CHARLOTTE (July 9, 2020) – As the states across the country began instituting lock-downs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Take 5 Oil Change® management team was quick to respond to the challenge of providing critical communication and support to their network of franchisees to ensure they had the resources to navigate the untested waters. The thoughtful support, sharing of best practices and detailed action plans provided by Take 5 allowed its franchisees to thrive during the crisis and continue delivering its unparalleled customer service. As an essential business, Take 5 Oil Change centers have stayed open during this time, with flexible hours to service their local community.
“Take 5 has always had a people-first philosophy,” said Eric Wollenhaupt, vice president of Franchise Operations and Training for Take 5. “Providing guidance to our franchisees on how to protect their business, their employees, and their customers was our number one priority. Ongoing communication was critical. Providing best practices and a plan of action that each franchisee could tailor to their market and their customers’ needs was also important. It allowed our franchisees to remain open to service both returning and new customers while maintaining the high standards of execution for which Take 5 is known.”
When the pandemic hit, Take 5 immediately established an online franchisee resource center to obtain information about everything from financial assistance programs to shop sanitization and best practices to keep both customers and employees safe.
“What impressed me is how proactive the Take 5 management team was in providing guidance, sharing information and best practices,” said Wood Breeden of EB Partners who own three Take 5 locations in North Carolina. “And the way they positioned it was ‘here is what we recommend, and here is what we are doing in our own stores’ which was very helpful.”
The Take 5 model, with its stay-in-your-car service, already minimizes contact. Take 5 has since implemented additional procedures to make the entire 10 minute or less oil change a touchless visit. This not only keeps employees and customers safe; it also provides the car owner with added peace of mind.
“Our marketing team was also key in providing the franchisees with programs to help maintain a steady flow of business during and after the shut-downs,” said Wollenhaupt. “We offered a discount for first responders and health care workers, and a ‘new normal’ campaign to bring in new customers. We are finding that people like our touch-free, friendly and fast service. We have seen a marked increase in first-time customers in the last few months.”
All indications are that driving will increase as an alternative to air travel and public transportation. With that positive trend and the attractive business model, Take 5 continues to be an investment opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to diversify their portfolios with a simple, replicable service model in a recession-resistant industry.
Take 5 is actively seeking single-unit and multi-unit franchise owners to expand the brand’s footprint. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Take 5, visit https://take5franchise.com/.
About Take 5 Oil Change
Established in 1984, Take 5 Oil Change® is a quick lube franchise under Driven Brands featuring a unique drive-thru concept that allows customers to never leave the comfort of their car. The brand offers an on average 10-minute oil change service and ancillary services such as air filter replacement, wiper blade changes, and coolant exchanges. Take 5 has more than 530 company-owned and franchised service centers throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.take5oilchange.com.
About Driven Brands
Driven Brands™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the parent company of some of North America’s leading automotive service brands including Take 5 Oil Change®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Automotive Training Institute™, Maaco®, CARSTAR®, ABRA®, Uniban™, Fix Auto USA, 1-800-Radiator & A/C® and PH Vitres d’Autos™. Driven Brands has more than 3,250 centers across the United States and Canada, and combined, all businesses generate more than $3.2 billion in system sales and service approximately 9 million vehicles annually. For more information, visit drivenbrands.com.
Media contact: Dale Ross, dross@vmg1.com, 651.207.9652