News Summary

• Lucas Philips grew up watching his father do something increasingly rare among his generation: own a small business outright.
• At 26, he decided to do the same — acquiring a niche manufacturer of custom automotive interiors in Newark, N.J.
• Since acquiring Newark Auto, Philips has pushed annual revenue from "a little over a million" at purchase to more than $3 million this year.
• He's done it with bolt-on acquisitions, long commutes, and a roster of hourly workers who have never seen the perks of startup life.