Honest-1 Hosts Annual Conference

Honest-1 Auto Care was excited to kick off their Annual Conference this week. Franchise owners and Regional Developers from across the country came together to share best practices to ensure their customers have an even better Honest-1 experience in the coming year. The conference was held at the Carefree Resort & Conference Center in Carefree, Arizona. The week featured many amazing speakers, great rounds of golf, and an exciting casino night full of winners. 

Check out some of the photos from the festivities:

Work hard, play hard.

Careful!

Hoping to win big!

Mark Porcelli was the big winner of casino night!

Our vote for Best Dressed at the Cowboy Dinner: Kristin Steward 

Rissy is a real cowgirl!

Attendees paying close attention

Tod Swet, Mike Still, Rick Sage, Jack Keilt, Chip Baranowski, Rissy Sutherland, and Braden Poole

Franchisee Spotlight: Tracy and Kristin Steward

Originally from Arkansas, Tracy graduated from Hendrix College with a degree in Business and Economics followed by attending the University of Central Arkansas where he graduated with an MBA. After graduating, he moved to Phoenix in 1993 to take a job with FHP Healthcare, later purchased by PacifiCare Health Systems and finally by United Healthcare. He stayed there for 17 years, eventually becoming the director of the provider contract loading department managing 150-plus employees.  His wife, Kristin, originally from Pennsylvania, graduated with a degree in psychology from Hendrix College in Arkansas and later went on to get her Elementary Education Teacher Certificate and Masters in Education. She currently runs an in-home pre-school. 

How did you learn about the brand?

After working for United Healthcare I was looking for new opportunities and I met with a franchise consultant. I looked at a number of different concepts ranging from temporary agencies  to senior care but working in the auto industry really fascinated me.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Honest-1?

We ended up choosing Honest-1 for a number of reasons. Coming from the healthcare industry I had a deep root in service and helping people; Honest-1’s system and their eco-friendly approach to the industry was very intriguing. The most important thing we liked about this model is the relationship building and the fact that we have a physical location so we can be a focal point in the community.

What makes your business unique in the community?

The reality is that we stick to our morals and we’re always honest whether the situation is good or bad.  We strive to be open and honest with our customers so they are never surprised. We help our customers make a plan so they are prepared for any issues with their vehicles.  Respect in this industry for the customer and their car is important to us. In order to build long standing relationships with our customers we seek to earn that respect through everything we do. 

Are you involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?

We feel very strongly that giving back to our community is not an option but a responsibility. Personally, I enjoy being a part of Cub Scouts with my boys. I am the treasurer of our local Cub Scout pack and Pinewood Derby Committee Leader. Unofficially, we’ve partnered with several community organizations with several donation drives including Arizona Helping Hands, Packages From Home and the Susan G. Komen Foundation and like being active with them.  We also do a pretty prominent pajama and children’s book drive through the Pajama Program and have given away discounts to veterans for Memorial Day in the past.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

One of the greatest advantages of purchasing the shop was that I came in with some really great employees and recently have had added to that; to us the most important thing is having the right people doing the right things so that we can continue to build relationships with our customers.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Honest1?

I have plans to open another shop by 2014 and our end goal is to be the go-to auto care solution in the community.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

My wife, Kristin, and I have four children and our family is our true passion.

Honest-1 Auto Care Featured in Indianapolis Business Journal

Honest-1 Auto Care was recently featured in the Indianapolis Business Journal in an article titled, "Honest-1 Auto Care Celebrates April Car Care Month with Free Safety Inspection and Seasonal Tips". 

The piece is part of Honest-1's effort to raise awareness of National Auto Care month during April, along with their offer of free safety inspections. The feature gives car owners tips on how to ensure their car stays in its best working condition, especially since recent trends have shown owners are keeping their automobiles on the road longer than ever. Form simple tips like keeping your tires properly inflated to proper acceleration techniques, this is a must-read for any driver. 

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

Honest-1 Auto Care Celebrates April Car Care Month with Free Safety Inspection and Seasonal Tips

April marks National Car Care Month, and with spring entering full bloom, for safety and operation purposes, it is important to make sure your vehicle looks the part for the season. To gear up for the open road, Honest-1 Auto Care (Honest-1), one of the only national full-service auto care company that is 100 percent ESA(R) Certified Eco-Friendly, is offering expert tips for recommended maintenance every car owner can benefit from, based on the auto company's strategic approach to car care.

"With spring underway and the promise of warmer weather, we know our customers will have the itch to hit the road for those dream routes of leisure and exploration," said Rissy Sutherland, COO of Honest-1 Auto Care. "That's why for National Car Care Month, we encourage everyone to come into the shop to receive a free safety inspection. We also encourage our customers to 'like' us on Facebook to learn additional car care tips."

Honest-1 Featured in Star Tribune

Honest-1 was recently featured in the Star Tribune in an article titled, "On the Job with Terry Mary". 

The article discusses Terry’s background and his career path from his beginnings as an automotive technician to now, where he is shop foreman at Honest-1 Auto Care in Cottage Grove, MN.  The article discusses how there will be 120,000 automotive technician jobs available next year.  The article also discusses what the industry has to offer, the changes seen in the field, and Terry’s favorite part of the job.

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

On the Job with Terry May

By: Laura French

“My dad bought a ’63 Ford Fairlane in 1973, and the thermostat needed to be changed. At age 13, I was told to give it a shot.” That was the beginning of Terry May’s career as an automotive technician.

May’s first paying job was at age 16, in the small garage in Roberts, Wisconsin. Then he honed his skills as a jet engine mechanic in the U.S. Air Force for four years. When he came out of the military, he went back into automotive repair. “I’m pretty much self-taught,” he said. “I took a lot of night classes. I got the CERTITECH certification from Amoco. I went to foreign car schools.”

Honest-1 Featured on DigitalJournal.com

Honest-1 Auto Care was recently featured on DigitalJournal.com in an article titled, "Honest-1 Auto Care Celebrates April Car Care Month with Free Safety Inspection and Seasonal Tips". The article features professional car care advice from Honest-1 experts, and touches upon Honest-1's offer of free inspections to help keep drivers safe and ensure their vehicles are up to date on all maintenance issues.

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

Honest-1 Auto Care Celebrates April Car Care Month with Free Safety Inspection and Seasonal Tips

April marks National Car Care Month, and with spring entering full bloom, for safety and operation purposes, it is important to make sure your vehicle looks the part for the season. To gear up for the open road, Honest-1 Auto Care (Honest-1), one of the only national full-service auto care company that is 100 percent ESA® Certified Eco-Friendly, is offering expert tips for recommended maintenance every car owner can benefit from, based on the auto company’s strategic approach to car care.

“With spring underway and the promise of warmer weather, we know our customers will have the itch to hit the road for those dream routes of leisure and exploration,” said Rissy Sutherland, COO of Honest-1 Auto Care. “That’s why for National Car Care Month, we encourage everyone to come into the shop to receive a free safety inspection. We also encourage our customers to ‘like’ us on Facebook to learn additional car care tips.”

Honest-1 suggests the following tips to help car owners see their vehicles spring back to life.

Honest-1 Auto Care Revs Up its Industry Recognition with Respected Oil & Lube Magazine Ranking

Second Industry Award of 2013 Puts Growing Auto Care Chain in Center of Conversation of Lube Shops

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Honest-1 Auto Care (Honest-1), a national full-service auto care company that is 100 percent ESA® Certified Eco-Friendly, was named number 31 on Oil & Lube Magazine’s annual Tops In The Industry Rankings for 2013. The company increased five spots from their number 36 rank in 2012.

“We are thrilled to be chosen as one of Oil & Lube Magazine’s top oil change locations this year since our locations are constantly focusing on these cornerstone auto care jobs,” said Chip Baranowski, Vice President of Franchise Development for Honest-1 Auto Care. “While our mechanics are trained to handle most repairs, oil changes remain at the center of our 21-point inspection, or patented ECO 360 oil.”

Each year, the publication conducts an extensive research program to quantify and rank the top auto care changes in not only the nation, but internationally, as well. The rankings particularly looked at “fast lube” locations, or those organizations deriving much of their income from quick, convenient oil change services and other preventative car care maintenance. It also takes into account “plus” locations having dual profit centers, such as muffler shops, auto care shops and mass merchant retailers. Companies offering oil changes as simply an additional service, but not the prime focus, were left off the list.

In total, 54 fast lube change companies were selected and 57 oil change plus locations were selected, with Honest-1 being in the plus category for its diversity in maintenance offerings. Coming off the brand’s inclusion in the eighth annual Franchise Business Review’s 2013 Franchise Satisfaction Awards (FBR50), the only awards program to rank companies based solely on actual franchise satisfaction, this ranking helps position Honest-1 as a major player in the industry.

Aiming to fix the auto care customer experience, Honest-1 took the time to re-define how the entire experience should look and feel, from the customer service members at the front desk to the waiting areas and top-quality amenities available while customers wait. Honest-1 is not only the best option for all consumer bases, who need all scopes of service work, from basic oil changes to full transmission diagnostics and complete auto repair services, but one that any car owner would feel comfortable spending time in. Plus, Honest-1 utilizes technology to review repairs with their customers by showing the customer their vehicle and service issue in 3D interface to visually see their vehicle needs, and not just hear it from their customer service manager.

“We know the customer has a myriad of options to choose from for their auto care service,” said Rissy Sutherland, COO of Honest-1 Auto Care. “But we like to think that we ‘get’ our customer better than any other company in the segment. Not only will you feel fully confident in our auto care services, you will also be able to relax and get what you need to get done while we service your vehicle, making your experience much more efficient and satisfying.”

Honest-1 Auto Care plans to expand into markets around the country including, Phoenix, Atlanta, Nashville, Indianapolis, Miami, Orlando, Raleigh, Charlotte, Michigan, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Denver, and many others. For more information about Honest-1 franchising, visit www.h1franchise.com. 

To read the full article and findings, please click here: http://noln.epubxp.com/i/110840

Honest-1 Featured in Daytona Beach News-Journal

Honest-1 Auto Care was recently featured in the Daytona Beach News-Journal in an article titled, "Auto parts retailers, repair chains open more Volusia-Flagler locations".

The article discusses how automobile owners are keeping their cars longer than ever and how auto care shops are capitalizing on the trend, specifically in Volusia-Flagler area. Vice President of Franchise Development, Chip Baranowski, discusses how automobile owners are looking for alternatives to the dealerships and their expansion plans for Florida.

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

Auto parts retailers, repair chains open more Volusia-Flagler locations

By: Jeffrey Cassady 

Lean economy or no, automobile owners have to keep their vehicles in running order. And now that they're holding on to their vehicles longer, that often requires more than just the occasional oil change.

Auto care shops and parts stores are banking on that and are looking to expand in the Volusia-Flagler area.

"In this part of the country, it's almost a rite of passage to get a car when you're 16 or 17," said Marshall Reddy, president of FranNet Florida, a Jacksonville company that advises entrepreneurs looking to buy franchised businesses. "There are some (industries) that are recession-resistant . . . Auto care is one of them."