Open for Business: Haldane Custom Paint & Body Inc.

Address: At the intersection of state Route 26 and the Milledgeville Blacktop in Polo.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; towing services available 24/7.

Contact: haldanecustompaintandbody@gmail.com; 815-946-3272; 815-946-3284 (fax).

Website: www.haldanecustom.com

What do you do? We offer a wide array of services, from collision repairs, motorcycle painting, agriculture-related painting, large trucks – anything we can fit into the paint booth. We also provide full vehicle detailing, oil changes, tire rotation, tractor restoration, sandblasting and towing.

What’s new? Haldane Custom Paint & Body Inc. has been in business since 2004. We opened the new shop in Polo in September, but all auto body repair, tractor restoration and sandblasting take place at the Haldane shop.

What makes your business special? We are committed to providing high-quality, competitive pricing and a higher level of customer service that people may not be accustomed to. We work closely with our customers and their insurance companies to guarantee repairs are done correctly and promptly. We have Galaxy frame-straightening equipment and a computerized color-mixing system to match the exact color of the vehicle.

We also have a fleet of orange tow trucks: two flatbeds, one light-duty, one medium-duty and one heavy-duty truck.

Motto? “We go the extra mile ... because you did!”

How many do you employ? Five people. Our crew has more than 40 years of combined experience in auto body work and more than 5 years of detailing experience. We have two auto body technicians, Jim and Austin; a detailer, Ryan, and an office secretary, Shellie.

Tell us a little about yourself: I am TJ Graden, 34, the owner. I started my business out of my two-stall garage at home. I worked around the clock at my full-time job and a couple of part-time jobs to save enough money to buy the shop in Haldane. I’ve made small improvements to the facility and built a shed that houses the wreckers and a small paint booth. Opening the Polo shop was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

Shellie is my girlfriend, she handles the day-to-day office responsibilities.

My family moved to the Polo area when I was in sixth grade, and I graduated from Polo High School in 1996. I live in Haldane now. I enjoy spending my spare time with my son, Landon, who is 2, and with Shellie, and her son, Austin, who also is 2, and with family and friends. I also like riding motorcycles, listening to music and playing my guitar.

Any additional comments? I extend a special “thank-you” to all of my customers who have given me the opportunity to do business with them. I look forward to their continued business, and I look forward to serving new customers as well.