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photo by Destiney Robb
Bad Boy Buggies continues expansion across country
Published Sunday, December 2, 2007
NATCHEZ — Believe it or not. Natchez has its own multi-million, international industry.
Bad Boy Buggies has come along way from being just a tinkering project for Bubba Kaiser and Joe Palermo.
There are 125 dealerships ranging from the Midwest to the East Coast with plans to head out west.
“We haven’t expanded too far out west because we don’t have the capabilities to provide the kind of service we want to our buyers,” director of marketing and partner Selah Willard said.
Willard said the company was looking into setting up an office out west so they could expand their dealerships and provide adequate service to their buyers.
The Bad Boy company hasn’t limited itself to just the U.S.
“I’ve had calls from people in Germany, Africa and Tahiti wanting to know how to get one of our buggies,” company partner Tom Mansell said. “I tell them to send me a check and I’ll ship it to them. People from all over have purchased our buggies.”
They have recently opened a factory in Changshu, China.
“The factory in China employs around 85 people,” Mansell said. “They produce the body, seats and basket. All the main components come from the U.S. and the buggies are assembled here in Natchez.”
Bad Boy Buggies Enterprises has grown exponentially since 2003.
In their first year of production, they were producing six to eight buggies per week with just a handful of employees and brought in revenue of $250,000.
Now they put out 20 to 21 buggies per day, employ 47-50 people and Willard said they should bring in $21 million to $23 million in revenue this year.
“We have grown more than we ever thought,” Willard said.
Since 2005, they have gone from selling 1,200 buggies in a year to 3,000 this year.
Bad Boy Buggies have found their own niche in the hunting vehicle market.
Willard said they really didn’t have any competition because other companies don’t produce all electric, all-terrain vehicles.
“No one else makes these types of vehicles,” she said. “We have started looking at other markets as well.”
They have sold the electric vehicles to mining companies, construction companies, parks and even petroleum giant BP.
“We have had a wonderful relationship with BP for about a year and a half now,” Willard said. “They have bought quite a few of our buggies and we have outfitted them with solar panels for them.”
Willard said BP takes the buggies and donates them to zoos, state parks and wildlife preserves.
The partners of Bad Boy Enterprises see a bright future for blossoming company.
Willard said the company would continue to grow and serve Natchez.
“We are in plans to relocate to a larger building,” partner Jim Willard said. “We hope to be in the Stine building by April 2008.”
Selah said that once they were in the larger building they would add more employees, a dealership and have an area for merchandise and gear.
“We want to be the leader in the electric vehicle market and continue to look at parallel markets,” Selah said. “We are a local company that employs local people. We are committed to Natchez and want to be here for years to come.”
Comments
Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on December 2, 2007 at 5 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by riverat (anonymous) on December 2, 2007 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed, this morning, supertrucker? Take a chill pill. Congratulations Bad Boy buggies on your success!!! You are living proof that a good idea can translate into success given the right combination of talent, determination and peserverance. We look forward to your expansion into the Stine's building...thanks for staying in Natchez!!!
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on December 2, 2007 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Supertrucker,
These are real jobs, 50 new jobs, with no incentives from the Natchez Politicians, EDA or government subsidies. Natchez should be proud of this factory. They should be proud of their success and lets hope they survive and prosper.
The jobs are not all at $7 an hour - The former head of Am-South in Natchez left Am-South to manage Bad Boys. 50 manufacturing jobs is very hard to create, the politicians in Natchez have not been able to do it, in the last 60 years, even after spending millions on the EDA, the Chamber, and lobbying the feds.
Supertrucker if you are so brilliant maybe you should start your own business paying the workers what you consider a good wage - $50 ? $75 ? $100? an hour. Lets see if you could make money, grow, and expand your business.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on December 2, 2007 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Bad Boy Buggies continues to grow, we may well have a major industry in the community!
Let's hope so!
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on December 2, 2007 at 11:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is such a great success. To have a company that started from scratch here in our area and has grown into a multi-million $$$ business.....what more could we ask for? The rate of expansion is fenominal and we should all be proud of this home grown company. I only hope that the company continues to grow and remember its roots, keeping the main production right here where it all started (rather than moving to China or another country). Congratulations BAD BOY BUGGIES and we should all say THANK YOU!
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on December 3, 2007 at 2:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great job, guys. To your continued success.
Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on December 3, 2007 at 5:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THESE ARE CHICKEN PLUCKIN JOBS.AND YOU THINK REMOVEING MY COMMENTS WILL CHANGE ANYTHING DEMOCRAT?ONLY RICH PEOPLE CAN AFFORD ONE OF THOSE DAMN THINGS ANYWAY.AND $7.00 AN HOUR ISNT A JOB.TY
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on December 3, 2007 at 5:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great job Bad Boy Buggies...You are a great asset to the Miss-Lou.These are the type article I like to read.Natchez Democrat...how about check on how many jobs the EDA has brought to Natchez.Im always reading they have big industry coming to town ,but cant remember any ever openning up here.I think we should stop wasting millions on the EDA & make the clowns that we overpay do the job.
Posted by hawk (anonymous) on December 3, 2007 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
supertrucker if your job pays you so much you should be able to buy you one. your job probally avg out to about the same pay so before you go knocking other people around you need to sweep around your own door step. great job guys dont listen to people like this natchez needs you.
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on December 3, 2007 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ohhhh, how I wish I had a Bad Boy Buggy!!! Supertrucker, $7.00/hr. may not be burning up the world, but I'm willing to bet that is just start out pay and it increases in time and also with benefits. No telling what little that person has to do either. Let's face facts here, the pay scale probably fits. I'm not putting you down, but most people can save money if they try, even if it's only a dollar a week, and invest it wisely and watch it grow.
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on December 3, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My hope is that there will be fewer accidents and deaths from 4-wheelers with these being used instead. Let's hope so.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on December 3, 2007 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From what started out as "WHAT IF" has ballooned into a thriving business. I know these people and they deserve all the glory. I'm sure they will stay with us in Natchez for this is their home. They sure have made a good start in what I'm sure will be a good economic adventure for Natchez. All good wishes to the ones with good plans for the future. Goes to prove the "WHAT IF'S" dream can become a possibility. Natchez has some great talent and it's so nice to see some of them completeing their dream.
Posted by PaulButters (anonymous) on December 4, 2007 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's good to see something actually being manufactured and assembled right here in the United States rather than in China
Posted by timnoklahoma (anonymous) on December 7, 2007 at 8:48 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want a bad boy buggie with the optional wench (see photos!)- for when my wife is out of town.
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