1. BubbaTools.com has a very unique offering of specialty tools, where did the idea for the site come from and how long has the business been open?

It all started when we were visiting my Father-in-Law “Bubba” in the spring of 2006.  Bubba had recently retired, and my Mother-in-Law casually noted how much she’d like to sell some of the excess tools and equipment he had accumulated after 30 years in the trucking and construction business. We quickly developed a grand scheme to catalog all of Bubba’s “stuff” and sell it on Ebay. Well, we soon determined that Bubba was a not-so-willing participant, and had no intention of parting with his beloved treasures.  We also learned that the old adage does not always ring true; one man’s junk, is NOT always another man’s treasure!  So, even though that venture was short-lived, we knew we’d hit on an idea that was even better.  We decide to tap into Bubba’s vast knowledge of tools and gadgets and use it to create a truly unique collection of high-quality multi- and specialty-purpose hand tools and gadgets that everyone should have in their toolkit.  Hence, Bubba Tools and Gadgets, LLC (BubbaTools.com) was born. In return for Bubba’s expertise, we agreed to use his likeness and name on the site -- giving our company an identity everyone can relate to.  After all, you gotta’ trust a guy with a name like Bubba!

2. How do you decide which tools and gadgets are offered at BubbaTools.com?

We are very selective in the products we choose to carry, and are constantly combing trade shows and searching online for the newest and most innovative hand tools and gadgets. We make an effort to seek out unique, innovative, high quality items that fit into our product mix that other sites may not already carry.  We especially like to find tools made in the USA, especially from small businesses, inventors and startups, who need the help of an established online outlet like BubbaTools.com to showcase and market their products. To ensure we carry only quality tools, we test each one for durability and quality.  Bubba is pretty rough on his equipment, so if it doesn’t pass the “Bubba” test, we don’t carry it!

3. Do your customers ever request or suggest specific tools and gadgets to be carried?

We have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of unsolicited emails and phone calls we receive from customers who buy our products and then give us suggestions for tools or gadgets to carry on the site.  We are always open to any suggestions.  Being a small, family-owned business, we take pride in providing a human-touch and doing everything within our power to take care of our customers.  We’ve even gone as far as to gift wrap orders for special occasions at no extra cost. We strive to stay competitive by keeping our shipping costs low and by getting orders shipped quickly (within 24 hrs).  We enjoy developing long-term relationships with our customers by staying responsive to input and feedback.  
 
4. The logo for Bubba Tools and Gadgets is really cool, how did you come up with it?

My wife is the wizard behind the logo.  She’s a trained graphic designer and has always worked professionally in marketing and advertising.   Once we convinced Bubba to let us use his name and handsome profile on the site, developing the logo was easy.  My wife was able to capture the essence of Bubba from an old photo. (That’s the same way he looks when he’s providing friendly advice on how to fix something using one of his favorite tools). Bubba is the real deal.  He knows a little about everything and is always willing to lend advice, it only made sense to put his name and face to the site.    

5. As the site continues to grow do you anticipate any changes or additions to site categories?

Without a doubt!  Like I mentioned before, we are very selective in choosing the products we carry on BubbaTools.com.  There are a ton of wholesalers out there, and we could easily fill the pages on our site with a bunch of items (junk) that nobody wants. But, that’s not a compromise we’re willing to make just for the sake of growth.  We want folks who visit our site to be intrigued and interested in every product we carry.  A few expansion areas in the near future include more pocket knives, multi-tools, and maybe even biometric technologies (fingerprint readers) and solar technology items as they continue to become more durable and affordable.

6. Do you have plans for any special promotions going into the spring and summer?

Hmmm…we actually have a couple of promotions in the works.  We can even announce one here.  For anyone purchasing from BubbaTools.com in the month of April and May who reads this interview, we will offer a 10% discount on your order.  Simply type in the code STRATUS10 during checkout.

As we continue to evolve our partnership with Stratus Racing, we want to look into some NASCAR related promotions, and would encourage customers to sign up for our newsletter [http://www.bubbatools.com/MailingList_subscribe.asp] to be notified of these new promotions.  Also, signing up for our newsletter will alert you to any other deals and offers from Bubba Tools and Gadgets.

7. What would be the best way for a manufacturer or distributor to introduce a new product to Bubba Tools and Gadgets?

Simply give us a call or write us an email.  We are always looking to expand our product list and are eager to hear from anyone who has ideas for new products to add to Bubba Tools and Gadgets.  

8. What would you think about a contest from some of our race fans for new tools Ideas for Bubba, maybe hook the winner up with a couple of passes to watch a race with Bubba?

That’s a great idea!  Such a great idea that we put the wheels in motion, if you know what I mean.  We will be running Bubba’s Pit Pass Promotion starting March 15 with the drawing to be held on August 2, 2010.  The promotion is sponsored by Bubba Tools and Gadgets, in cooperation with Stratus Racing Group.  Enter to win a chance to win two NASCAR pit passes for an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at  the Nationwide Series Race on September 4, 2010, at The Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

The grand prize winner will receive two pit/garage passes for practice, qualifying and the race. They will be able to meet the crew members and driver while enjoying great hospitality at the team hauler. Second prize includes a gift package of tools and merchandise from Bubba Tools and Gadgets.

To Enter:

1. Make a purchase between March 15, 2010, and August 2, 2010, on www.bubbatools.com, enter the promo code PITPASS during checkout and gain an entry into the promotion.  Automatically earn an entry with each product purchased. (For orders with multiple items, you will automatically earn an entry for each product purchased.)
2. We want your ideas for cool tools and gadgets. Simply enter your ideas at www.bubbatools.com/pitpasspromo and gain an entry into our drawing.  Only one “non-purchase” related entry per person.