In the rolling hills of southern Ohio, Thad Eveland has built something remarkable over the past decade–The Toy Store.
What makes Eveland's story particularly compelling is his personal transformation. He wasn't always comfortable with customer interaction. "I was moving backwards when I first started. I didn't like to talk to people," he recalls. But as his product knowledge deepened, so did his confidence. "I got confident in what I knew. I understood everything and was able to explain everything to people. So I got confidence that way." Today, Eveland runs a tight operation with about 10 employees, handling everything from sales to parts and service.
The business landscape hasn't always been smooth. Competition arrived just as Eveland was purchasing the dealership. "Used to be the only one until right before we bought the store and then Can-Am came in right on the road," he notes. Despite the competition, the dealership maintains strong customer relationships, with Eveland personally reaching out to address any negative feedback.
When it comes to industry trends, particularly the push toward electric vehicles, Eveland remains skeptical. His dealership has carried an electric Ranger for over a year with little interest from customers. "The Rangers only can go 30 miles, 40 miles of that if you buy a nice one. I just don't think longevity is there," he explains.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected prosperity. "That was amazing for our business. We were thriving," Eveland says, noting they hit record numbers for three consecutive years. However, he's now watching potential challenges ahead, particularly concerning proposed tariffs and their impact on an industry still dealing with market saturation from the pandemic boom.
Perhaps most telling is Eveland's approach to difficult situations, shaped by years of customer service experience. "Just be patient, calm. Don't feed into them, don't react how they're reacting, and it'll calm the situation down."
For Eveland, the motivation remains clear and personal: "I do it from a family. I work hard here so we can play hard at home." It's this straightforward philosophy that has carried him from an uncertain start to successful dealership ownership in Ohio's powersports community.
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