A Conversation With: Rod Schilling, Co-Founder/President, S2 Golf Cars
We would like to thank Rod for taking the time to give us this interview
GCOptions: What do you attribute your success to?
RS: The past two years, S2 Golf Cars has been honored as a Best Local Business of the Grand Strand by WMBF News with voting conducted by area residents. Rod shares, “The local community has provided tremendous support and acknowledges our efforts to put the customer first. We have never worked harder in our lives or felt more fulfilled. Every decision we make and every dollar we earn is a direct reflection of how we conduct ourselves in the community we decided to make our home. With increased regional competition, it is important we continue to differentiate our business through the customer experience, strong relationships with our partners, and ability to adapt quickly to any unexpected challenges as we’ve done with the pandemic.”
Rod and Jason continue to add brands to serve the needs of their customers and they continue to reinvest their profits to grow staff and provide exceptional customer service. They hope to build their own location and offer new services to their customers including storage solutions which is especially important to residents who live in the Grand Strand area only part of the year.
GCOptions: What inspired you to start your business?
RS: While shopping for a new golf cart in 2016, Rod Schilling and Jason Smart, Owners and Operators of S2 Golf Cars in Surfside Beach, SC, had a less than stellar shopping experience. As they left the dealership disappointed, Rod and Jason discussed their experience and what they would have done differently motivating them to research the possibility of launching their own golf cart business. In 2017, S2 Golf Cars was formed with “S2” inferring the combination of the two owners’ last names.
GCOptions: What’s special about your business?
RS: The cornerstone of S2 Golf Cars customer experience. Jason and Rod explain more, “We are dedicated to making sure that every customer has a great experience with us. Whether you are buying a new, reconditioned, or customized vehicle we want to make sure that you feel good about your purchase. We also service all brands and varieties of golf carts and specialize in LSV [Low Speed Vehicle] sales and service.” S2 Golf Cars is an Authorized Dealer for most major cart brands including Tomberlin, Bintelli, Icon, and Star.
GCOptions: What have been the high and low points of being a business owner?
RS: Both Rod and Jason enjoyed successful business careers prior to launching S2 Golf Cars. Their combined experience has proven to be invaluable as they leverage their business skills and wisdom to operate S2 Golf Cars. Rod spent 38 years in the beverage industry in a variety of positions including serving as a national sales manager for the last 7 years. Jason started in the grocery industry and spent his last 20 years in the beverage industry including serving as a regional manager. Rod explains how they met, “Both of us spent the majority of our life in the Seattle area and got to know each other through the beverage industry. Our two families started vacationing together in South Carolina every year and knew that one day we wanted to retire here. Opening a business prior to retirement was something that came about when we saw an opportunity for a different way of life.”
GCOptions: Is there anything else our Readers should know about S2 Golf Cars?
RS: With access to the best parts at a fair price, and dealer relations with all the major manufacturers, you are sure to have a great experience with S2.
Contact: S2 Golf Cars | (843) 712-8009 | www.s2golfcars.com
