Switch Suspension blossom through vision of Seth Mcatee
By Brandelyn Clark | Special to the Digital Free Press
Seth Mcatee created Switch Suspension as a passion project. His growth as a local business has landed him a top spot among Arizona’s car show crowds.
In 2013, Mr. Mcatee began Switch Suspension as a car website. In the very beginning, it was only himself on the crew but with the support of family and friends, his business blossomed.
With over 30 employees and an additional company, Mr. Mcatee has created a name for himself.
Small businesses have faced the most adversity in the cool down of the economy amid a global pandemic. Even among the most hardworking and determined businesses, failure is exceedingly common, numbers show.
“The challenges I faced were the growing pains of many businesses. I was working a full-time job when I started Switch Suspension. I had to balance work and family to a brand-new degree with no guidance. I taught myself how to do pretty much everything from taxes to marketing to hiring people. I had no idea what I was doing,” Mr. Mcatee said.
Mcatee’s shop is in west Mesa but has appeared in car shows across Arizona. He started appearing in local Phoenix car shows shortly after the launch of his company. Perfect Poise Car Club’s annual “Cruise to the Pines” was Mr. Mcatee’s first featured car show. This Arizona-founded club has over 3,000 followers on Facebook and has grown to be one of the largest custom car and truck clubs in the state.
Mr. Mcatee credits the Arizona community to his growth as a car business.
Vehicle customization was something Mr. Mcatee’s father had an interest in. Growing up working on cars is what sparked the inspiration for Switch Suspension. In the early days of Mr. Mcatee’s entrepreneurship, he relied heavily on the support of his family, especially his wife.
This foundation of encouragement set the groundwork for what Switch Suspension is today and everything it will become.
A large portion of Switch Suspension’s revenue comes from shipping automotive parts. It is a local business with one physical location but has reached customers from all over the world.
International customers have become an everyday occurrence at the shop.
“I was blown away when I received my first overseas order. I felt proud of my company and my team. We had made a mark outside Arizona, and I just could not believe it. Then it started happening more and more. We ship internationally almost every day now and I think it’s unbelievable,” said Mr. Mcatee.
Switch Suspension is most known for the customization of classic cars. The skill found at Mr. Mcatee’s shop has warranted lines of customers waiting to get their vintage rides worked on.
Customizing the car is a process. Months of rebuilding usually take place before these mechanics even think about paint. Another aspect of car customization is the modifications. Switch Suspension offers a variety of alterations including some that have been manufactured in-house.
Square Tank is an additional company Mr. Mcatee has built from the ground up. It is a business that focuses on manufacturing composite air tanks as car suspension modifications. It is another way for customers to order more specific service parts.
Switch Suspension has grown tremendously as a company.
Mr. Mcatee continues to climb the ranks in Arizona’s notorious car club communities. With passion and perseverance, he has created a reputation that goes beyond vintage vehicles.
Editor’s note: Ms. Clark is a journalism student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
