Advance Oil Technologies

VILLERS ENTERPRISES COMPANY HISTORY

Villers Enterprises Company History

Since 1975

Villers Enterprises began with Jim, Edie Villers, and their son Mike. Edie performed the administrative duties with bookkeeping while Jim and Mike focused on developing new sales, new AMSOIL dealers, attending race events like the Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Road America Race Track, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, attending trade shows of all kinds and breaking ground into regional trade shows like the Chicago Auto Show which at the time was billed as the third largest in the world was the first show of its type where AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants introduced to the world.

In 1977, Jim Villers dedicated himself full-time to Villers Enterprises and AMSOIL. Villers Enterprises quickly became one of the top ten AMSOIL Direct Jobbers in the United States. Jim and Edie established themselves as pioneers in AMSOIL Business Development, Selling, Marketing, Training, and Technical Support. Jim Villers also served on the AMSOIL Direct Jobber advisory board.

We want all of our dealers, jobbers, preferred customers, retailers, commercial accounts, and AMSOIL Corporate to know that throughout the years, we thank you, are grateful, and appreciate your business and dedication to AMSOIL. We look forward to continuing working with our dealers, jobbers, and customers. Let's meet in person or by phone soon. Let's work together to help you build your future AMSOIL businesses while sharing this unique opportunity and the best-in-class synthetic lubricants in the world with our customers.

My contact info is 802.327.4042, or email me at mike@advanceoiltech.com

Articles published in AMSOIL magazine - about Villers Enterprises

Meet Mike Villers – The youngest AMSOIL Direct Jobber-Reprinted from AMSOIL Pipeline June 1977.

Ever wonder how people become Direct Jobbers in their 60s or 40s? Would you believe a 20-year-old? How about starting on a pedal Bicycle? "Anything's possible if you want something bad enough," says Mike Villers. He invested $400.00 into his transportation choice, a bicycle, and lightweight camp gear. "It's all I could afford; I put that on a credit card. I could talk to people and distribute much literature this way. I didn't eat much, slept outside, and said 100 thank you's to gas station operators who let me wash up, shave, etc.

According to Mike's parents, Edie and Jim Villers, Direct Jobbers from Racine, Wisconsin, that's not the beginning. According to Jim, the start of this success story was the end of another beginning. "While working at Racine Steel, Mike decided there were too many 3 generation families, not counting Uncles, Cousins, Aunts, and Nephews working at Racine Steel. Mike feared the trap play and decided to get out while the getting was good. Mike decided there had to be something better and asked about becoming an AMSOIL Dealer.

"According to Edie, that question was the beginning of Mike's future. We encouraged him by asking about it. Why Not? On that night, the Villers Enterprise Whynot Club was born.When freezing temperatures forced Mike's transportation into storage, he adopted the world's least expensive transportation system, put on his backpack, and began hitching rides. He seemed to "just happen to have" some extra literature, knowledge, concern for the energy situation, and ample enthusiasm for AMSOIL.

Sales picked up, and deliveries were made by "sweet-talking" Mama Edie out of her car. Translated, he grabbed the car keys before she had her second cup of coffee.On his way to qualifying as a Direct Dealer in November 1976 — Mike attended several meetings sponsored by AMSOIL, visited with Direct Jobbers in Minneapolis, and looked upon his Dad's long extemporaneous speeches as a cafeteria.

Mike bought his own '76 Subaru Wagon. Now, he was the Master of his own Destiny. He had his wheels and a new kind of independence. "No more excuses," he told himself as he proceeded to qualify in December, his second month.In January, he qualified as a direct jobber and was the first to break off the Villers line. "What a way to become independent, says Mike. After following up on leads from the Chicago Auto Show, to be visited by 1,000,000 people in ten days. Mike says, "I'm off to California. My blood will maintain a stable viscosity, and so will my attitude."

Ask Mike what he thinks about being in business for himself. You'd better be prepared for 3-4 hours of conversation. According to his folks-it will take him this long to tell you how much he's learned about people, the Free Enterprise System, and the fact that America still offers the opportunity to fall down and still get up to, change careers, and get run off the road into a ditch on your home away from home, called a Bicycle.

Mike's Dad recounts, "We believed Mike could succeed at 21 when only a few years ago, a young person wasn't even a legal adult' till that age. However, we've changed our minds because Mike's behavior and attitude proved that he came of age long ago, possibly when he decided to leave the steel business and strike out on his own."

Mike now has at least 30 dealers in his group., CALIFORNIA! If you ask Mike, he will tell you that the AMSOIL Opportunity will put him one step closer to new energy sources, Space Travel, and Pyramid Power. It may not be all Buck Rogers's stuff. Jules Verne is probably rolling over in his cloud, shouting, "They've finally gotten it together. We got to Amatuzio, and he's revolutionized the lubrication industry for at least one small part of Planet Earth." Who knows what tomorrow may bring? Ask Mike Villers sometime; he's got some ideas.

VILLERS HISTORY OF RACING - A TRIBUTE TO JIM, EDIE AND MIKE VILLERS, FOUNDERS OF VILLERS ENTERPRISES.

One of Mike's dealers, Dave Hansen from Racine, Wisconsin, raced Supervees using a Bertels air-cooled motor. Dave raced in the SCCA throughout the region as a hobby. Mike met Dave at a trade show in Racine, Wisconsin. Dave initially inquired about AMSOIL 75-90 gear lube for his differential in the Supervee. Dave is an engineer by profession.

Dave was impressed by how the gear lube gave him more power to the track. Dave invited Mike to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, to begin seeing firsthand what racing was all about in the SCCA. Mike handed out literature at the race track made by Villers Enterprises and approved by AMSOIL for distribution. Mike generated a lot of interest in the early days. Dave came over to Jim and Edie's home one time. He suggested we contact Dave Watson, an up-and-coming stock car driver from the Milton, Wisconsin, area.

Villers Enterprises continued to advertise in the local newspapers. They found out about advertising in the Milwaukee Mile Race track race program. The advertising in the race program allowed Jim, Edie, and Mike to get paddock passes to the pit area.

At an Indy car race at the Milwaukee Mile, Jim and Mike Villers displayed AMSOIL products in the pit area. Mike Villers was speaking to a gentleman who had stopped by to visit to learn more about the many benefits of AMSOIL products. His name is Harold Hollenagel. Thanks to Harold after hearing Mike discuss the benefits of AMSOIL. Harold suggested that Mike follow up with a childhood friend. Harold wrote the name and address on paper and told Mike to write a letter using his name as an introduction. Mike looked at the paper, and his mouth dropped to the ground. Mike said, "Wow, you know Bobby Unser"? Harold said yes, "Bobby and I go way back. We are childhood friends. When Bobby is in town, our families always get together at the race track". Mike then handed the information over to (Dad) Jim Villers.

The rest is history. Here is the result of the relationship between Bobby Unser, Villers Enterprises, and AMSOIL. Jim and Edie Villers introduced Bobby to the high-performance world of AMSOIL synthetic lubricants. Jim, Edie, AMSOIL, and Bobby Unser developed a quiet, long-term relationship for approximately seven years.

In another stock car race at the Milwaukee Mile, Dave Watson stopped by the AMSOIL van to see if he could get some AMSOIL Synthetic Gear Lube. Jim gave Dave Watson a 2.5-gallon container to fill his gearboxes before the race. Jim afterward went up to the grandstands to watch the race when an announcement came over the public address system. Would Jim Villers from AMSOIL come to car #37 in the pit area? Jim heard the announcement and walked down to see what Dave Watson needed. Dave asked Jim if he wanted to place some AMSOIL stickers on his car before the race started. The relationship was just getting started.

Later the following week or so, Jim contacted Dave Watson by phone to discuss sponsorship. Dave was initially under the impression that Jim was going to sponsor Dave in his racing efforts. Dave, Gladys, and his crew Chief met with Jim, Edie, and Mike. After the meeting, Dave Watson was sponsored by Jim and Edie Villers, but not for racing. Dave became an AMSOIL Dealer. That began another long-term relationship for Villers Enterprises and Dave and Gladys Watson. Through coordination with AMSOIL Corporation and Jim Villers, Dave got his sponsorship from AMSOIL. It helped Dave catapult his racing career. One of the racing events that AMSOIL sponsored was at the Milwaukee Mile. Dave went on to become rookie of the year.

Villers Enterprises introduced and helped sponsor 12 race teams during the late 1970s and early 1980s.From Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser, AL Unser Jr., who was racing Can-Am at the time, Dave Watson, ASA rookie of the year, Olav Aaen snowmobile racing legend to Dick Rutan Experimental Air Craft designer who developed a race plane Dan Mortenson flew for AMSOIL. Other teams included many SCCA enthusiasts, including a Formula 2 racer and automotive engineer.

Due to their pioneering spirit, Jim Edie and Mike Villers introduced AMSOIL synthetic lubricants to racing legends in America.

Villers Enterprises (now Advance Oil Technologies) was founded in 1975. We look forward to continuing working with our jobbers, dealers, retailers, commercial accounts, and customers to assist in building your AMSOIL businesses. We want to thank all of you for your dedication and support.

We provide custom lubrication solutions to all types of customers. From families to trucking fleets, we have the products and expertise to help you save time and money. We serve customers across North America, and we are always happy to help in any way we can.

Contact us for more information on AMSOIL products and for help determining which products you need or to place an order for. You can also order online.My contact info is 802.327.4042, or email me at mike@advanceoiltech.com

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