Driven Visions, Duluth
Joe Ophoven has always had a passion for cars, and his ability to view them with an artistic eye is what gives his business, Driven Visions, an edge over the competition. Located just off I-35 on Grand Avenue in West Duluth, Driven Visions is owned and operated by Joe and his wife, Jenny O’Konek. The business offers collision repair, audio products and installation, remote starters and alarm systems, and custom auto accessories and vehicle restoration.
Driven Visions started out as a small manufacturing enterprise when Joe, an experienced auto body technician, began creating his own fiberglass auto accessories and then putting them up for sale on Ebay. He met with success and began to think about turning his craft into a full-time business.
“I was working long hours, twelve-hour days sometimes,” says Joe, who had managed body shops in Minneapolis prior to becoming a business owner. “I wanted to slow the pace a little bit.”
Joe and Jenny started Driven Visions from their home near the Twin Cities, manufacturing and selling fiberglass parts. They later relocated to the Twin Ports area and purchased commercial property in West Duluth, where they expanded the business into a retail store front offering vehicle accessories, collision repair, and custom body work.
One of the first things Joe and Jenny realized was that they would greatly increase business if they stepped up their advertising efforts. They worked with staff at the UMD Center for Economic Development and the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund to receive assistance with their marketing plan and secure financing to help with their advertising costs. “There are a lot of neat programs up here,” says Jenny. “The Entrepreneur Fund and the Center for Economic Development really helped us.”
The increase in advertising, including trade shows, a website, and a regional television commercial, has made a big difference. After displaying their products at the Spirit Valley Days car show this past summer, “there were customers waiting outside our door when we opened at 10:00 the next morning,” says Jenny. “We’ve also been getting a lot of website traffic,” adds Joe.
Joe and Jenny run Driven Visions with the help of three staff. Both owners handle the bookkeeping and paperwork end of the business as well as the hands-on auto work. With the help of web sales, their custom hood scoops and other accessories have already reached an international market.
When it comes to one-of-a-kind customized auto accessories, collision repair, and quality sound systems for your vehicle, Driven Visions can help you achieve just about any vision you might have for the look, sound, and feel of your vehicle.