When you’ve had as much success as John and Jaime Blanton, there is plenty for which to be thankful this holiday season. But the Blantons, who own an Alta Mere/SmartView store in Denton, Texas, are grateful for more than just their store’s prosperity. Their loving family, supportive community and dedicated employees are all reasons for which the Blantons can give thanks.
John, an ASE certified technician and former member of the U.S. Coast Guard, opened Barebones Auto Repair in 2011. The goal was, and always will be, to offer customers quality service at a reasonable price. He and his wife, Jaime, expanded their business by becoming Alta Mere/Smartview franchisees in 2016 after cultivating a loyal customer base, and they continue to see success. Jaime, who earned her B.A. in Journalism from Texas Christian University and her M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville, plays a big role in the business. While John tends the shop, Jaime takes care of the accounting and marketing, and oversees the Alta Mere/Smartview staff.
Jaime says they are incredibly thankful for their employees, and that a business’ success often comes from the hard work of its staff. “We have a terrific staff that’s really dedicated to the craft,” she says. “They get along really well and treat their customers with the care that any business owner would want.”
Running their own business has allowed the Blantons the flexibility to spend time with their children and get the entire family involved in the community. “To be able to watch them grow and learn and contribute to their community is a real joy,” says Jaime.
In return, Jaime says she is grateful for the trust the community has given to her family’s business. She says they have seen tremendous growth in the year since they opened their Alta Mere/Smartview store. “We’re grateful our community is embracing our business and the values we uphold as owners and in our staff as well,” says Jaime. “It’s a competitive industry. Any time you can encourage a customer to choose a small business over a big box, it’s a win.”
While Jaime says they are thankful for the success they have already experienced, they expect it to continue. “I think that our success we saw in the last year is only going to grow in the new year,” says Jaime. “I’m just thankful that people are trusting us in the services we offer.”
Their primary goal for the rest of this year and on into 2018 is to elevate their profile as a business in the community. “We want to finish strong and take those sales and give them back to the community in some way,” says Jaime. Coming up, she hopes to be able to give back to schools and charities, and possibly partner with the area’s chamber of commerce. “We’re hopeful that 2018 will give us enough growth that we can give back.”
But for now, the Blantons can relax this Thanksgiving and appreciate the success of their family’s business. When you’re as involved in the community as this family, there isn’t much time to stop. So, on Thanksgiving they plan to enjoy some quality time at home together before hitting the ground running with their Christmas activities. “The week after Thanksgiving, we have a lot of activities in our family,” explains Jaime. “Our plan as a family is to stay in our pajamas, eat a lot of food, play board games and rest up for the Christmas season… and maybe watch a little football.” of Louisville