By Gwendolyn Jacob, Living Stones News Writer
Shannon wasn’t the only one born into the Nordstrom family in 1969.
His parents, Art and Marie Nordstrom, also conceived Nordstrom’s Automotive, an
auto salvage and parts business, that same year.
But like many unexpected blessings, the business wasn’t planned; it grew out of
their need for a pick-up truck. The couple ran a dairy farm before they began
the auto salvage business, but didn’t make enough money milking cows to buy a
pick-up truck. They asked for a loan, but the loan company would only offer the
Nordstroms money for a manure spreader.
Shannon (clockwise from left), Art and Marie Nordstrom view their
salvage and parts business as more than just a place where someone can
buy a spare part. The father-mother-son team have helped several people
with their spiritual walks in the 38 years Nordstrom’s Automotive has
been in business. |
After being turned down, Art bought a wrecked vehicle, fixed it up and was
amazed at the results. The repaired vehicle served the family well, and when
they eventually sold it they made extra cash.
Thus Nordstrom’s Automotive was born.
Thirty-eight years later, the business now covers 45 acres in Garretson, S.D.
According to their Web site, the farm setting is now home to approximately 7,000
vehicles of all makes and models, domestic and foreign. The unique transition
from agricultural use to automotive use has left several noticeable marks: the
barn warehouse is no longer used to store hay, but rather more than 400 sets of
seats. The grain bins that once stored the harvest now have been customized with
racking for doors, air bags, radios and a variety of glass.
Approximately 100,000 parts such as alternators, starters, wheels, AC
compressors and electronic components are stored on the property.
About 400,000 parts are available via the computerized inventory.
However, with all of their parts and vehicles, the 65 employees are what the
Nordstrom family hold dear.
“We’ve always said that the business is about the people more than it is about
the dollar,” said Shannon. “We’ve constantly have had someone in our lives, if
not numerous people in our lives, that we’ve aided through their life journey
and told them about the Lord. It’s just been an amazing journey that to this day
hasn’t changed any to that regard.”
Alan Machmiller, an employee of 16 years, can testify to the Nordstrom’s family
goodwill. He said, “I’m just one of a number of employees that they have stepped
way over the line to help and support. They are extraordinary people. Many
businesses operate by the numbers and statistics of what the business is doing
and things like that. They operate their business with their heart.”
Machmiller faces an unusual challenge in his family life. He has two sons with
muscular dystrophy. His unique family situation influenced the Nordstroms to
create Resurrected Rides, a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Nordstrom’s Automotive, in conjunction with other businesses, “tricks out” a
repairable vehicle donated by Nordstrom Automotive and then sells raffle tickets
during the summer to give people a chance to win the souped-up ride.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is not the only cause that Shannon, Art and
Marie Nordstrom support. Their faith causes them to display their Christ-like
love for people by supporting many other causes. But their faith doesn’t stop
there; it helps them run their business. “We’ve got a lot weighing on us
everyday—the weight of employees, the weight of finances, and the weight of a
changing industry. If we didn’t have a strong faith, I joke that I would be at
the bar every night,” said Shannon.
Saved at the age of three and raised in a Christian home, Shannon may not have
had his strong faith in God to rely upon if his parents had not turned from
their party life in 1972 to a life pattern after Jesus, their personal Savior.
Art and Marie were used to the drinking and carousing that usually pairs with
the sprint car races at the short tracks. After their conversion, they discover
a joy they never had before, and Art wondered if other people felt the same way
he and his wife did now that they were Christians. To find out, Art took his
farm tractor, which was a local icon at the racetracks because he had
retrofitted it with a Ford Mustang engine, and sprayed the acronym P.T.L.A. on
the back of it. For a whole year he never told anyone what it meant.
Finally, after a year of listening to good-effort guesses, a man finally told
Art that P.T.L.A. stood for...
...Praise the Lord Anyways.
“From that point on, I would tell anyone that ask me what it means and they
would say ‘Well, why do you have it on there,’ and then I would share my
testimony,” said Art.
P.T.L.A. is the faith statement of the Nordstrom’s Automotive.
The acronym is on all their advertising, clothing, trucks, and even written in
the concrete they have poured. It is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says,
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.” (KJV) To this day, the family still upholds the tradition of
not telling people what it means. They still wait for others to ask and then
use that opportunity to tell them about Christ.
Trent Moe, who has been a customer of Nordstrom’s Automotive for 20 years,
recently came to Christ after experiencing a tough time in his life. He said,
“I had always believed in Jesus and God, but had never asked him into my life.
When I saw that there was no way out with the exception of asking God to help
me, people started coming to mind and the conversations I had with them. Art
and Shannon were big factors. I very much value their friendship and their
business relationship. I really respect how they promote Jesus Christ through
work.”
P.T.L.A. for the success Nordstrom’s have experienced in salvaging cars and
lives by the grace of Jesus Christ.
