The Racco family are out to change the whole junky stigma behind the auto graveyard.
The award-winning Thunder Bay Auto Parts, an automotive recycler, has been recognized locally and by industry associations for its commitment to environmental stewardship, health and safety.
In 2003, the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce saluted the family-owned business for championing the efforts behind the safe removal of highly toxic mercury switches out of junked vehicles.
“One gram can contaminate 20 acres of water,” says Lisa Sticca, vice-president of the company.
The parts are collecting in a community sweep and sent away to a special recycling depot in Toronto.
The family is following the auto recycling industry’s lead in promoting greater environmental awareness.
“It’s also part of our character,” adds brother Michael Racco.
“What we want to do in our industry is prevent people from taking a car and just leaving it in the backyard,” says Lisa, where air conditioners can be tampered with and freon can escape into the environment.
“All end-of-life vehicles should end up in a recycling yard and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.”
“They are doing it in Europe,” says Michael, “and it’s coming this way.”
Located in the heart of the city, Thunder Bay Auto Parts is a bustling and popular place for both walk-ins and mechanics at local garages and body shops to source air bags, catalytic converters, transmissions, brake drums and wiring harnesses.
Its success over 30 years has been built on the values of father Frank Racco and his no bones-about-it attitude.
“Be honest to your customer and he’ll come back to you,” says Frank, one of four brothers who bought the business in 1976. “Why let the customer spend money for nothing?”
Daughter Lisa began working in the office at 18 and eventually moved behind the parts counter.
Son Michael appeared in the shop at 12 before the Lakehead University Commerce grad briefly departed for two years to work in marketing and software design.
Together they’re co-owners with sisters, Lori Amorgianos, who works in the office, and Rita Racco-Stoppel, a financial analyst for Bowater.
But Frank still remains president. “We made him retire,” says Lisa, “but he comes here every day and that will never change.”
The next generation of ownership has meant a new wave of technology.
Michael, the IT guy, decided to marry the family’s years of experience with a new spinoff entity, JustParts.com, an application for people to buy and sell online.
Michael says back in the day, his father was extremely organized.
Salvaged parts weren’t just dumped into bins for customers to sift through. Frank was a meticulous record-keeper of his inventory with binders of part numbers.
“When he would sell something, he’d scratch out it and put down whatever was left. That was his way of recording and tracking everything.”
Out in the shop, every shelf location was numbered and alphabetized.
Ten years ago, they shifted to a computerized system, which contains their 100,000 parts.
Parts are posted on the Internet and are selling internationally. They’ve shipped a seat to Norway, a seat belt to Britain and truck top to Nunavut.
Today, they still save, record and store every part when dismantling more than 1,200 vehicles a year.
The family is especially conscience of keeping their yard and facility clean. “We don’t let it pile up very high,” says Michael.
Before cars head to the crusher, all the fuel is drained, hazardous materials are removed, collected anti-freeze is given away to customers. “There’s nothing that goes to waste.”
The metal left-overs head to Lakehead Scrap for shredding.
Lisa says more women are making headway into auto recycling business.
“The whole industry has changed. Ten years ago women were far and few between. Now no matter what wrecker you phone there’s one or two women working there and there’s more women opening recycling yards. The industry has really come along in that way.”
Biggest challenge: Giving top quality service everyday, earning customers trust, finding free time to focus on business development
Biggest surprise: After 30 years of surprises, nothing is a surprise anymore.
Best decision: Diversify. We noticed trends in online sales so we build justparts.com our new online market place.
Worst decision: Not responding to changes in the market place quickly enough.
From whom have you learned the most?: Our parents. Strong work ethic, dedication and sacrifice will ultimately lead to success.
Best advice you’ve ever gotten: Focus on what you’re good at. Learn one thing everyday.
Best advice you have to give: Be persistent. Never lose the passion for your business. Never lie, tell the truth. Integrity is important.
