Audette Collection => AC 911 Shop LLC

Audette Collection had a rough ending after 20+ years of being in business. It was fueled by John Audette being grievously late on 20 orders (out of 3,487 orders placed over the last six years). It was kind of a perfect storm with many issues contributing:

• sharp drop in business starting in January of this year, thought to be caused by confusion over tariffs
• lack of operating capital
• over-booking of restoration projects 
• extreme difficulty with plating shops
• JA personal health

A small number of customers had understandably grown frustrated with the lack of delivery of their orders and voiced their frustration on internet forums. That cascaded into an internet mob which not only severely impacted sales but led to a large number of charge-backs that Audette Collection was unable to pay. The entity called Audette Collection was canceled to put it internet parlance. It was time to close and explore alternatives.

Alternatives

There were really only a few alternatives:

• close and declare bankruptcy
• sell
• new investor funds

There is still great will to fill the remaining Audette Collection open orders and it was thought the option offering the best chance of accomplishing that was to attract new investor funds and continue operations, albeit with a new company. It's not finalized yet but we are in negotiations with a potential investor (a major Porsche retailer) and we have formed a new company to accommodate additional shareholders. The new company is called AC 911 Shop LLC and all of Audette Collection's assets and IP are being transferred to the new company. Meanwhile we are open for business.

AC 911 Shop (AC911)

AC911 will provide the same product sales and restoration services as Audette Collection with some significant changes:

1. The focus will change with AC911 to focus on our #1 value-add which is knowledge based information built on John Audette's 30+ years experience with air-cooled Porsches, combined with advice from our Chief Consultant, Daniel Stern, an internationally automotive lighting expert.
2. The catalog will be tightened to concentrate solely on air-cooled Porsche lighting. It will be much more efficient offering a limited number of SKU's - ones that we have deep expertise with.
3. Availability of restoration services will be limited in order to decrease the workload and assure timely deliveries.
4. Arrangements have been made with a local Porsche shop (one originally founded by John Audette) to act as backup if an over-load occurs.

Here's to moving forward.