In 1977, Brothers Zale and Gary Reinstein decided to open their own auto recycling facility in Toledo, Ohio. Both had worked at another recycling facility for 30 years, but they knew they could do better with a business of their own. Their plan? To create a system where used auto parts were stored and sold like new parts.

"In the '60s and '70s, this industry was going through a lot of changes, and they were very much trendsetters of the time," said Westwood Auto President Ed Reinstein, who is Gary's son.

Warehouse Wows

The pair purchased an abandoned foundry and turned it into their warehouse. Built in the late 1800s, the cavernous building offers 150,000 square feet of storage space, and parts are organized on racks throughout the facility. The setup allows Westwood Auto to conduct a few hundred transactions daily.

"The way we're set up, the majority of our parts are on the shelf, ready to go," Reinstein said. "By being prepared for the customer, you can deliver more quickly."

The warehouse never fails to draw comments from customers. In the early '80s, an awed customer from Houston, Texas called it "the Astrodome of auto parts" and the nickname stuck.

"There isn't a visitor or a customer who doesn't walk though the place and say, 'Oh my God; this place is huge,' " Reinstein said.

Westwood Faces Loss

Gary is still active at the business; Zale, who retired several years ago, passed away in October.

"There was nobody smarter," Reinstein recalled. "There was nobody who ran a business better than he did. He was such a cool guy. He had a photographic memory, and he knew where everything was."

Zale's memory was so good, Reinstein said, that he didn't need to consult a Hollander manual.

"He could tell you the interchange number right off the top of his head," he said. "He was amazing. The man knew everything - literally."

Reinstein joined the company in 1988. He's served on ARA's government affairs committee and belongs to the Ohio association's board of directors. He said he's proud of being a second-generation business owner.

"I'm a very competitive person, and I enjoy trying to excel," he said. "That alone makes it fun for me. Our goal is to be extremely professional, to be state-of-the-art, and to be trendsetters of the industry."

Staff Secrets

Reinstein said he's also proud of Westwood Auto's staff. Most employees have been with the company 10 years or more. New employees are trained apprentice-style. They shadow a more experienced employee for up to six months.

"The group of people I have working here are by far some of the best in the country," he said. "There's nobody who answers my phones who doesn't have at least five years of experience working for me. When you call with questions, you do not get dumb answers."

And how does Reinstein get his employees to stick around? A good paycheck helps, he explained, but it's not the only reason.

"To create loyalty we, of course, pay well, but we also offer some more long-term things, such as profit sharing and health insurance," he said. "We want people to stay. By having experienced, well-trained employees, we avoid a lot of problems. We try to keep everyone happy around here."

As for Reinstein, he's happiest in Westwood Auto's fast-paced environment.

"I do love this business," he said. "It is organized chaos. Everything is always full steam ahead, and it's never boring. There are always 35 or 40 things I'm doing at once."

Company Name: Westwood Auto & Truck Parts

President: Ed Reinstein

Location: Toledo, Ohio

Phone: 800-720-1116 or 419-535-1116

URL: www.westwoodautoparts.com

Years In Business: 25

Size:
Number of Acres: 24
Number of Employees: 25

Credentials: Member of ARA, URG, Toledo Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau. President Ed Reinstein belongs to Ohio Auto and Truck Recyclers Association board of directors.

Quote: "Our goal is to be extremely professional, to be state-of-the-art, and to be trendsetters of the industry."