Brad Tibbs, the owner of Good Life Motors, has built his business from the ground up, transforming a car-flipping hobby into one of Idaho’s premier pre-owned truck dealerships. His journey into the automotive world began in 2006 when he initially planned on going into ministry. However, a pivot into business led him to discover that he could make a significant impact through his work. What started as a small operation of buying and selling cars in Boise quickly evolved into something much bigger. Craigslist played a big role in the early days with 2/3 of sales coming from Craigslist and the other 1/3 coming from repeat and referral customers. When the 2008 economic collapse hit, unemployment was 10%, and the price of gas doubled. Many families in the Valley were downsizing and getting into more affordable transportation; back in these days, Good Life Motors catered to this exact customer. While most dealerships were laying people off due to slow business, Brad was hiring like crazy to meet the demand of this demographic.
It only took seven years to max out the capacity of his first location at 4800 W Fairview Ave in Boise before they moved just down the street to 5300 W Fairview Ave, which allowed them to build a nice 3 bay auto shop and have room for twice the inventory. Seven more years passed, and having maxed out location #2, Brad purchased a spacious new location #3 in Nampa in 2020.
The 2+ acre location in Nampa (formerly Paul’s Market) was a perfect fit. Today, the dealership boasts one of the largest showrooms in the state, with a 22,000-square-foot showroom where the trucks (and the people) stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter! Separately, a full service 6,000-square-foot repair shop shares the same property.
In 2024 Brad hired his first ever General Manager, Targhee Swaner. Targhee's mission is to deliver a fantastic vehicle and a delightful experience to our customers 100% of the time. Having a dedicated GM on staff allows Brad to focus on big picture stuff, like building out the new Good Life Reconditioning Center, sourcing suppliers for the new MORAVIAN truck accessories department, and planning next year's epic Christmas party!
At the heart of Brad’s mission for Good Life Motors is a commitment to excellence and meaningful interactions. He strives to ensure the dealership isn’t just transactional but rather a place where customers feel valued and cared for. He's passionate about creating value in the marketplace by offering quality cars that have been meticulously serviced and detailed, ensuring every customer has a memorable experience and a trustworthy vehicle they can depend on.
For Brad, growth is the most exciting part of running Good Life Motors. Not just growth in himself as a leader, but also in his team members, their families well-being, and the company in general. His focus on continuous improvement has kept the dealership moving ahead through good and bad times. Beyond business, Brad constantly scheming magical moments and trips with his family. He is married to Jenelle and has three children: Carly, who is working as a real estate intern in Phoenix; Jonah, who homeschools with Brad and works part-time at Good Life Motors; and Jade, who loves bunnies, forts, and planning special outings. As a family, they love to travel and spent five summers in Ecuador from 2015 to 2019, working with Brad’s brother, who ran a mission there.
Brad's long-term vision for Good Life Motors is to continue growing the business while making a positive impact on the community. His goal for the dealership is to reach milestones that will enable them to give back and help transform the lives of others in need. At Good Life Motors, it's all about creating a win-win for customers, employees, and our community.