Marlborough Auto Haus - the community garage...
Discussion
I'm looking for some help and advice please. Its my first real business venture, so please go easy.
The background.
I’ve always loved cars. I’ve got a real passion for them, particularly older and classic cars, but like a lot of people, I had a problem — where do you actually keep them and work on them? It is nice to have a warm, dry secure place to work. The british weather is not the best for this as you know!
I found myself constantly under pressure to get a car working by Monday morning because the working week was starting again. You’d spend all weekend trying to fix something, often outside, often without the right tools, and with nowhere sensible to leave the car when you ran out of time. I am lucky enough to have a driveway, but what happens if you don't and have to work on the car on the roadside?
It got me thinking:
What if there was somewhere you could keep your car, work on it properly, share tools and knowledge with other enthusiasts, and not have to do everything on your own?
And that’s really where the idea for Marlborough Auto Haus came from.
The original idea was a simple community garage — somewhere for people who love cars to come together, keep their cars safe, work on them and hopefully keep more of these old cars on the road. Share skills and experteese with other car enthusiasts.
It’s grown a lot quicker than I expected. It started with me renting a small rat infested barn locally from a farmer. 6 cars including my own and mostly storage at this point. A couple of years later, we moved to a larger 3500 sq ft space with 13 cars. A community was born and whilst we had a few storage cars, we had projects!!
We’ve recently had to leave those premises we’d been in for over three years, which was a bit of a shock. After a lot of searching, I’ve now managed to secure a 3,500 sq ft unit just outside Marlborough, Wiltshire.
The new place is on a secure site with electric gates, CCTV and 24-hour security (including an apparently angry dog!). It’s solid, dry and dust-free, has toilet facilities and gives us a lot more room to actually develop the idea.
I’m hoping to have:
🔧 Secure car storage
🔧 Shared workshop facilities
🔧 Shared tools
🔧 A two-post lift
🚻 Toilet facilities
☕ A small social area with catering facilities
🚗 And, most importantly, a group of like-minded people who can help each other.
There will be different levels of storage available, from simple storage through to storage with access and workshop facilities.
But this is where I’d really like some help.
I don't want this to just become a place where I rent out spaces and store cars. The whole reason I started it was the community side.
I want to know what people would actually want from a place like this.
What would make you join?
What facilities would be important?
Would access to shared tools be useful?
Would you use a lift if one was available?
Would you be interested in evenings or weekends where people could get together and work on their cars?
Would things like basic workshops, technical evenings, auto-electrical help, welding, fabrication or simply having someone else around who knows what they're doing be useful?
And perhaps most importantly…
How do I find the people who would actually want this?
I need to bring more people into the new unit to make the numbers work, and I’d really like to find the right people, rather than simply filling spaces. How do you vet people without getting a slap?
So if you’ve got experience of running a club, community garage, storage business, workshop or anything similar, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Equally, if you're someone who has ever thought:
"I love working on my car, but I don't have the space, tools or somewhere to do it…"
then I'd really like to hear from you too.
I'm particularly interested in ideas around how to get the word out, where to advertise, what people would actually pay for, and what would make this genuinely useful rather than just another storage facility.
The new place is going to cost me more, so yes, ultimately I need more clients. But I’d much rather build something that people want to be part of.
What started as a personal hobby has slowly turned into a small side business, but the original idea hasn't changed:
People who love cars helping other people keep their cars on the road.
That’s what I’d like Marlborough Auto Haus to become.
So, over to you…
What would you do if this was your project?
Any ideas, advice, contacts, criticism or suggestions would be genuinely appreciated.
The background.
I’ve always loved cars. I’ve got a real passion for them, particularly older and classic cars, but like a lot of people, I had a problem — where do you actually keep them and work on them? It is nice to have a warm, dry secure place to work. The british weather is not the best for this as you know!
I found myself constantly under pressure to get a car working by Monday morning because the working week was starting again. You’d spend all weekend trying to fix something, often outside, often without the right tools, and with nowhere sensible to leave the car when you ran out of time. I am lucky enough to have a driveway, but what happens if you don't and have to work on the car on the roadside?
It got me thinking:
What if there was somewhere you could keep your car, work on it properly, share tools and knowledge with other enthusiasts, and not have to do everything on your own?
And that’s really where the idea for Marlborough Auto Haus came from.
The original idea was a simple community garage — somewhere for people who love cars to come together, keep their cars safe, work on them and hopefully keep more of these old cars on the road. Share skills and experteese with other car enthusiasts.
It’s grown a lot quicker than I expected. It started with me renting a small rat infested barn locally from a farmer. 6 cars including my own and mostly storage at this point. A couple of years later, we moved to a larger 3500 sq ft space with 13 cars. A community was born and whilst we had a few storage cars, we had projects!!
We’ve recently had to leave those premises we’d been in for over three years, which was a bit of a shock. After a lot of searching, I’ve now managed to secure a 3,500 sq ft unit just outside Marlborough, Wiltshire.
The new place is on a secure site with electric gates, CCTV and 24-hour security (including an apparently angry dog!). It’s solid, dry and dust-free, has toilet facilities and gives us a lot more room to actually develop the idea.
I’m hoping to have:
🔧 Secure car storage
🔧 Shared workshop facilities
🔧 Shared tools
🔧 A two-post lift
🚻 Toilet facilities
☕ A small social area with catering facilities
🚗 And, most importantly, a group of like-minded people who can help each other.
There will be different levels of storage available, from simple storage through to storage with access and workshop facilities.
But this is where I’d really like some help.
I don't want this to just become a place where I rent out spaces and store cars. The whole reason I started it was the community side.
I want to know what people would actually want from a place like this.
What would make you join?
What facilities would be important?
Would access to shared tools be useful?
Would you use a lift if one was available?
Would you be interested in evenings or weekends where people could get together and work on their cars?
Would things like basic workshops, technical evenings, auto-electrical help, welding, fabrication or simply having someone else around who knows what they're doing be useful?
And perhaps most importantly…
How do I find the people who would actually want this?
I need to bring more people into the new unit to make the numbers work, and I’d really like to find the right people, rather than simply filling spaces. How do you vet people without getting a slap?
So if you’ve got experience of running a club, community garage, storage business, workshop or anything similar, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Equally, if you're someone who has ever thought:
"I love working on my car, but I don't have the space, tools or somewhere to do it…"
then I'd really like to hear from you too.
I'm particularly interested in ideas around how to get the word out, where to advertise, what people would actually pay for, and what would make this genuinely useful rather than just another storage facility.
The new place is going to cost me more, so yes, ultimately I need more clients. But I’d much rather build something that people want to be part of.
What started as a personal hobby has slowly turned into a small side business, but the original idea hasn't changed:
People who love cars helping other people keep their cars on the road.
That’s what I’d like Marlborough Auto Haus to become.
So, over to you…
What would you do if this was your project?
Any ideas, advice, contacts, criticism or suggestions would be genuinely appreciated.
Really like this. You've done well to get it where it is and I can see it booming.
In terms of:
Attend local motor meets armed with leaflets. Club Lotus organise a Track Day at Castle Coombe in May and you can rock up with a table and flog stuff at no cost - though I think you need to let them know in advance.
And/or organise a meet yourself at the facility.
Get yourself on Social Media. Some targeted paid-for advertising need not cost a fortune.
In terms of:
Ray Singh said:
I'm particularly interested in ideas around how to get the word out, where to advertise
Motor Clubs are a good start. The big ones (i.e. Club Lotus) have regional groups you could access, either in person at gatherings or meetings or via Facebook Groups.Attend local motor meets armed with leaflets. Club Lotus organise a Track Day at Castle Coombe in May and you can rock up with a table and flog stuff at no cost - though I think you need to let them know in advance.
And/or organise a meet yourself at the facility.
Get yourself on Social Media. Some targeted paid-for advertising need not cost a fortune.
Really cool, wish you the best of luck.
I'm not your target customer, but might have some inspiration for you... I listened to a podcast the other day with a US-based collector called Steve Hamilton (runs a huge wheel and tyre distributor, and has a $30m car collection) who I think keeps his cars at Iron Gate. IG is like your concept on steroids - they are whole master community of "car condos" for collectors. Initially started at around $130k per unit, not the cheapest are around $500k per 'condo'...! https://www.irongatemotorcondos.com/
I'm not your target customer, but might have some inspiration for you... I listened to a podcast the other day with a US-based collector called Steve Hamilton (runs a huge wheel and tyre distributor, and has a $30m car collection) who I think keeps his cars at Iron Gate. IG is like your concept on steroids - they are whole master community of "car condos" for collectors. Initially started at around $130k per unit, not the cheapest are around $500k per 'condo'...! https://www.irongatemotorcondos.com/
In terms of ideas on how to get the word... where do you the people who would be interested normally hang out? Here, cartalkuk on Reddit, various facebook groups etc.
You could speak to local car detailers and give them a few cards/flyers (or even get them as your preferred detailer, in which case they will naturally refer people to you). H
Host a free car show / coffee morning /fundraiser at your place. Partner with a local cafe to come and do bacon sandwiches etc.. Who will in turn promote it.
As another poster said, go to car shows yourself and drum up business.
The possibilties are endless!
You could speak to local car detailers and give them a few cards/flyers (or even get them as your preferred detailer, in which case they will naturally refer people to you). H
Host a free car show / coffee morning /fundraiser at your place. Partner with a local cafe to come and do bacon sandwiches etc.. Who will in turn promote it.
As another poster said, go to car shows yourself and drum up business.
The possibilties are endless!
Not pouring cold water on the idea, but think long and hard about how you deal with work over-running, key tools being monopolised or "lost" and so on.
Assume that you need a model that incentives people to use the facilities promptly and respectfully.
eg, If someone puts their car on the lift, takes it to bits, then doesn't have all the bits to put it back together, what do you do for all the people that have planned to use the lift tomorrow, next day, etc.?
Assume that you need a model that incentives people to use the facilities promptly and respectfully.
eg, If someone puts their car on the lift, takes it to bits, then doesn't have all the bits to put it back together, what do you do for all the people that have planned to use the lift tomorrow, next day, etc.?
I work in Marlborough
Sounds a great idea.
Weekend monthly meetups would be good , little car show meet with a coffee van on sight,
Could you get a bigger premises next time and open up other types of storage to subsidise the car bit.
Ramps would be good, my only observation would be the H&S element , never under estimate how stupid users can be as well.
If it was me, Id find a really good mechanic and get them based there to run the buisnesses, having people work on cars is great until it goes wrong - I can imagine its great with a small group of likeminded people, but when it opens up to more issues might come.
Fair play for doing it - lovely stuff
Sounds a great idea.
Weekend monthly meetups would be good , little car show meet with a coffee van on sight,
Could you get a bigger premises next time and open up other types of storage to subsidise the car bit.
Ramps would be good, my only observation would be the H&S element , never under estimate how stupid users can be as well.
If it was me, Id find a really good mechanic and get them based there to run the buisnesses, having people work on cars is great until it goes wrong - I can imagine its great with a small group of likeminded people, but when it opens up to more issues might come.
Fair play for doing it - lovely stuff
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Tuesday 15th September 13:03
Sounds like to grow you'll need a full time (plus holiday/sick cover part timer) site manager responsible for H&S, Admin, Insurance, Security etc. Community members pay an annual fee to cover this (in true community spirit at a cost plus basis, so the more members the lower the fee, with a rebate each year end if money left in the pot over and above a designated minimum surplus held).
If you can solve liability, then big part of problem cracked e.g. if the lift you've provided failed and someone gets crushed working on their own car, who is liable? The community collectively or you/your entity?
If you can solve liability, then big part of problem cracked e.g. if the lift you've provided failed and someone gets crushed working on their own car, who is liable? The community collectively or you/your entity?
Allowing any inexperienced random enthusiast to work on their car on your premises using your tools and equipment but with no supervision is a huge can of worms, I would be impressed if you could get proper insurance to cover that and you would be insane to do it without.
Storage is fine, maybe some cleaning/polishing space and minor tinkering, coffee/car meets etc.
A workshop on site staffed by a professional would no doubt get some business if he is the right sort but it could be hard to for them to make a living out of it.
Storage is fine, maybe some cleaning/polishing space and minor tinkering, coffee/car meets etc.
A workshop on site staffed by a professional would no doubt get some business if he is the right sort but it could be hard to for them to make a living out of it.
Steve H said:
Allowing any inexperienced random enthusiast to work on their car on your premises using your tools and equipment but with no supervision is a huge can of worms, I would be impressed if you could get proper insurance to cover that and you would be insane to do it without.
The idea sounds a bit like Men In Sheds (https://menssheds.org.uk/) or a Maker Space (eg https://mkmakerspace.co.uk/) but specifically focussing on cars.It might be possible to join forces with the nearest local one or at least pick their brains on aspects such as insurance.
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