive than racing)

Current wife is 100% supportive. Helps out in the shop and at the track. She enjoys it as much as I do. We enjoy sharing it together. It really is a special thing (to me anyway) to have a partner that's your best friend and #1 crew chief!

[woodsman]

alscoupe I read somewhere that a good woman is a gift from God and I understand what that means.Wesley

[RonOwensRacing]

boy i know mine is it's my second also for 15 years now i would be lost with out her.

[chevguy65]

Are we talkin bout websites or wives....I have had several websites but never had a wife.

Don't miss either one...lol

I like more than one woman and I like more than one website.

[RonOwensRacing]

well carl it started about my web site and then we got on to the wife thing and iv had both and do again .
one thing is for sure they both will cost you.

[Realgone]

Just wanted to say good luck on your web-site, and Wesley thanks for all the compliments. We love yall to, and speaking for myself I have a great husband to. I have told him along time ago if your good to me I'll be good to you. But if your not WATCH OUT!!!!!!!!!!Just kidding Wesley's a great husband. Vicki in Texas

[RonOwensRacing]

I don't know you guy's but you all seem like a very nice couple i enjoy reading the post here on rj and it seems Wesley tries to help when he can . and thanks Ron.

[chevguy65]

well carl it started about my web site and then we got on to the wife thing and iv had both and do again .
one thing is for sure they both will cost you.


Ron,

I wish you the best in your endeavor and hope to be a future customer of yours.
You have the class and from what I have read here the support, determination and desire to be a succsess!
Go for it 8)

[RonOwensRacing]

Thanks Carl i appreciate it we will do our best to take very good care of our customers .
Like i said before i know where i came from and i treat people the way i like to be treated and that means a lot to me .
You are a great bunch here and we would like to earn your business we already feel like you guy's are our friends.
thanks again Ron.