Risk & Business Magazine JGS Insurance - Fall 2020 | Page 27

AUTO SUNROOF & LEATHER
Chuck Graf of Auto Sunroof &
Leather started his company
in February of this year. He
couldn’t have imagined the
conditions he would face for
his first few months in business, but he’s
worked hard to make the most of it. Not
only has Chuck survived the pandemic
but his business is thriving in the
aftermath, and he’s even giving back to his
community that needs support now more
than ever.
Auto Sunroof & Leather customizes cars
primarily for dealerships, with some private
business. Restyling—which includes
installing leather interiors, heated seats,
power sunroofs, and more—comprises
the service offerings for Chuck’s growing
company. Chuck notes that while many of
his competitors closed their doors and stood
back for the duration of the pandemic, he
seized the opportunity to ramp up business.
In June and July, he’s seen his efforts come
to fruition as the dealers he approached
earlier this year have started to replenish
their inventory. Since Chuck remained open
all of this time, he’s quickly become the first
choice of dealers in the area for providing
commercial custom interiors.
AUTO SUNROOF & LEATHER:
GOING FORWARD BY GIVING BACK
BY: GWENYTH P. LUU, CLCS , DIRECTOR - COMMERCIAL LINES, JGS INSURANCE
Chuck knows times have been tough for
everyone due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Even though he just started his company a
few months ago at the height of the chaos,
he’s determined to give back to the local
community.
Chuck is giving a portion of the proceeds
from every sale to a local food bank or other
charity of the client’s choice.
This move was inspired by one of the local
dealers, Johnson’s Toyota and Subaru, who
Chuck knows is very passionate about
supporting the local food bank. Chuck
offered to donate $50 from every installation
of custom leather and heated seats the
dealer sent his way. When the first check to
the food bank amounted to $2,200, Chuck
decided to donate to a charity of choice on
behalf of all of his clients.
Right from the get-go, Chuck knew that he
wanted to work with JGS. The company he
had worked for as general manager prior
to starting his own company had been a
longtime client of JGS. Outstanding service
led him here to fulfill his own insurance
needs, from automobile to garage keeper’s
insurance.
Despite being faced with a bump in the
road very early on, Chuck has remained
optimistic for the future of his business.
Although sales were driven down, Chuck
was happy to view this as an opportunity
to ramp up after the unexpectedly high
response to his first few weeks in business.
He says his biggest obstacle was trying to get
the right parts with many suppliers being
shut down alongside his competitors. He
also struggled to qualify for the Paycheck
Protection Program (PPP) payments other
businesses were relying on to get through
the crisis.
Since he had just started business in
February, Chuck was initially denied for
the PPP, but he did manage to qualify after
several months of correspondence. He
received the lump sum payment just as other
businesses were beginning to reopen. Filled
with work, Chuck was able to call his entire
crew to return right away, and they got back
at it full swing.
When everyone seemed to be shying away
from the impact of COVID, Chuck got
right out in front of it. This opportunity, he
believes, is what has made him so successful
at marketing to dealers in the aftermath.
Chuck plans to keep donating a portion of
sales proceeds for the foreseeable future. +
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