MARYVILLE, TN (March 4, 2022) – Looking for wheels, go see Big Will! William “Big Will” Goodwin, opened his used car lot at 416 West Harper Avenue, in downtown Maryville, in 2020. Big Will Auto offers a selection of dependable used cars at prices affordable for the working class, students, and first-time car buyers.
“People need a vehicle they can rely on to get them to work, church, run errands, and go to wherever else they need to go. We strive to provide customers with fuel-efficient, dependable, low-mileage cars within the customer’s budget,” said Goodwin.
All autos on the lot are priced under 10,000 dollars. Big Will accepts trade-ins and offers to finance buyers with good credit, no credit, and some with bad credit. Your W-2 can be used as your down payment.
CUSTOMER SERVICE, COMMUNITY ARE PRIORITIES
At Big Will’s, taking care of customers is a priority. “All of my vehicles come with a 90-day power train warranty (engine and transmission), said Goodwin. “I don’t believe in taking advantage of customers. I believe if you bless others, that you, in turn, will be blessed.”
Big Will Auto is the first and only Black car dealership in Blount County and is proud to be in downtown Maryville, Tenn., according to Goodwin.
Goodwin is a native Knoxvillian from the Lonsdale community. As a young adult, he volunteered and helped to provide sporting activities, guidance and mentoring for youth in the Lonsdale community. In 2003, Goodwin and Carlos Younger founded Tennessee Gridiron Scouting (#TNGS). A program that helps to prepare high schoolers for the next level of a career in sports, which includes tutoring, mentoring and connecting with scouts. The program welcomes youth throughout East Tennesse. Connect on Twitter, #TNGS.
Big Will Auto opened at the height of the pandemic. Despite the odds, Goodwin’s business flourished. “The market price for vehicles started going up, and it was the perfect situation for my price range of cars. Due to uncertainty of the market, everybody was looking for more affordable cars at the time. We worked right through COVID and we are still here today,” said Goodwin.
All the while, Goodwin was building 24-years of experience in car sales at Neil Sandler Ford and later Ole’ Ben Franklin Motors. Those years of learning and experience prepared him to open his own dealership.
A DREAM MADE A REALITY
The vision of Big Will’s Auto came in an epiphany. When his daughter, Mia, earned her Master’s Degree in Sports Management from Liberty University in May 2020, the family celebrated with a mini-vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains. While there, “something” kept urging him that it was time to start his own business. He shared his feelings with his wife, Nikki, who encouraged and supported him. The following week, Big Will went back to work, resigned and started buying cars.
The next goal was to obtain a good location for his business. “We had our location picked out around six years before we opened,” Goodwin said. “My wife and I would drive by the building and we just knew this was where we wanted to be.”
Mia also had plans for the site. She wanted the space to teach Pilates classes. “I asked her to hold up on the pilates because we needed the building for the car lot. She was fine with it,” said Goodwin. Mia ended up working at the site, just in a different capacity.
A FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESS
Big Will Auto is a family-owned and operated business. The team is comprised of Goodwin, his wife Nikki, and daughter Mia. “We make a good team. I do my part to buy and sell cars, and they do their part with the paperwork and the financials,” said Goodwin.
Mia assists customers with financing applications and handles social media and title paperwork. “I post cars on Facebook and various other social media outlets,” she said. “I make sure customers get their tags and documents and that the titles are properly signed and recorded at the courthouse.”
Goodwin said his daughter is a natural. “She knows so much about cars, she has been around them since she was around two years old.”
Nikki Goodwin, Big Will’s wife, is an accountant who is gainfully employed outside of the family business. She navigates customer financing, maintains the books and assures all financial obligations of the business are met.
The couple’s son, Rashad is also employed outside of the family business and is a valued team member and #1 supporter.
Mia loves working at Big Bill Auto. “I Think it is great for a family to run a business,” she said. “We know how to communicate with each other and that keeps thinks less confusing. I used to work in athletics. It was a very hectic lifestyle and you didn’t get time for yourself. At the family business, I can get my job done and still have time for myself.”
The 25-year-old looks forward to taking over the responsibilities of the car lot after her mom and dad retire. A move Goodwin approves of as part of his goals to keep growing the business, retire, leave it to the family to operate.
“I enjoy my job, I love selling cars, It is my passion,” said Big Will.
Big Will Auto is open from 9 am to 6 pm Monday thru Saturday and is closed Sundays. Visit the website, www.bigwillauto.com; Facebook, bigwillauto@yahoo.com; or phone (865) 268-5545; or (865) 253-6048.
(CAPTION) William Goodwin owner of Big Will auto in downtown Maryville, Tenn. (Photo submitted to ETEnlightener.com)