At Harmon's, it's Chevy time

GENEVA - Being old-fashioned has kept them in business.

Old-fashioned customer service, that is.

Harmon's, founded in 1973, has made it through the tides of slumping economies, satellite locations, partnerships and even some family changes.

But the Geneva company is still running and selling countless antique vehicle parts per year.

"I never thought when it started that it would turn into what it's turned into," said owner Nancy Harris.

The business began with Harris and her former husband selling parts from their van, and has expanded to an about 24,000-square-foot facility along U.S. 27.

Mark Morgan, head of advertising and marketing, who has worked for Harmon's since 1983, said he believes the company's strong emphasis on customer service has helped it survive this long. Many of the company's 14 employees have worked there for more than 10 years.

"We've been a company that's firmly felt we do not want an automated answering machine," Morgan said. "I think that's our edge."

Having a live person on the other end of the telephone helps, he said.

A salesperson is at the business Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to take phone calls for orders. Also, someone also works from 8 a.m. to noon to take orders on Saturday. Most of the company's business is done over the telephone, but the popularity of Internet sales is growing.

Also, follow-up calls are frequently made by company employees, and those who work in the warehouse are very familiar with the parts they are selling. Customers also are welcome to walk into the showroom and ask questions.

All of the parts are purchased from the same, reliable companies each year.

"It about has to be your service that you can rely on," Morgan said.

"I think just trying to take care of our customers and trying to keep them happy" has kept Harmon's in business, Harris said.

The company also gets some face time with customers by selling parts at 25 shows per year.

"They take a limited variety of everything we sell here (to the shows)," Morgan said.

The company tells its customers when and where it will be at shows, and sometimes brings ordered parts to the shows to save the customer shipping costs. Shows frequently visited by the 36-foot trailer include those in Indianapolis, Auburn, Valparaiso, Springfield, Ill., and various locations in Georgia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Missouri.

Along with the trailer and parts, the business's pride and joy - a 1964 Chevy Impala - also makes the trip to shows.

The car was restored by Morgan and other employees over a five-year span. It was stripped down to the frame and completely restored with parts the business sells. The only parts that didn't come from Harmon's were the engine and transmission.

"We thought it would be a good hands-on experience for the sales people and (give us) some exposure of our products," Morgan said.

Mobile sales is how the business began.

The business was started in the early 1970s, with Harris and her then-husband selling parts from their van when they traveled to various antique car shows. From there, the business moved to a small garage behind their home on West Walnut Street in Portland, then to a former veterinary clinic in downtown Geneva.

"1973 is when it actually became a legitimate business," Morgan said.

When the business was located in downtown Geneva, Harmon's also sold antique cars.

After several years, a new 14,000-square foot building was erected in 1985 at the company's current location. The addition was made in 1989. "They grew out of this pretty quick," Morgan said.

Back then, the parts were purchased from car dealerships. The parts were for vehicles that were no longer being made, and were of no value to the car dealerships because they couldn't be returned to the manufacturers.

Harmon's also began making 25 to 50 of its own parts for classic cars and trucks. But this ended after manpower and equipment became too costly.

Today, the company keeps about 27,000 parts for various Chevrolets in stock, and adds about 500 new parts per year. Harmon's has the rights to 200 parts that are reproduced overseas. Most are made in Taiwan, but a few also are manufactured in Canada, Morgan said.

Moser Engineering Inc., Portland, also makes rear ends and axles for Harmon's to sell. Moser has been making parts for the company for about 10 years.

Harmon's sells parts for the following Chevrolet models: Bel Air, Caprice, Biscayne, Chevelle, Nova, Camaro and Monte Carlo. They also sell parts for several Chevy trucks. The model years for the vehicles range from 1947 to 1980.

All of the parts the company sells are featured in six different catalogs. The largest is 392 pages.

Those who don't want to purchase parts from the catalogs can come to the business and purchase them in person.

People drive from all over the country to purchase the right parts for their antique dream cars.

"That always surprises people that we are in a rural location," Morgan said.

But that location has worked to the advantage of the business.

"We don't have so much direct competition next door," he said.

Harmon's also has tried out a couple of satellite locations, but the Geneva one has been the survivor.

Back in 1986, Harris decided to open a Harmon's in shopping mall in Oxnard, Calif. - about 45 minutes north of Los Angeles. The business folded three years later because of poor management.

Harris and her husband, Dan, also attempted to open a store in Charlotte, N.C., through a partnership about 1990. The partnership and the idea fell apart.

Today, Harris doesn't plan to change a thing about her business. "I hope it can keep going through the bad economy and be here for many years to come," she said.[[In-content Ad]]