industry news Car Audio for the Common Man WORDS BY ELIZA GANO T
he 2,700-square-foot facility in Milpitas, Calif., that now houses Simplicity in Sound
is a long way from its humble beginnings. “I was operating out of
my garage for the past seven years,” said Bing Xu, owner and partner of SiS. Xu, 35, had been running a one-man operation with a long waiting list. The tipping point came when another potential client told him he would love Xu to work on his car, but he would need to wait 11 months for it to happen.
“Sensing his disappointment and knowing that I just lost my seventh sale in the last three weeks, I finally decided it was time to expand,” Xu said. “I felt that I had reached the pinnacle of what could be accomplished in the confines of my garage.” The pieces fell into place when a generous investor jumped in and provided Xu the financial backing and purchas- ing power to acquire the shop space, tools and equipment. The new retail shop opened
in March, allowing more customer-centric services such as shorter wait times, out- the-door sales on equipment and accessories, opportunities for simple builds (head-unit installs and/or sub boxes and amps) and work on multiple vehicles simultaneously. In addition to the new digs,
With the help of an investor, owner Bing Xu (right) was able to make his dream shop a reality. Co-owner, Joey Knapp (left) aided with his vast industry knowledge to help build a strong customer base.
“I look at this as a once in a
In order for the shop to increase and retain business, more room was needed for installations so customers didn’t have to wait as long to have their cars worked on.
Xu brought on East Coast transplant and install expert Joey Knapp, 43, to be his business partner and co-owner. “He’s someone who has equal or more skills than myself, with the same sense of attention to detail and professional responsi- bility,” Xu said. Another similarity between the pair is both don’t have the
traditional car audio background. Knapp, originally from Lake City, Fla., has a master’s from the University of Florida and previously worked as an elementary school computer teacher. Xu, originally from Beijing, has a master’s from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. His former career was an outreach director focused on Pittsburgh’s international community. With Knapp on-board, SiS can take on more advanced metal
fabrication, trim and template techniques, SPL-centric builds and more show car style builds.
32 Mobile Electronics January 2014
lifetime opportunity,” Knapp said. “It doesn’t feel like work because I’m doing things I love.” Their passion and enthu- siasm received industry-wide recognition when both men were selected as part of ME’s Top 100 Installers of the Year. Knapp went on to become one of the Top 12 finalists. Their work speaks for itself as the shop has clients from all over North America. They just finished a show- car build for a Nissan GTR that was shipped back to Vancou- ver, Canada. Another recent install was on a Mercedes SL 55 that came from Texas. The owner flew out to Northern California, intending to drive it back home. “When he saw the install, he said he would never want to leave his car again,” Knapp said. “That’s what I’ve really enjoyed, the interaction with the client and seeing their enthusiasm when the build is complete.” The shop operates by ap- pointment only and has a full plate of bookings until April. Word of mouth and a strong presence in the industry has been a boon for them—many clients are referred through the mobile audience forum,
diymobileaudio.com. On the forum, Knapp and Xu answer every question a mobile audio enthusiast can have, showing
their commitment to the community and providing value. “Many clients come to us as the last chance they’re going to give a mobile electronics shop,” Knapp said. “They’ve had bad experiences at other places and never want to trust another shop again. When we hear that, it makes us step up and take pride and care in the work we do.” A typical build is usually a vehicle that’s a daily driver, with
the customer looking for a solid install and great sound. But, no matter what the customer may request, one aspect remains constant – their dedication. The shop photo documents progress to show proof of integri-
ty and updates are given based on customer preference. “We will treat everyone with the utmost respect and honesty, and we will always strive to achieve the best overall quality and attention to detail,” Xu said.
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