Groundbreaking treatment works on Morgan City man
March 5, 2013Kause for Critters 5K Race, DogWalk and Silent Auction
March 6, 2013
“You have your camera, right?” said a man behind a store counter at Southern Trailer Works in Thibodaux.
Once told yes, the store employee, Ryan Ordoyne, smiled and made a few funny poses – flexing his muscles like he was about to be photographed for a modeling shoot.
“Make sure you get my good side,” he said before laughing.
That good-spirited, positivity is just the way things work at the Thibodaux business – they want to provide a good product and also a positive atmosphere to customers.
Now in its 13th year of operation, the local business prides itself on being a one-stop shop for all trailer needs.
In addition, they boast a friendly, fun-loving way of doing business – a formula the store’s co-owner believes is a recipe for success in south Louisiana.
“We’re very, very friendly – we pride ourselves on being a friendly, family-run operation,” said Southern Trailer Works co-owner Jody Angelette. “We’re very laid back. … If our employees don’t have a good attitude and aren’t friendly, they won’t stay here long. That’s just me being honest.”
The idea for Southern Trailer Works stemmed from a husband’s attempt to appease his hobby.
Jody Angelette said her husband Kelly races racecars.
Because of his affinity for racing, Jody said the idea materialized to create a trailer shop so that he could get a trailer at the cheapest possible price.
“He thought, ‘Hey, if we start this business, we can get a trailer cheaper,’” Angelette said. “But guess what? We didn’t get it cheaper because we went bigger and better and everything like that. But it was because of the racing – that’s why we got into this.”
It didn’t take long for the Thibodaux business to find success.
Angelette said from their beginnings, the business has blossomed and now sells utility, cargo, goose necks, race trailers, living quarter trailers, service, repair and “everything else” involving the world of trailers.
“We like to think of ourselves as a one-stop shop,” Angelette said. “You name it, we do it. We will take on pretty much everything.”
In addition to Southern Trailer Works, the Angelette family also launched Southern Signs and Designs.
That business shares an office with Southern Trailer Works.
It was launched two years after the trailer company’s creation.
Nicholls State graduate and graphic designer Joey Boquet is the brains that creates the many gizmos and gadgets that come from the company’s printers – a list of products that includes signs, banners, business cards, car wraps and other signing needs.
“We had a small sign machine that we’d use to do our racecars,” Angelette said. “So we looked for an opportunity to take advantage of that and it just kept growing and growing and growing.
“But again – it was about a racecar. Everything you see here was started because of one racecar.”
Growth is possibly an understatement.
Southern Signs & Designs has generated so much business that the store is adding onto its building to meet the rising demand.
All of the trailer business will be stationed in the current location. All of the signing work will move to a room next door.
It all comes back to a racecar, a quality product and a good, positive attitude.
When one walks into Southern Trailer Works, customers are greeted by friendly, spirited employees who both understand the products provided and relax customers with their friendliness.
They wouldn’t have it any other way – that’s the way that the store does business. Now and into the future.
“Friendly is what mainly sells around here,” Angelette said. “If you’re friendly to people, they’re going to keep going back. The product is important, too – and we have top of the line products to sell. But treating people right goes a long way here. That’s what we do and that’s what we will continue to do.”
Southern Trailer Works and Southern Signs & Designs employees (from left) Ryan Ordoyne, Joey Boquet and co-owner Jody Angelette share a laugh while going over a plan. The store prides itself on providing good products, competitive prices and top-tier service.
