The Lusty Wrench is an award winning "eco-conscious" auto repair shop that weaves environmental responsibility throughout its day-to-day operations. For over 25 years the repair shop has not only provided a needed service to the local community but has also restored the environment through innovative, responsible business practices. From recycling waste products, to purchasing auto parts from socially-responsible countries, to educating customers on auto-related sustainability issues, the Lusty Wrench demonstrates how a small local business can effect environmentally-desirable change using big concepts, while still making a comfortable profit.
Innovation
Run by Bell, his son Josh, and a highly trained technician named Joe, the Lusty Wrench opened in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in 1979 initially as a foreign car repair shop. Approximately ten years later Bell gave in to customer pressure and started repairing domestic cars as well. He began eco-conscious innovations by "wandering into it" and he has since built an effective, successful business through trial and error. As his auto-repair business grew, so did his mindful, environmentally sustainable practices. For example, instead of sending cardboard to the landfill, Bell uses a separate dumpster for recycling. He also collects used waste oil which is then recycled to create asphalt paving compounds, industrial coatings and heat through processing by EPA-licensed ultra low emission burners. In addition, a mobile anti-freeze recycling truck comes to his repair shop and restores the pH balance and anti-corrosive compounds of antifreeze, allowing it to be reused.
On a personal level, Bell works with every customer to make sure their car is as fuel efficient as possible, taking time to educate them on issues such as the value of proper tire inflation. Returning customers get gold stars on their bills for maintaining fuel efficient pressure in their tires. In both business and life, Bell’s philosophy is simple. "There are downstream consequences to every action we take," he says. And he believes his role in business is to minimize as many negative consequences as possible.
Impact
Due to its eco-conscious initiatives, the Lusty Wrench annually recycles over 500 cubic yards of cardboard, 1,500 gallons of oil, and 200 gallons of anti-freeze. At the heart of his business practice, Bell makes deliberate, socially responsible decisions about the kinds of parts he purchases. For instance, he refuses to buy parts from certain countries who exhibit lax environmental controls or labor protections; instead, he purchases his auto parts mostly from countries that have practices he endorses, even though it is often two to three times more expensive to do so. He believes people are willing to support his "ecological stridency" even if it means spending a bit more money initially, as the quality of his work actually saves his customers money in the long run.
Beyond those impressive concrete measures, Bell also rates the success of his innovations by the feedback he receives from his customers. He talks with each customer about their driving patterns, automotive needs, and fuel consumption. He asks questions, gives advice, checks tire inflation and recommends certain tires to ensure maximum fuel efficiency for each car he services. His average customer has been with him for ten years and 90% of his business is comprised of returning customers; new customers are generally referrals from existing customers. As a result of Bell’s endeavors, the Lusty Wrench has received awards from the Better Business Bureau as a Business of Integrity and the Super Service Award from Angie’s List.
In addition to running his automotive repair business, Bell writes for Motor Magazine, focusing his articles on ethics, environmental responsibility, management, and the technical side of automotive repair. Furthermore, as an instructor teaching advanced level repair courses throughout the country, he sends the message that its good business to do things such as increase customers’ fuel efficiency as it benefits both businesses and their customers. Bell also sees business as a cultural institution, promoting cultural ideals. By intertwining business into the social fabric of communities, he feels that businesses’ and customers’ needs and fortunes interlock, thus benefiting all parties involved.
Inspiration
Environmental responsibility is engrained in the various day to day operations of Sam Bell’s auto repair business, which has its roots in Bell’s childhood. At an early age, his father taught him the value of recycling and instilled within Bell the curiosity of understanding how things are put together. Bell credits his entire family with teaching him when something is thrown out it does not magically go away; it goes back into the soil, the water, or the air. Although educated as a lawyer, Bell always felt a "stewardship for the planet" and wanted to contribute something of value to the world. By combining his love of nature and his innate mechanical abilities, Bell left the legal world and entered the automotive repair realm.
When Bell talks about lessons he’s learned from his business innovation, he talks about two important concepts, "enough" and "horizontal collaboration". He believes in a very un-American concept he has dubbed "enough". Bell is busy all the time, his shop is small and has comfortable room for six cars at a time, and that is enough. He could expand and hire more people, but he chooses not to.
"I am unusually fortunate in that I think I’m richer than most people, and that’s not economic. I am extremely satisfied in my work and community".
His second lesson is that horizontal collaboration works. "Business is not a zero sum game. It does not hurt me to help someone else". He believes sharing knowledge and helping one another out benefits everyone. As his business has evolved from a foreign car repair shop to repairing domestic cars to becoming eco-conscious, Bell remains keenly aware of his business’ environmental and social impact on his community and the larger environment. "When you are really in love with something, you don’t abuse it", he says as he describes his love for nature.
As a result, the owner of this small automotive repair shop practices environmental and social responsibility with every auto repair and with every customer. "I fix the world, one car at a time".
The World Inquiry editorial team edited this profile from the original submission of the interviewer or other source. The views expressed do not necessarily represent Case Western Reserve University, the Weatherhead School of Management or the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit. More >>
