Honest-1 Featured on ABCNewspapers.com

Honest-1 was recently featured on ABCNewspapers.com in an article titled, "Honest-1 Auto Care business in Blaine expanding".

The article discusses the success of the location in Blaine, Minnesota and why owner Evan Staples decided to open a secondary business in the auto-care industry.  As a semi-absentee business owner, Evan discusses his background in finance and how opening Honest-1 has been a rewarding and lucrative opportunity for him and his family. 

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

Honest-1 Auto Care business in Blaine expanding

By: Eric Hagen

The business owner overseeing the expansion of the Honest-1 Auto Care facility in Blaine on University Avenue has very diverse experiences so he can better support his family.

Evan Staples of Brooklyn Park continues to work full-time helping people invest in mutual funds at Nuveen Investments, but he chose to purchase the Honest-1 Auto Care business at 10705 University Ave. NE Feb. 20, 2012 because he wanted another stable income to support his family. His wife Jessica and he have an 18-month-old daughter, Brynn, and another baby is on the way.

Franchisee Spotlight: Erik Rhyne

Erik Rhyne, age 30, was born and raised in Greensboro and had high hopes of becoming a NASCAR Race official. After graduating high school, Rhyne went to NASCAR Technical Institute and graduated in 2006 at the top of his class. BMW corporate saw Rhyne’s potential and recruited him to train as a master technician on scholarship in Roanoke, VA.  After graduating, Rhyne worked at various auto bodies as a master technician, and then received a call from his mother who sat next to Rissy Sutherland, president of Honest-1, on a flight. Rhyne moved back to his hometown of Greensboro and opened his own Honest-1 AutoCare at the age of 29.

How did you learn about the brand?

My mom was on a flight and happened to have a seat next to Rissy Sutherland, the president of Honest-1. They began talking and my mom told her I was a mechanic and Rissy provided more information about the franchise. She said the Greensboro location was open and it’s the first and only Honest-1 in the state of North Carolina.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Honest-1 Auto Care?

I love auto repair and my wife and I are very eco-friendly, which Honest-1 spotlights. I don’t want to do anything just to generate profit; I want to be proud of my work on a daily basis. Their environment was comforting to me. They have everything I require.  

What makes your business unique in the community?

There are plenty of automotive repair shops in the area but we are clean, attractive, and nice. The eco-friendly services we offer are very unique and the fact that we can give people a pleasant experience in a stereotypically unpleasant business speaks volumes about the brand.

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

We partner with Wheels for Hope where we repair donated cars and sell them to needy families at an extremely low cost. We donate our labor and parts at no cost. We are also well connected with the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. We work closely with students with autism or Asperger’s who work in the auto shop and learn how automotive repair works. I give my employees PTO to volunteer in the community, which isn't a norm for most businesses.

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

Being in management as a young person is something I've had to learn how to do. During the recession, it was also difficult to get a bank on board, and in addition to having two young kids and working full- time, my experiences have definitely been challenging.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Honest-1 Auto Care?

We would like to open more locations in Greensboro and the surrounding area within the next 2-3 years.

Honest-1 Auto Care Named 2013 Military Friendly Franchise ®

Honest-1 Auto Care was ranked in the top 10 percent of all franchises nationwide and named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise® by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs.

Honest-1 Auto Care the only national full-service auto repair and maintenance franchise that is 100 percent ESA® Certified Eco-Friendly, honors military veterans by offering service members a discount of more than 15 percent off the franchise fee for qualified military veterans from any branch of the military service. This program helps military veterans make an easier transition to civilian life by using their background and training to launch a new civilian career. With a dedication to servicemen and servicewomen, Honest-1 Auto Care looks to our nation’s heroes to help grow their business.

“There should be much gratitude given to our veterans and current men and women in the armed forces,” said Chip Baranowski, Vice President of Franchise Development for Honest-1 Auto Care. “For the sacrifices they make and dedication they show on a daily basis, Honest-1 offers incentive initiatives to give back to servicemen and servicewomen. Their willingness to learn, honor and exceptional work-ethic makes them ideal candidates for any franchise system, and especially for Honest-1.”

Being selected as a Military Friendly Franchise^® places Honest-1Auto Care in an elite group and is testimony to Honest-1’s commitment to supporting military veterans interested in franchise opportunities.

“One in four returning service members indicate interest in owning their own business,” said Sean Collins, director for G.I. Jobs.  “Franchises are a perfect fit for service members, who bring unparalleled operational skill sets and work ethic but are often unclear how to start a business.” 

The 2013 Military Friendly Franchises^® list was compiled via a data-driven survey overseen by an advisory board of industry experts. The survey results list were independently tested by Ernst & Young based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media.

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.

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.  

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."

Caring for Your Car

Let's be honest: cars are as much work as kids. The difference is, you can leave your car in the garage and forget about it.

We said your CAR.

We've all been there, driving around with the engine light on, assuring ourselves it's not serious. Then, the engine light goes off and we live in fear that maybe it was serious and the car is simply daring you to keep driving. But from check-ups to oil changes to rotations, the time and the money seem like too much to put in for something that seems to be doing its job just fine. Shut the garage door and forget about it.

WAIT!

The repercussions of ignoring your car could be creeping up on you faster than you think. In fact, you could even be voiding your cars warranty without knowing it. AOL Autos released this list of the top ten WORST things you can do to your car.

Click HERE for the full article, or begin reading below:

Top Ten Worst Things You Can Do To Your Car

Don't put off your car's routine maintenance

By: Michael Zak

Getting an oil change is a pain, whether you do it yourself or have it done professionally. You have to take time out of your day, pay for it and, if you're at a lube shop, often endure a stream of questions and accusations that make you feel like a worse car owner than Tommy Callahan.

But it's just this type of annoying, small maintenance procedure that can prevent some seriously pricey repairs in the future.

According to a recent study by CarMD.com, which polled professional mechanics, putting off oil changes is one of the top ten worst things that you can do to your car. Along with neglecting other small repairs, such as replacing the air filter, small issues can snowball into much bigger problems -- like engine failure -- and huge repair bills in the future.