Hundreds rally around local operator, drowning out protesters and solidifying his place in the community.
CHARLOTTE, NC - While the public backlash from the BP gulf oil spill has had a profound effect on many BP franchisees, The Street offered a look at one Charlotte operator, Ron Rybacki, whose loyal customers have rallied around him.
Like other BP franchisees after the oil spill, Rybacki's station was targeted by protesters in June, an event that received significant coverage by Charlotte media.
However, in response to the protesters, Rybacki's customers rallied in his defense. During the day of the protest demonstration, as many as 200 people supported Rybacki by purchasing gas, with a few staging a counter demonstration. And since then, his repair business has increased roughly 10 percent over the same period as a year ago (though his fuel sales have been flat).
Rybacki offers praise for BP, which he said has stood by him, sending him regular updates and reducing its interest rate on credit card purchases. And as for his customers, they have recognized that he's a small business owner trying to just make a living.
"Our customers have been incredible," he said. "They don't want to see me get hurt. When they thought I was hurting, they were willing to have things done automotively that they didn't need ?" some of them had me put on tires they didn't need.
"Now I realize how much the neighborhood means to me," he said. "I understand there are a lot of people who realize that I sell the product, but I had nothing to do with the oil spill."
Rybacki said while he has lost some business since the spill, most locals offer support for him, as they would any popular neighborhood business.
"It's not his fault what happened," said Cory Smith, a local plumber. "He's just a businessman trying to make it."
Added neighborhood resident Margaret Ford: "I don't care about BP ?" we would not go anywhere else. Ron takes care of all our cars. My kids even call him from Chapel Hill when they have problems."
Rybacki's fortunes stand in sharp contrast to other BP operators. OPIS and the New York Times reported that BP sales fell up to 30 percent early in the crisis before flattening to an average decline of 5 percent.
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