real world retail
A Cut Above
Tip Top Customs has soared above its competition with product diversification, a strong customer experience and training employees from scratch. WORDS BY TED GOSLIN
C
olonel Hannibal Smith, leader of the fictional commando squad, The A-team, once said, “I love it when a plan comes together!” But plans don’t come together by accident—neither does a crack unit of the best in any field. Whether it’s with television shows, military operations or business, the top minds in any field know that being the best relies on two main
32 Mobile Electronics July 2017
things: remaining competitive while staying cooperative to execute a plan. Since the start of his 12-volt journey, Sean Davis, owner of Tip Top Customs in Morris, Ill., has kept those two traits at the forefront of his business mindset. As the son of a business owner, Davis learned a great deal about best practices as a youth, especially when it comes to working on vehicles.
“I’ve been into cars my whole life. My dad owned a body shop when I was younger. He did a lot of racing, mostly drag racing,” Davis said. “Once I was old enough to drive, I went to a couple sound-off shows. I remember clearly the Rockford Fosgate van being there. I sat in the back with the four 18’s. It triggered something in my brain. Then I started hanging out in a couple car audio shops