Autostyle's new Blackburn workshop now open on Higher Barn Street

Suf Lunat started Autostyle, a car interior modification company, on his father’s driveway more than 12 years ago and has built it up to become the premier destination for people looking to modify their cars, tighten up their security, upgrade their multimedia, and have new materials on their seats.

Autostyle have moved from their old location in Shadsworth to this new site on Higher Barn Street and are already serving customers in this enormous new space.

Suf Lunat outside Autostyle's new home (Image: LT)

Suf said: “We serve a lot of the supercar industry in the North West. That’s something that didn’t come straight away. Many years ago I was working for £20 here and £30 there on more humble cars. I’ve had to build things up to a point where the way we worked separated us from other businesses.

“We’re now at a stage where we’re coming out of this little workshop we had and moving into this site, which is seven times bigger than before.

READ MORE: BAE Systems provides update as AGM takes place

“We were in Shadsworth, technically classed as Guide Business Park. We’re going from a little 12 square metre shop to a massive store going up there on the mezzanine floor, and what is currently an electrical company will become a fully-fledged one-stop shop.”

This has been a long time in the making for Suf who, despite working different jobs with his technical background, always felt his passion was with cars.

The new reception area at Autostyle (Image: LT)

At 17 he landed a part-time job with Maplin in Blackburn who, surprised by his technical knowledge, swiftly promoted him to a store supervisor. Then by 22, he was leading teams of engineers in software installation at companies across the country.

He said: “When you’re on decent money at 22 you’re going to work yourself to the bone but there was just no life. I almost missed my sister’s wedding. There were events I was missing out on because I was constantly working.

“I took some time off, sat at home, and I started playing with my cars again, and I thought ‘this is what I enjoy'.’”

READ MORE: Blackburn is fourth best place in UK for small businesses

This led to the birth of Autostyle – starting out on his father’s driveway in 2012, to doing mobile repairs in a van, to the unit in Shadsworth, and now blossoming into the huge industrial unit where it now resides.

Opening a workshop is one thing, but how do you make it different to others? This is a question Suf faced but his family connection to the industry helped him with his ideas.

Autostyle's new premises is now open on Higher Barn Street (Image: LT)

He said: “My grandad was a mechanic and I grew up watching him fix cars. I’ve got this image in my mind of going to this dark, dingy little workshop. Even today 90 per cent of garages are exactly the same.

“You’ll be speaking to the mechanic himself that’s going to write your appointment somewhere, talking to you and wrenching away at somebody’s car all at the same time, and that’s a general way a lot of garages operate.

“But I thought it shouldn’t be this way. If every other industry is able to have a certain level of pride and professionalism, why is that not possible in the motor industry? I want to be different.

READ MORE: WEC Group joins training provider register as employer provider

“I want the process to be the customer walks into a nice reception area, where they can talk to somebody who’s not covered in oil and grease. They can book them in, offer them a coffee, offer them a seat. 

"I want the customer to feel special, to feel acknowledged. I want this to be more than a transaction for them.

"None of this comes cheap, though. A new unit, new equipment, the hiring of new staff, upgrading IT systems.

“This is stuff I’ve had to plough money into,” he said. “But this whole business was about passion.”

After successfully navigating the business through Covid, Suf now has Autostyle in a position where it can start a new chapter in its new home.

He said: “Forget about trying to compete with people. Forget about price. Don’t try to be cheaper than everybody. Don’t try to tread on somebody’s marketing. Focus on you and focus on being the best you can possibly be. That’s all that matters.”