Take 5 is a Good Fit for North Carolina-Based Real Estate Powerhouse
January 06, 2021 // Franchising.com
Take 5 Oil Change is proud to announce the opening of a fourth location for North Carolina real estate powerhouse, the Durban Group.
North Carolina-based Driven Brands acquired Take 5 Oil Change in 2016, and for investors like the Durban Group, who were looking to diversify their portfolio with a simple and scalable business model, backed by outstanding operations and training support, Take 5 has been a great fit.
The Durban Group began as a commercial real estate development company in 2011 and has since developed numerous properties across the United States, through Durban Development, which has expanded to become a full-service real estate company, developing commercial, residential and mixed-use projects.
The Durban Group’s diversified portfolio includes real estate development, insurance services, apparel and a variety of North Carolina-based food and beverage operations such as The Suffolk Punch, Harriet’s Hamburgers, Bossy Beulah’s and a brewery, Suffolk Punch Brewing.
With four successful Take 5 openings in North Carolina under their belt, The Durban Group has now committed to opening more stores in the southwestern U.S.
“We were already a very diverse company, so the expansion into the automotive service business just made sense with all the cars on the road that will continue to need servicing,” said Glen Cherry, Co-Founder and Principal. “Our model is to first make sure we analyze the market and the competition, and everything we learned about Take 5 pointed to them being a good fit for us. Their strategy is sound, their business model is easy to understand, and their people are just great to work with.”
Ben Case, who has responsibility for new projects for the Durban Group, attended the complete Take 5 training program.
“Although I don’t work in the store hands on, I participated in the training program and found the training first class and an invaluable experience for me,” said Case. “I now know the responsibilities and expectation for each of our employees as well as the entire operation.”
The Durban Group has managed to successfully continue expanding, having just opened their fourth store in Fayetteville, N.C, right before the pandemic hit.
“With the opening of our fourth store, each has gotten exponentially easier,” said Cherry. “Take 5 has a well-developed model, and the thorough training program and excellent support they provide makes it very easy. We have seen immediate customer acceptance with each new location and overall, the investment is meeting all our expectations.
“The Take 5 Oil Change model has proven to be resilient in the face of the pandemic with a customer-friendly drive-through model that results in a fast, oil change that allows the car owner to stay in the comfort of their own vehicle while technicians change oil and filter, check vital fluids and replenish them to the recommended levels,” said Cherry. “Additional services such as wiper blade replacement and operational flushes are also available, all without contact and with the safety of the staff and the customers being of paramount importance.”
When asked what advice he has for other investors looking to diversify their portfolios, Cherry recommends staying close to your culture and brand.
“Look for opportunities that fit your existing culture. Do not compromise your mother brand. Take 5 was a great fit in that aspect as our people and our customers are important to us, we understand customer satisfaction and how critical both are to long term success. Take 5 is highly focused on customer satisfaction and the customer experience.”
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