We are into the 20th year of business with Water Star Motors and we thought it would be fun to share a few of the highlights over the years.
1992: Henry and I had recently left the establishment we were both working for and started “Carter’s Healing Cars”. Then a used car business who needed help to repair their vehicles asked us to start a shop.
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| Henry standing by our original logo |
1993: Water Star Motors officially opened its doors on Water Street (across from the old Staff of Life). We did this brilliantly; our working capital was two months free rent. We had Henry’s tool box, my organizational skills and youth on our side. We also were super clever with the timing because our three children were in three different schools. They were 10, 13 and 15 years old. (Crazy!)
1994: Moved the business to Pacific Avenue – walking distance from the condo we were renting. Workaholics the next four years (yes, I ‘wrenched’ too) M-F 8-5. (All hand-written – pre computerized.)
1995 – 1997: Work, work, work!
1998: We hired our first employee (who now is a successful car repair shop owner as well.) A couple of customers asked us what the secret to our happiness was. This prompted us to teach weekly meditation classes. We also managed to pull off the near impossible…got financing as self-employed people to purchase our home in Santa Cruz. Yippee!
1999: We outgrew the Pacific Avenue space and procured the Fiat business that occupied our River Street location. Again, we went about this brilliantly. We prepped for closure of the old shop, attended a week long meditation retreat, came back on Friday, loaded everything up on Saturday, set-up our new location and opened our doors on Monday - ready to go!
2000: I (Lisa) no longer have to work on cars…we have technicians. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed it, but it is not my passion. (It is hard to work on cars.) We took our first real vacation (after 12 years of marriage) without the kids….Hawaii. We found we like vacations.
2001: Enrolled in business management classes. WSM became a Bosch Authorized Service Center
2002: Put our daughter, Kristen, through Service Advisor School Thailand for a meditation retreat.
2003: I Joined a Leads Club (great for marketing). Created and held a couple of ‘De-Mystify Your Vehicle’ workshops. All three of our kids were working for us.
2004: Became the first Green Certified Business in Santa Cruz County
2005: Created ‘If My Car Could Talk’ radio show which ran every Wednesday night for six months. To support this we took public speaking lessons through the Speakers Gym. Created Feng Shui Car Kits. And we helped to fuel the bio-fuel movement with fuel made from restaurant waste fryer oil, grape seed oil, etc.
2006: Rock Paper, Car appears bi-monthly in the Metro. Became a licensed smog test and repair facility.
2007: Earned ‘Best Small Business of the Year’ for the state of California by John Laird, 27th State
Assemblyman. We chartered a service club called the Surf City Exchange Club. I saw my Grand Daughter, Victoria, be born.
2008: Lisa joined the Sustainability Academy Board of Directors and physically helped to build a retreat center in TN. Got Gold in the Goldies. Henry received the United Way’s ‘Hero’ Award.
2009: Joined Think Local First and an auto ‘performance’ group. Our son, Dan, began his two year auto-repair business management/education quest. We appeared in ‘This Old Car’ TV show. We helped spearhead the Green Business Networking Group. Earned Silver in Goldies. 3rd time to re-certify being green.
2010: Traveled from Brazil to Antarctica . Gold and Bronze for Gold Awards. Wrote the 100th article for Rock, Paper, Car.
2011: Earned a cruise; Florida to Panama . Started blogging about our heavy metal detox program. Once again Goldie winner. Took a trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Joined the SMART Group.
2012: Theme at work – Water Star Motors – The Musical. Yes, people do randomly burst out in song. Gave an iPad2 away. #1 Gold Awards #2 Good Times. I joined the Santa Cruz Follies – Copacabana
2013: "I Got You Babe!" Auditioned as Sonny & Cher for the 2013 Follies (September 11, 12, 13, 14 - 2013). Spearheaded the Blue and Gold dinner honoring our local police and firemen. #2 Gold Awards. 4th time to re-certify being green. |
| Henry and I auditioning for Follies 2013 |
