Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Jackrel.
Hi Justin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have been an entrepreneur my entire life – starting with selling candy along the side of the road when I was nine years old. I opened my first company in the year 2000 and my first retail storefront in 2004. In 2000, along with a friend of mine, we were the first people in the United States to import and distribute gas-powered scooters from China. Throughout the years, we have expanded our product lines and now specialize in electric vehicles, electric bicycles, gas scooters, and racing go-karts. The Bintelli Beyond is one of the hottest selling models of EVs in the country! Every year for the last 15 years we have shown increased sales, even throughout the recent economic troubles.
Bintelli’s dedication to top-notch service yields us many new customers through friend and family referrals as we ship our products worldwide. We appreciate all of the loyalty we have received from our customer base and will never rest until the job is done correctly. The loyalty of our customers and dealers has aided in Bintelli being named to the INC5000 three times, a feat we are extremely proud of.
In the last six years, we have increased our facility square footage from 12,500 sqft to 146,500 sqft along with increasing our staff size by 633%. We are also proud of increasing our staff minimum wage by $7/hr during our time in Charleston while doubling the average yearly wage earned by our staff in the same time period. Our primary focus on our staff and aiding them in “leveling up” in life has been extremely rewarding. Several of our employees have recently purchased their first home. We’ve had three Bintelli babies born in the last year and have five more on the way over the next few months. It’s been incredible seeing our employees thrive and grow while a part of Bintelli!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been the opposite of a smooth road. Honestly, I wouldn’t know what a smooth road looks like. I’ve been importing products and assembly components since I was 21 years old. Importing is extremely stressful, especially when having to learn on the go.
Since my company started when I was 17 years old, I’ve had to rely heavily on bank loans and friend/family investments to help fuel our growth. Anytime you borrow money from others, even if you’re never late on a payment, issues and pressure are constantly applied to you. I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to pay down the majority of our debt recently which has given us a lot of freedom!
Over the years we’ve had to combat tariffs, massive price increases, a pandemic, economic issues, frivolous lawsuits from jealous competitors, and so much more. But you know what? We never once quit, we never once let it stop us. We pushed through each and every issue and came out the other side a better company.
Additionally, we’ve grown rapidly over the last six years, as our staff size has increased by 633%. Growing this large, this fast causes a plethora of struggles. From training and improving company management to HR issues, to simply finding the staff needed. I would say all 21 years have been a scratch-and-claw struggle, but what sets us apart from other companies is when most would fold and walk away, we grow stronger. We’ve overcome so much to get to the level we are at today and I couldn’t be prouder of us.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Bintelli LLC?
We are one of the nation’s premier power sports distributors and manufacturers. Our Bintelli Beyond electric vehicle is one of the most popular street legal golf carts in the nation! We are known across the industry for having the best-valued products in the industry – including gas scooters and mopeds, electric bicycles, and street legal golf carts.
I’m most proud of how we’ve been able to give back to the community. We’ve donated over 100,000 meals to the Lowcountry Food Bank. We’ve increased our staff size by 633% since relocation to South Carolina six years ago, providing high-wage jobs with great benefits. This year we expanded our electric vehicle manufacturing facility in North Charleston and now can triple our output from the last year.
We are proud to be a part of the Lowcountry, I am proud of everything we’ve done to support our staff and their growth in life, and I’m proud of all the obstacles we have overcome to get to where Bintelli is today. There is no company better to work for than Bintelli, I truly believe that.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Our industry is in the middle of a large upswing the last few years and I expect that to continue. Electric golf carts and bicycles are going to double or triple their sales in the coming years and Bintelli is set up and prepared to capitalize on the industry’s growth.
I believe the industry for gas scooters and mopeds will decline over the next 5-10 years as electric scooters and bicycles continue to grow in popularity. It’s a fun time to be in our industry and the moves we’ve made in the last 2-3 years position us nicely for what’s to come.
Contact Info:
- Email: Sales@Bintelli.com
- Website: Bintelli.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bintellipowersports
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BintelliPowerSports/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BintelliScooters/videos
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/c/BintelliElectricVehicles/videos
