Al's Auto Succeeds
by Accessorizing for Less

by Elizabeth Anderson

Is your vehicle's dash quivering under the heat of the scorching hot summer sun? Growing weary of the familiar stains on your floorboard carpet? Always wanted to sink into the comfort of sheepskin seats but balked at the price? Ignore your car, truck or van fantasies no longer. Al's Auto Accessories has it all for less!

Al Zada, owner of Al's Auto Accessories, has been selling low priced auto accessories at Kobey's for more than thirteen years. His two booth locations are piled high with all the basics: custom dash covers for cars and trucks, floor mats and seat covers for any make and model. If he doesn't already have it in his exhaustive inventory, he'll make it for you and have it in the following week.

Zada has what the competition often lacks, intricate product knowledge and seasoned experience. Being in business for himself, he has an innate investment in serving his customers and keeping prices low.

For example, popular 2-piece Cartoon Character floor mats (Taz, Tweety, Yosemite Sam, etc.) are $23 or more in auto part stores; Al has them for just $10.99. Custom dash covers are 50% lower than dealer prices, at $19.99 for carpet or $25 for velour. He has more than 2,000 of them in stock.

His philosophy is if he keeps his customers happy, they will keep coming back. It seems to be working. In addition to retail, he's slowly entering into wholesale, one of his goals for the business.

Zada, who is originally from Syria, came to the United States in 1979 to attend the University of San Diego. While he worked toward a degree in civil engineering, he supported himself and his family (today he has three children) by selling at Kobey's.

He chose auto accessories because cars held an interest for him. He explains, "Back home in my country you never dream of having a car. You can afford one only if you're very rich. Here anyone can drive a car. That's one of the reasons I was interested in auto accessories. I like cars. They're like my hobby."

One of the consequences of Al's "hobby" is he never went into engineering as planned, but continued down the auto accessories road. He made the life-altering decision to depend on himself, be his own boss and develop his own enterprises. It's a decision he plans to stick with. He wouldn't have it any other way.

Today Zada calls America home, crediting the United States as "the best country," a place of free speech, where everyone has equal opportunity to fulfill a dream.

"I'm happy here," Zada says. "I never thought I was going to come this far."

"I just want a happy life like everyone else," he continues. "Sometimes this business is hard, but I have faith. I don't worry. Money's not everything. Whatever God sends me I'm happy with."

He concludes with a warm laugh, "This is my destiny, to sell at Kobey's!"Dash Covers 50% less than dealer prices.

Cruise over to Al's Auto Accessories in space D13 Friday and D 8 & 9, K4 every Saturday & Sunday. Remember, custom orders are welcome!