Mighty Auto Parts Celebrates 50 Years of Franchising

By: Josh D’Agostino | 6,010 Reads | 6 Shares

Featured in: Franchise Update Magazine: Issue 3, 2020

%3Cp%3EThere%26rsquo%3Bs+a+little-known+franchisor+called+Mighty+Distributing+System+celebrating+a+significant+milestone+in+2020%3A+50+years+of+franchising%21+Mighty+Auto+Parts%2C+as+our+distributors+are+known%2C+started+in+1963+and+began+offering+franchises+in+1970.+Most+franchise+organizations+are+retail-focused%2C+but+we+are+a+bit+unique+in+that+we+are+100%25+focused+on+the+wholesale+distribution+of+auto+parts%2C+chemicals%2C+and+supplies.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EProviding+a+successful+franchise+opportunity+is+hard+work.+Today%2C+you+often+read+about+franchise+systems+rebranding+or+revising+their+business+model.+During+the+past+50+years%2C+we%26rsquo%3Bve+also+had+to+adapt+to+a+changing+marketplace+to+remain+relevant.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EMighty+started+as+a+route+sales+business+in+Washington%2C+D.C.+We+had+a+handful+of+distributors+who+supplied+tire+repair+and+ignition+products+to+service+stations+from+step+vans+referred+to+as+%26ldquo%3Bwarehouses+on+wheels.%26rdquo%3B+Salespeople+were+added+as+we+quickly+uncovered+the+significant+need+for+shop+owners+to+stock+the+right+mix+of+replacement+products.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EBy+the+late+1960s%2C+the+emerging+growth+strategy+of+franchising+caught+the+attention+of+the+company%26rsquo%3Bs+founders.+The+first+franchise+was+awarded+in+1970.+Just+as+we+do+today%2C+Mighty+awarded+franchise+licenses+for+exclusive+distribution+territories.+Early+franchisees%2C+often+aided+by+family+members%2C+did+it+all%3A+purchasing%2C+sales%2C+inventory+changeovers%2C+delivery%2C+customer+service%26hellip%3B+everything.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EOne+of+our+most+successful+franchises+was+established+in+Louisiana+in+1974+by+the+late+Jerry+Lemons+and+his+wife+Sharman.+Today%2C+their+son+Shannon+continues+to+operate+one+of+our+highest-volume+franchises.+Reflecting+on+their+success+and+longevity%2C+Shannon+recently+said%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%26ldquo%3BMy+parents+established+one+of+the+first+Mighty+franchises.+Not+only+does+Mighty+provide+great+product+programs%2C+but+more+importantly%2C+they+provide+tremendous+support.+This+partnership%2C+based+on+the+core+values+of+honesty+and+integrity%2C+has+enabled+us+to+build+a+multimillion-dollar+business+employing+27+people+and+serving+hundreds+of+automotive+businesses+in+three+states.+After+46+years+of+operating+as+a+Mighty+franchise%2C+our+family+would+say+this+partnership+has+been+a+real+privilege.%26rdquo%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Ch2%3ETime+for+a+change%3C%2Fh2%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EBy+the+mid-1990s%2C+Mighty+needed+to+adapt.+As+auto+service+providers+grew+from+the+corner+gas+station+to+multi-bay+service+centers%2C+a+new+type+of+franchisee+emerged.+Owners+of+multi-store+tire+centers+saw+the+benefits+of+controlling+their+parts+inventories.+Soon%2C+30+franchises+across+the+country+were+operated+by+large%2C+prominent+tire+dealers.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EAdding+a+B2B+recruitment+initiative+was+critical+to+growth%2C+and+over+the+past+20+years+we%26rsquo%3Bve+partnered+with+quick-lube+chains%2C+multi-location+car+dealers%2C+and+other+automotive-related+operations.+Not+only+were+they+selling+to+themselves%2C+they+were+able+to+provide+Mighty+products+and+programs+to+hundreds+of+other+installers+in+their+licensed+territory.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EIn+2006%2C+Steve+Sanner+and+Jay+Greenfield+vertically+integrated+a+Mighty+franchise+alongside+their+nearly+50+Jiffy+Lubes+and+Tuffy+Auto+Service+Centers+in+Indianapolis.+Jay+said%2C+%26ldquo%3BAs+owners+of+multiple+retail+auto+service+franchises%2C+I+feel+our+leadership+group+understands+what+it+takes+to+succeed+with+a+sound+business+model+that+is+well-supported+by+a+committed+franchisor.+We%27ve+been+very+pleased+with+the+financial+results+of+our+investment%2C+as+well+as+how+it+has+added+efficiencies+to+benefit+our+chain+of+auto+service+businesses.+Like+any+worthwhile+business%2C+it%27s+not+easy.+But+Mighty%27s+leadership+team+is+creative+and+attentive+to+the+needs+of+its+franchisees%2C+who+are+then+positioned+to+generate+strong+results+if+they+follow+the+system.%26rdquo%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EIn+recent+years%2C+we+began+partnering+with+warehouse+distributors+already+supplying+automotive-related+products+like+lubricants%2C+chemicals%2C+and+shop+equipment.+The+synergies+with+Mighty+allow+them+to+become+a+more+valued+supplier+to+their+customers.+We+now+operate+in+44+states+and+5+countries.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EKen+Voelker%2C+our+CEO%2C+said%2C+%26ldquo%3BPropelled+by+a+full-service+franchise+support+platform+continuously+refined+over+the+decades%2C+the+brand+has+reached+heights+unimaginable+50+years+ago.+In+2019%2C+we+achieved+our+7th+consecutive+year+of+record+system+sales.+Maybe+more+importantly%2C+we+regularly+earn+high+grades+for+franchisee+satisfaction.+Working+with+committed+franchise+partners+to+develop+win-win+strategies+is+an+ongoing+challenge+and+opportunity+in+the+ever-changing+automotive+market.+All+of+us+at+Mighty+look+forward+to+another+50+years+of+continued+success+for+our+franchise+owners+and+in+fulfilling+our+commitment+to+building+the+value+of+the+brand.%26rdquo%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EFor+50+years%2C+Mighty+has+been+focused+on+adapting+to+the+changing+market+and+keeping+our+franchise+opportunity+relevant+and+attractive%2C+both+to+entrepreneurs+looking+to+improve+their+lifestyle%2C+as+well+as+to+strategic+partners+interested+in+diversifying+with+a+business+that+provides+a+favorable+return+on+their+investment.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EToday%2C+our+focus+remains+consistent+with+our+franchising+roots+of+1970%3A+Partner+with+dedicated+and+sophisticated+franchisees+intent+on+continuing+our+legacy+of+being+the+preeminent+stocking+supplier+to+the+professional+automotive+service+industry.+This+milestone+is+one+we+are+extremely+proud+of%2C+and+we+look+forward+to+continuing+to+provide+a+strong+and+successful+franchise+system.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3E%3Cstrong%3EJosh+D%26rsquo%3BAgostino%3C%2Fstrong%3E+is+president+of+%3Ca+href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mightyautoparts.com%2F%22+target%3D%22_blank%22+rel%3D%22noopener%22%3EMighty+Auto+Parts%3C%2Fa%3E.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E

Published: August 6th, 2020