Sparing no effort to help clients (Monday Man)

GORDON ALLEYNE stacking automotive supplies at Federal Motor Spares. (Nigel Browne)

By Lisa King | Sun, January 29, 2012 - 8:12 PM

FOR ALMOST 45 YEARS, motorists and mechanics have been able to depend on Federal Motor Spares in Bank Hall, St Michael, to satisfy their needs for automotive spare parts.

The family-owned business, which is run by Gordon Alleyne, has been able to keep its doors open for almost half a century because, according to Alleyne, they have put God and their customers first.

Alleyne started in the vehicle business since 1957 when he worked in his father’s Federal Bus Company. That operated from 1957 until 1966, and during the time Alleyne started to import spare parts for the buses.

So after his father’s business closed its doors, he opened Federal Motor Spares in July 1967.

The soft-spoken Christian explained that at that time in Barbados’ development and as a young person opening a business, he was optimistic about the prospects of his company doing well.

“Any person who opens a business or makes an investment into any organization, obviously they are looking for the success of the organization,” he said.

This success, he explained, was made possible by providing his customers with products of the best quality.

Very often he had to deal with fluctuating prices of commodities but still remain competitive with the other automotive spare parts retailers, especially those who would have had old stock at a lower price.

“We have prided ourselves on carrying a quality product at all times. We never sacrifice quality to have cheaper prices,” he said while admitting that in the 1960s and into the 1970s and, to some extent the 1980s, the competition was not as keen as it is today.

Alleyne said that he had been able to hold his own because he sold genuine quality Japanese-made parts and that while the competition may boast about prices, Federal Motor Spares could boast about brands and quality.

He is not bothered that the bigger garages make the bulk of the money.

Alleyne believes that despite the fact that a car may have come from a well established car dealership, people are still looking for quality parts at a price that is more reasonable than that which may exist at the agent for the vehicle.

Alleyne believes that, apart from the offering of quality products, the business had succeeded mainly because it was run by devout Christians who put the customers first, and that he was a businessman who had been dedicated, committed, serious and willing to make tremendous sacrifices.

In addition, family members have been on board. Alleyne’s wife Patricia and son Richard are very involved.

In fact, a tremendous amount of responsibility has already been given to Richard, and he is set to take over after his father’s departure.

Reflecting on the past years, Alleyne said they had been exciting, challenging, and it had given him great joy to be able to be self-employed and run the business in the best way he saw fit.

“We appreciate every customer that comes through our doors because they have first done us a favour by coming.

“They were not supposed to come and therefore we should extend the courtesy to them that if we do not have the part, we would call around to the competitors in an effort to source the part so that they will be able to go purchase the part they require without too many problems,” Alleyne said.

Share your thoughts

Please sign in or register to post your comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages

Posted by Leonard Bee 3 months, 3 weeks ago: Congratulations to Mr. Alleyne, the Alleyne Family and Federal Motor Spares. I first visited F. M. Spares in the early 1970’s seeking a few small parts for my first car. Mr. Alleyne was extremely helpful to me, a young man then and a novice in the world of motor mechanics. He took the time to tell me exactly what to do and told me to come back if I had a problem. Some time later I was served by a fine lady who I later learned was Mrs. Alleyne. I was thoroughly pleased and surprised by her depth of knowledge about the part and how it should be installed. In those days women seldom became involved in such activities. The high level of customer service was firmly etched in my mind and was never forgotten and, as a result, I used F. M. Spares several times after that and I also referred my friends and family to them. We have never had a complaint. They are a fine example to budding entrepreneurs and I wish them all continued success. LB.