We were lucky to catch up with David Windsor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi David, thanks for joining us today. Finding those key vendors can often be make or break for a brand. Can you talk to us about how you found your key vendors?

In the automotive lighting space, vendors are abundant, particularly from countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, and China, where they often seek you out. From the start, my business partner and I agreed to focus on high-quality vendors to ensure we brought the best products to market and could demonstrate why our recommendations were superior.

One of my first key partnerships was with Dynamic Appearance (formerly Dynamic Sound), a standout lighting shop in North Georgia. Jay and his team were meticulous in identifying the best products from overseas manufacturers, offering multiple quality tiers to cater to different budgets. This approach taught me the importance of showcasing products on personal vehicles, sponsoring supportive friends, and providing heavy discounts to early adopters to build trust and interest.

Later, I partnered with The Retrofit Source, an Atlanta-based company with a stellar reputation and top-notch products under their Morimoto brand. Their quality far surpassed competitors when installed correctly, and as a vendor, I had access to a wide range of distributed products. This partnership even led to a role working directly with them after a major life event, deepening my industry experience.

Over time, I expanded into other vendors, including Megan Racing, BC Racing, DND Interior, and Avenue Performance, to diversify our offerings. A highlight was securing a partnership with Diode Dynamics, a U.S.-based lighting manufacturer renowned for listening to customer needs and delivering products that outperform higher-priced competitors. Looking back, I only wish I had partnered with them sooner.

Each of these relationships has shaped my business and reinforced the importance of quality, customer trust, and strategic partnerships in building a sustainable brand.

David, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been immersed in the automotive world for as long as I can remember. My passion turned into a career when I launched DropGearz Motorsports, an automotive lifestyle brand specializing in HID and LED lighting, custom suspension systems like coilovers, and aftermarket accessories. What started as a side hustle installing lighting for friends and fellow enthusiasts grew into a business where I could offer high-quality products and services that helped customers personalize their vehicles and stand out from the crowd.

Alongside DropGearz, I’ve expanded my reach in the automotive industry through multiple avenues. I’m currently a contributing writer for S3 Magazine, where I share my thoughts on everything from car culture to the latest automotive trends. Writing for S3 allows me to connect with like-minded enthusiasts and keep a pulse on the industry.

I also handle internet sales at Kaligna’s Auto Broker, my uncle’s dealership, which focuses on quality used luxury and imported vehicles. I enjoy working with customers to find the right vehicle that fits their needs, whether it’s a dream car or a reliable daily driver.

Balancing these ventures with my full-time day job as an Installation and Quality Control Manager at True Tracking LLC—a telematics and fleet safety company—keeps me busy but fulfilled. My work spans multiple facets of the automotive world, and I think what sets me apart is my deep passion for the industry, paired with a relentless drive to provide high-quality products, services, and insights.

What I’m most proud of is building connections with my clients, whether it’s helping them light up the road with DropGearz products, assisting them in finding the perfect vehicle, or sharing stories that resonate with enthusiasts through my writing. My ultimate goal is to inspire, educate, and serve those who share my love for all things automotive.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

Back in 2012, my friends and I (namely another awesome brand Stick N Wrap) took a big risk and launched the first No Love 4 Atlanta car show. The name itself was controversial—we called it that because at the time, Atlanta seemed to be overlooked by the major car show circuits. While we’d get events like Import Alliance, we weren’t seeing the likes of Hot Import Nights or other big names. So, instead of waiting, we decided to create something ourselves.

The first show was held on March 4, 2012 (I still remember the date!) at a pizza shop on Indian Trail. We had no idea what to expect—maybe a couple dozen cars if we were lucky. I even took a personal risk by having my dad make a batch of custom No Love 4 Atlanta t-shirts, completely out of pocket. To our surprise, the turnout was incredible—cars and people showed up in numbers we never anticipated. Sure, we had some critics, but we stayed focused on building something memorable. By the end of the day, I had just barely broken even, but the experience and momentum were priceless.

A year later, we held the second No Love 4 Atlanta car show at the same location, and it was a game-changer. We doubled down on the marketing—posters, banners, and, of course, more t-shirts—and the turnout blew us away. Not only did I make a decent profit that year, but we also solidified our brand recognition. People began associating us with quality events and a growing car culture scene.

From there, we branched into hosting weekly car meets all around “Atlanta” (really in places like Gwinnett, Alpharetta and Dekalb), often in collaboration with the forum Import Atlanta and company Dynamic Sound. There were nights where we had DropGearz Wednesdays, Thursdays, and more—so much so that enthusiasts always had something to look forward to. These events came with risks, especially when permits were required, but the reward was seeing people enjoy a space to connect and share their passion without worrying about getting kicked out (as long as everyone behaved, that is).

Ultimately, these events weren’t just about building our brand to make money or even the cars—they were about community. People recognized the work we put in, and that recognition often translated into brand loyalty and support . Looking back, taking that leap in 2012 was one of the best decisions we ever made.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I first started online marketing in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the game was very different. It was the early days of Facebook Pages, and organic growth was the only real option. Thankfully, I was already connected to a strong network of people through internet forums where I was an administrator. That gave me a bit of a head start in building an audience focused on the things I was passionate about—cars, builds, and the automotive community.

I grew my audience by consistently sharing high-quality photos of cars, including my own and others’. I always made sure to credit the original owners and photographers, which helped me build trust and goodwill within the community. When Instagram launched, I used the same approach—frequent, high-quality posts that resonated with enthusiasts.

One major turning point was when I partnered with another brand called Lower Class Love. As the other half of that brand, I helped grow its audience significantly, and we used that momentum to drive attention to DropGearz Motorsports. That cross-promotion was key to expanding our reach and getting more people interested in what we were doing.

However, around 2014–2015, organic growth started to decline as social media platforms shifted towards algorithm-driven feeds. Suddenly, it wasn’t enough to just post good content—you had to figure out how to work with the algorithms to get noticed. While it’s been a challenge, I’ve learned to adapt by staying consistent, experimenting with different types of content, and engaging with my audience as much as possible.

For anyone starting out, my advice is to focus on building a genuine community. Post consistently, credit your sources, and engage with your followers. Organic growth may be tougher now, but authenticity still wins in the long run. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new platforms or trends, but always stay true to your brand. And remember, building an audience is about quality, not just numbers. A loyal and engaged audience will always be more valuable than a large but disconnected one.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @dropgearzmotorsports @lowerclasslove @s3magazine @kalignasauto
• Facebook: Facebook.com/dropgearz, Facebook.com/lowerclasslove, facebook.com/s3magazine, facebook.com/kalignas

Image Credits
I took all of the photos and edited all as well.