• Home:
• News:
• Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting:

Entrepreneur Realizes American Dream of Business Ownership

By: Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting |  1 Shares     363 Reads

Maaco Shop in Mansfield Texas participates in RWB Porsche Project with Famous Japanese Car Tuner Akira Nakai

June 14, 2019 // Franchising.com // CHARLOTTE - Robert Reid always aspired to owning his own business.

Reid moved to the U.S. from Jamaica when he was 18 years old to attend college. Passionate about cars from a very young age, he worked as a helper in a body shop while earning his degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Reid spent 14 years in corporate America developing skills in managing manufacturing operations and driving continuous improvement - first in the automotive industry and then in consumer products. He held various roles of increasing responsibility including production manager, plant manager, and manufacturing and performance director.

But entrepreneurship was always on his mind - and in his blood. Both his mother and father were small business owners - with his mother being hands on while his father spent most of his career in corporate roles. At the age of 36, Reid found himself in the perfect position to start a business. He put his corporate career behind him and followed his dream of being a business owner and his passion for all things automotive.

“When I looked at franchise opportunities in the automotive space, I found that Maaco fit my criteria for the type of business I wanted to own and the financial potential I wanted to achieve” said Reid, owner of the Maaco location in Mansfield, TX, which opened in February 2017.

In his second year in business, Reid nearly doubled his output in 2018. He’s well on his way to another significant increase in 2019. Reid cites Maaco University, the company’s training program, and tons of support from many of the existing franchisees as instrumental to his success.

“Maaco U is a solid training program,” said Reid. “From the pre-opening training you receive in Charlotte to the ongoing training for technicians, you can really learn a great deal.”

As part of his growth strategy, Reid wants to be sure that his shop is known for more than just economical paint jobs. Last year, his shop participated in a project with a famous Japanese car tuner Akira Nakai, who specializes in design and modification of Porsche 911 models. A close friend of Reid chose him and his Maaco team to paint the RWB and facilitate the project in Dallas.

“Painting the RWB Porsche was a great opportunity, and it fits with my strategy of proving we are capable of performing the highest levels of work. It is not our core business but we don’t ever want to be discredited for a lack of capability,” noted Reid. “The Maaco economics and national position with fleet business have also helped to fuel our rapid growth.”

Reid also stresses the importance of hiring good people. Two key members of his team are individuals with not only decades of experience working in collision shops but were also body shop owners in other states. These two gentlemen support the business in any area needed and help mentor the newer employees. One of these individuals is the painter that Reid worked for as a helper while attending college.

Reid is a great example of someone who has turned his passion for cars and his years of experience in corporate America into the perfect blend for entrepreneurial success.

To learn more about franchising opportunities with Maaco, visit www.franchisewithmaaco.com.

To watch a video of the RWB build process, and an interview with Reid at his Maaco center, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsJ4ENdk8ws

About Maaco

Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting, a member of the Driven Brands® portfolio, is America’s #1 Bodyshop. Maaco provides automotive paint and cosmetic repair services for nearly 500,000 drivers annually. With more than 500 independently owned and operated franchises across the United States and Canada, Maaco has restored the safety and appearance of more than 20 million vehicles over 47 years. Maaco has been named a top automotive franchise numerous times by Entrepreneur Magazine in its Annual Franchise 500 ranking. In addition to other honors, Maaco has been included on Franchise Times’ list of Top 200 franchises. For more information about Maaco, visit www.Maaco.com. For more information about franchising opportunities, visit www.Maaco.com/franchise-opportunities.

About Driven Brands

Driven Brands, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the parent company of North America’s leading automotive aftermarket brands across four distinct verticals: Repair & Maintenance, housing Meineke Car Care Centers®; Paint & Collision, housing Maaco® and CARSTAR North America®; Distribution, housing 1-800-Radiator & A/C®; and Quick Lube, housing Take 5 Oil Change. Driven Brands has more than 2,500 centers across North America, and combined, all businesses generate more than $2.6 billion in system sales and service approximately 8 million vehicles annually. For more information, visit drivenbrands.com.

SOURCE Maaco

###

Comments:

comments powered by Disqus