CHRISTIAN BROTHERS IS BUILDING NEW STORES NATIONWIDE, SECURE IN FAITH THAT NEW FRANCHISEES WILL EMERGE.
Christian Brothers Automotive, the fastest-growing auto repair franchise in America, is taking a new leap of faith. The company, which has more than 125 locations in 17 states, is in the midst of a major expansion that includes new locations in Wake Forest, Cary and Indian Trail, North Carolina; east and west Wichita, Kansas; Highland Point, Ohio; Ken Caryl and Broomfield, Colorado; and Louisville, Kentucky.
The unusual part? Many of the stores do not yet have franchisees. Instead, Christian Brothers is taking an “If we build it, they will come” approach to finding franchise partners. Josh Wall, who serves as vice president of franchise development for the auto repair franchise, says that the new growth strategy allows Christian Brothers to secure prime locations for stores and allows new franchisees to get started more quickly.
Building the stores involves a multimillion-dollar upfront investment from Christian Brothers, “but we are certain that entrepreneurs who see our facilities will understand why we’re so different from most of the auto industry,” Wall says.
Christian Brothers uses the slogan “the nice difference” to explain why customers flock to its stores. When you see a store, “the nice difference” is immediately clear: The waiting area is like the lobby of a hotel, and the auto repair bays are sparklingly clean. But what truly sets Christian Brothers apart — the ingredient that the company trusts will appear — is great people.
Christian Brothers Automotive looks for franchise partners who are committed to making the auto repair experience better for customers. That may mean helping customers prioritize repairs. It might also mean providing a complimentary ride to work, then picking them up when their car is ready. Customers have rewarded Christian Brothers with their loyalty, which helped power same-store sales growth of 10.8% in 2013 over 2012.
“I’m excited to bring Christian Brothers Automotive to more places, and give more entrepreneurs a chance to serve their neighbors,” says CEO Mark Carr, who started the first Christian Brothers Automotive in 1982 and began franchising in 1996. “I can’t wait to meet the wonderful people we’ll be working with.”
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Christian Brothers Automotive has been named the top automotive franchise for three years in a row by Franchise Business Review, which tracks franchisee satisfaction. You can read several of their stories on our blog. To learn more, visit our Why Franchise pages or fill out a form to start a conversation. We look forward to talking with you!
