10-05-2025
Riverside business takes magical approach to installing auto upholstery
RIVERSIDE — Codee Mixon, 27, has always wanted to have his own business, and with his Mixon Magic Auto and Marine Upholstery, at 221 Third St., Riverside, he has achieved that goal.
'I am an entrepreneur,' he said recently. 'I have always tried to find a way to make something profitable. As soon as I got into upholstery, I liked it. It seems like a straightforward type of business and from a back-end paperwork perspective, it looked very interesting to me.'
Mixon is from Chicago, but grew up and went to school in Las Vegas. About two years ago, Codee and his wife moved to Riverside.
A lot of Mixon's background is in film and TV production. 'While I was in school I did some marketing and advertising production for people,' he said. Otherwise, most of his experience is in car building.
In honing his upholstery skills he worked at a shop for free for three months just to learn the trade. Once he learned upholstery, it was 'time to do my own thing,' he said.
Mixon bought his first classic car to restore sometime in 2021-22. In doing so he worked with his father. 'My dad, does everything but upholstery. We built the car to the point where I wanted to complete it.'
Upholstering is probably the last thing he learned in building cars. 'I've done paint, body building, engine building, all the suspension building, fabrication. Everything.'
Upholstery is a business that is underserved, Mixon said. 'Everybody that is in the industry now is at retirement age, it seems. So when people come into my shop I hear that the customer has been looking for someone for a long time.'
'I can go anywhere and be successful at what I am doing,' he said.
Mixon established his Riverside shop in 2023. 'When I started it was slow and it took me four months to go from working part time at another shop to part-time in my shop and finally working full time in my shop.'
Mixon approached Bucknell's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for advice. 'With their help, I went to a bank looking for a small business loan to help my business move forward and expand. We drew up a business plan, a business proposal and from there I got the loan and worked with SBDC to do some advertising and get my website up.'
Ray Haden, SBDC business consultant helped Codee with crafting a business plan as well as making financial projections.
'Additionally,' Haden said, 'Codee received technical assistance and consulting in approaching a lender suitable for his needs. He also received additional support with the loan application process. Ultimately, through these efforts, he was able to secure monies through the Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce to help with his working capital and equipment needs.'
Mixon Magic does upholstery in many ways but mostly as it pertains to vehicles,' Mixon said. 'Cars, motorcycles, trucks, anything from customization to simple repairs. Vinyl work, leather, cloth, whatever people want.'
What's it like having his own business? 'It's always been my dream. 'I am at my easiest point in my entrepreneurial journey I am finally in a place where I have a business that is running.'
