Redwine International, Inc.

Jim Redwine is a veteran who is the epitome of what happens to someone who has determination, vision and works hard. After the service he worked as a shop foreman for a trucking company learning and observing the business for a number of years. Then in 1973 he opened his own repair shop with an initial investment of $463. Today he owns three companies: Redwine’s Garage and Parts Sales, Inc., Redwine Salvage Sales, Inc. both located in North Carolina and Redwine International, Inc., located in Emporia, Virginia. Between the three companies he has an employee base of 45 employees.

He loves trucks so his business philosophy towards growth was “everything should be truck-related.” Redwine Garage and Sales expanded in 1973 and is on 55 acres in a 6,000 square foot facility. An 8,000 sq. ft. tire and alignment shop was added in 1998. In 1982 and 1985 Redwine Salvage Sales was renovated which uses a 5,200 sq. ft. facility. In 1992 he built a 8,800 sq. ft facility on Morgan Road off 301 North of Emporia, Virginia.

Mr. Redwine has basically self-financed his projects by building up company equity in order to expand his businesses. His motto: “You have to grow with control in order to stay competitive.”

In 1999, he invested in the franchise of International Truck & Engine that gave him dealership rights to sell 18-wheeler trucks. He already owned the land to build the new facility and the economic development director referred Jim Redwine to the SBDC for assistance on developing his plans.

The SBDC began working with Mr. Redwine in 2001 to gather background information, financial results in order to prepare the financial projections. She met with him several times to review the plans, review the projections for the million-dollar project on 5.2 acres of land. The new 16,000 square foot facility would have 5 oversized truck bays, a parts and office area, sales floor plus designed for future expansion.

The project was delayed because of some negotiation issues and bad weather conditions. The SBDC worked with Mr. Wayne Hanks of BB&T, Emporia and the project was approved and financed in 2003. The facility is currently under construction with anticipated completion in 2004.