Diesel Auto Power (DAP) is a Utah-based diesel performance parts retailer and distributor serving professional mechanics, dealers, and retail customers nationwide. Founded by Jacob Kidd, DAP has grown from a garage startup into a multi-channel operation approaching $10 million in annual revenue—driven by one core advantage: inventory availability.

With Fishbowl at the center of its operations, Diesel Auto Power uses real-time inventory visibility to win business competitors can’t fulfill, support complex drop-ship workflows, and even supply inventory back up the manufacturing supply chain.

From Garage Startup to National Operation

Diesel Auto Power was born out of firsthand frustration. After breaking down in Northern California and waiting four days for a dealership part—at a premium price—Jacob Kidd decided there had to be a better way.

What began in Jacob’s home, garage, and basement steadily grew into a full warehouse operation. As demand increased, the business outgrew a 1,500-square-foot retail space and expanded into a warehouse nearly ten times larger, supporting both wholesale and retail customers across the country.

From the start, the business was built by operators. Jacob’s competitive edge wasn’t analytics dashboards—it was deep, practical knowledge of parts, availability, and how to get customers back on the road fast. As the company scaled, that institutional knowledge needed to be systematized.

The Challenge

While Diesel Auto Power operates primarily online, its customers—especially professional mechanics—still value personal relationships. Approximately 95% of orders come through phone or internet, with roughly half placed by phone. The business maintains an even 50/50 split between wholesale and retail.

This hybrid sales model requires accurate, real-time inventory visibility to ensure the sales team can confidently promise availability—without slowing fulfillment. The team needed clear answers: What is physically on hand? What is available through trusted vendors? What can be fulfilled immediately without breaking customer trust?

Adding complexity, DAP’s inventory ecosystem includes internal warehouse stock, component inventory pending build or kitting, drop-shipped items sourced from approximately 40 vendors, and external supplier inventory used to supplement availability. With 30–50% of items drop shipped, tight coordination between purchasing, vendors, and customer expectations is essential.

The Solution

Fishbowl provides the foundation for inventory confidence across all channels. The team can manage complexity without losing control of accuracy or margins—whether fulfilling from internal stock or coordinating drop-ship workflows with dozens of vendors.

As the operation matured, DAP partnered with Jeps Consulting to extend Fishbowl’s value beyond internal operations. Jeps Consulting customized inventory data feeds from Fishbowl, publishing accurate availability to DAP’s vendor and dealer network. This integration ensures “in stock” reflects real, actionable inventory—not assumptions—reinforcing trust with dealers and partners.

The Results

In a market shaped by supply-chain volatility and just-in-time manufacturing constraints, Diesel Auto Power leaned into a simple strategy: be in stock when others aren’t.

  • Nearly $10 million in annual revenue driven by inventory-first growth
  • $100,000+ in captured orders when competitors run out of stock
  • $1–$2 million in new revenue from selling inventory back up the supply chain to manufacturers
  • Stronger supplier relationships with preferential treatment, better pricing, and early access to overstock opportunities

When competitors run out of parts, distributors and manufacturers now turn to DAP to fulfill demand. This shift has transformed Diesel Auto Power from a customer into a trusted partner—unlocking new revenue streams and competitive advantages that compound over time.