Mount Pleasant Magazine May/June 2018

81 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com | www.BestOfMP.com feature All three of the children have worked in the store at times, but it quickly became evident that William had a natural aptitude for the business, spending several years working in the “fix-it” department. “I realized at an early age that I got great satisfaction from using my hands to fix something for someone,” he explained. If you want to repair your grandfather’s shovel or your mother’s lamp rather than buying a new one, this is the place that wants to help you. That attitude and know-how transcends the generations and enhances their dedication to customer service. According to John, “If you offer quality products at fair and reasonable prices and have the best service, you can sell anything from horse manure to rockets.” Forty two years later, in a town that has exploded in population, they are still “proudly serving familiar and new faces.” It is estimated that the Royall family and staff personally know 75 percent of the people who come through the store’s doors on a typical day, whether they are serving individual customers or large contractors. In a time when competition cannot be ignored, they boast an inventory of over 65,000 individual items while, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the big- box retailers typically stock approximately 40,000 items. Managing to do that in a smaller space and still maintain an organized, small-town, local hardware store feel is just part of the magic at Royall Ace Hardware. Across town at Hudson’s Import Service , Cliff and Kim Hudson are realizing just how fast your children grow up. As the business celebrates its 40th anniversary, their business manager is mentoring their oldest child as her replacement, and their son has quickly become a top- notch ASE certified technician in the shop. Gains Hudson shares the same talent and passion for automobiles as his father and has been working in the business since 2012. Caitlin Hudson joined the team in 2017 and is currently working with longtime business manager Stephanie Shieder, preparing to take over that aspect of the business. Over the last 40 years, the automotive repair industry has changed almost as much as the town of Mount Pleasant. In April 1978, Hudson’s Import started a small business in a town of 12,000 residents in a lean-to-type structure off Coleman Boulevard. Cliff and his father, W. Ray Hudson, were dealing with vehicles equipped with carburetors, points and mechanical fuel pumps; on-board computers were still years away. Five years later, the rapidly growing business relocated to a larger location on Stuart Engals Boulevard and in 1986 built and moved to its current location at 1072 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard. Today’s vehicles are equipped with technology beyond expectations, and the town has exceeded a population of 80,000, with one of the highest per capita income levels in South Carolina, which in turn has created a business environment never imagined in 1978. Doing business in Mount Pleasant comes with a different perspective than it did 40 years ago, but the next generation is up for the challenge. Gains attended the Automotive Technology program at Trident Technical College, where Caitlin also earned her associate degree in Business Management. Their courses of study have prepared them for this generational progression. The original location of Hudson’s Import Service.