Shell Valley is open for business!

[Shell Valley]

I thought I'd post this press release to help clear up any confusion as to the status of Shell Valley:
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5/14/09
Travis and Deanna Roth have recently purchased Shell Valley Companies, Inc. (which included Midstates Classic Cars & Parts and International Wholesale). The new company will be known as Shell Valley Classic Wheels, Inc. Travis and Deanna are excited about their new enterprise in Platte Center, Nebraska. They both went to high school in Bancroft, Nebraska. After high school Travis attended Wayne State College where he played football for two years and then transferred to Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska, where he graduated with an architectural degree. Travis married Deanna Johnson in June 1994. They have three children, Anthony, 13, Trent, 11, and Carissa, 6. Travis and Deanna have owned and managed Ideal Wheels in Bancroft since 1995 and have owned Roth Racing Performance in Norfolk, Nebraska since 2004. They look forward to relocating and to the new business challenge. They are excited about meeting and taking care of existing customers and welcoming new customers to the Shell Valley family. Travis and Deanna are pleased to announce that the majority of the former company’s employees remain with the company.

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These are indeed exciting times here at Shell Valley and we plan to continue to serve the Cobra replica community for years to come!

I've stayed on with Travis and Deanna so we're hoping to make the transition as smooth as possible. Give us a call, shoot us an e-mail, or just say hi at a show!

Thanks!

Dana Dankert

[ROUSHAC]

Shell Valley has been a first class operation and this is good new indeed, Dana!

Glad to hear that you will still be there and I certainly wish the Roth's success.

[MFE III]

This is very good news. I'm particularly glad to hear that the International Wholesale company will be continuing since many of the parts for my cobra and other replica manufacturers came from there.
Suggestion to the Roths: Consider changing IW from a distributor based wholsesale only to a direct to retail modle.
Best wishes for your sucess!
Matt

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by MFE III

Suggestion to the Roths: Consider changing IW from a distributor based wholsesale only to a direct to retail modle.

They seem like a nice little family -- I'd hate to see them lose their a$$es. What precisely are they going to do differently from the previous owner in order to make the company profitable? I didn't see "turnaround specialist" mentioned in their curriculum vitae....

[rooster]

Dana, Glad to hear the good news. Best of luck to you and the new owners. You have always been a pleasure to deal with.
Russ R.

[dlampe]

Glad to hear things are working out. Shell Valley has always been a big supporter of our hobby.

PatrickT, How familiar are you with the circumstances around Rich Anderson and Shell Valley and the reasons for the sale?

Anyway, my best wishes to the new owners.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dlampe

PatrickT, How familiar are you with the circumstances around Rich Anderson and Shell Valley and the reasons for the sale?

Not a lick, other than it was about to go belly-up. Whether that was from personal/family problems that forced attention away from the business, or poor business judgement in and of itself, I have no idea (really, it doesn't matter). Clearly the business was in distress, and when a business is in distress, you either let it die or bring someone in to turn it around. That someone generally should have special talents and a proven track record -- I don't see that here. Right now, a new buyer would have to have a compelling financial or performance reason to commit to SV, as opposed to going with its competition. Hopefully the new owners have a plan to make that happen. Actually, I don't really care one way or another -- I'm looking at it solely from the business point of view. Now if the new owners bought SV in the same fashion that your wife might buy a small dress shop, as a pastime to have fun and maybe make a dollar, then that's a completely different story....

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Not a lick, other than it was about to go belly-up. Whether that was from personal/family problems that forced attention away from the business, or poor business judgement in and of itself, I have no idea (really, it doesn't matter). Clearly the business was in distress, and when a business is in distress, you either let it die or bring someone in to turn it around. That someone generally should have special talents and a proven track record -- I don't see that here. Right now, a new buyer would have to have a compelling financial or performance reason to commit to SV, as opposed to going with its competition. Hopefully the new owners have a plan to make that happen. Actually, I don't really care one way or another -- I'm looking at it solely from the business point of view. Now if the new owners bought SV in the same fashion that your wife might buy a small dress shop, as a pastime to have fun and maybe make a dollar, then that's a completely different story....

You must be a joy to be around. Why take two seconds to post a response, when it includes "it doesn't matter" and "I don't really care." You just live to stir the pot, create controversy. Fun hobby I guess.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

You must be a joy to be around. Why take two seconds to post a response, when it includes "it doesn't matter" and "I don't really care." You just live to stir the pot, create controversy. Fun hobby I guess.

Do you disagree with anything I wrote?

[patrickt]

Do you disagree with anything I wrote?

I guess not.

[KillerBox]

I am glad Shell Valley is continuing on. I have been very pleased with my Shell Valley Cobra. I have also been very pleased with dealing with Dana.

One suggestion to the new owners though, I would hate to put a down payment on any Cobra replica right now. Maybe they could set up an account with independent escrow company to protect the buyer?

[PANAVIA]

I wish Shell Valley luck , running a enthusiast based car business in 2009 is tricky.

--Steve

[rustyBob]

I think its odd that Dana made that post and not the new owner,Is he trying to convince everybody that things are A.O.K or is he trying to convince himself. Only time will tell what will become of Shell Valley and what we say to each other here wont matter any way.

[bulletbrown]

I , to am glad they are back in business , I hope Dana stays on , he is great to work with and he can help you get throw the build QUESTIONS.
It would be a good think if postitive imput was offered to the new owner in product and business improvement. We ,the customers , are in a unigue position to help in product improvement and business practises, for we are the customers and we have used there systems. I work for a small business and often the best ideas come from are customer.
So Shell Valley Cobra owners , let's get behind the new owner and help them be a success and offer your imput as to improvements in that endeaver.

[compaq]

Originally Posted by bulletbrown

I , to am glad they are back in business , I hope Dana stays on , he is great to work with and he can help you get throw the build QUESTIONS.
It would be a good think if postitive imput was offered to the new owner in product and business improvement. We ,the customers , are in a unigue position to help in product improvement and business practises, for we are the customers and we have used there systems. I work for a small business and often the best ideas come from are customer.
So Shell Valley Cobra owners , let's get behind the new owner and help them be a success and offer your imput as to improvements in that endeaver.

The only thing i seen wrong was the way they handled some of the paperwork
and maybe the time it takes to complete the work that people have them do.
Mainly the time it took to do the work and the paperwork stuff like invoices,receipts etc. for stuff that has been paid for.
I know that i wasn't the only one that had something that wasn't completed or couldn't be completed etc.It is possible that the people hired to do the work
wasn't doing it even though they were getting paid from the owner etc.
Maybe that is one reason why the guy went out.Other then that they could
watch some of the things they say to people that are buying stuff such as some of the things that were said to me.