NEW ULM — NAPA STAR Group, LLC and NAPA Auto and Truck Parts continue to offer quality automotive parts in a timely fashion to New Ulm and southern Minnesota.
With the addition of a new warehouse purchased and renovated in 2018, STAR Group now has the ability to store more inventory and ship out parts orders to area stores faster and more efficiently.
“This move allows the space we need to efficiently bring in product and distribute it to our stores quickly,” President and General Manager of NAPA STAR Group Steve Windschitl said. “Our goal is no part out in the stores for more than 24 hours.”
The warehouse, located at 2121 N. Broadway, formerly housed Canyon Outback, a leather goods business. With over 20,000 square feet, the building offers plenty of additional space for storage and operations. The warehouse also contains space for offices, meetings rooms and even a kitchen for staff.
Windschitl said their goal for business growth last year was to streamline the shipping process for orders. He said it took about two days to receive an order, package it and ship it to one of their 11 stores. STAR Group aims to shorten this process to get parts to customers faster.
“It will take work to get to 24 hours,” he said. “But we are now within 48 hours, usually, which is far better than we were six months ago.”
The abundance of office space in the warehouse also allows for a better workflow for staff.
“As far as the additional office space we are able to again, do our work more efficiently, train staff and have space to meet with staff and vendors comfortably,” he said.
STAR Group used to operate it’s warehouse system at the NAPA Auto Parts store In New Ulm.
Tony Gulden, STAR Group Purchasing Vice President and Operations Manager, said space was limited for warehouse operations at the store. He said packaging and shipping operations were at times conducted outside, even in frigid winter temperatures.
STAR Group’s new location also provides them the ability to purchase more inventories at better prices. The more space STAR Group has, the more inventories it can receive and not have to work outside, Gulden said.
“The main reason [for the new warehouse] was to take advantage of additional discounts and better buying power,” he said. “And not having to do freight outside. We get freight out quicker.”
Throughout New Ulm and southern Minnesota, Star Group employs 95 employees.
With NAPA stores in Sleepy Eye, New Ulm, Winthrop, Fairmont, St. James, Chaska, Glencoe, Gaylord, Jordan, New Prague and Mankato, STAR Group covers a broad area of southern Minnesota.
Gulden said small, independently-owned shops and fleets are key to their business.
“Independently-owned shops is key in New Ulm,” Gulden said. “That’s our bread and butter.”
Windschitl is confident that STAR Group will continue to succeed in 2020. Now that they’re settling in to their new space, speed and efficiency is on their minds.
“We will continue to streamline our operations at the warehouse,” Windschitl said. “These efficiencies should transfer to our stores, and we will see where we can grow from there in our quest for customer service.”
Windschitl said STAR Group’s main goal has always been to ensure customers have the parts they need when they need them. He said the warehouse allows for many procurement opportunities that will help them to continue servicing customers efficiently.
Gulden said their motto of “quality parts in a timely fashion” still stands as their guideline.
“You can take any other parts store in town and they won’t even be close,” Gulden said. “There’s no doubt about it.”
