July 15, 2020 / Franchising.com / CHARLOTTE – Imagine opening a new business on February 17, 2020 – four weeks before the COVID-19 Pandemic state quarantines took effect. Preston Willard, Take 5 Oil Change® franchisee, was one new business owner to have that experience when he opened his first Take 5 Oil Change in Snellville, Ga.
“Business had been on track for a new Take 5 center since opening and until the shutdown,” said Willard. “Obviously, we experienced a drop off at first, however, I was thankful to be a part of a franchise like Take 5. The Take 5 management team was quick to provide all the information and support we needed to navigate through this crisis.
“They did a great job of communicating,” Willard continued. “We had weekly group calls, weekly one-on-one calls, and an online franchisee resource center where we could access information about everything from CDC updates to financial assistance programs, shop sanitization and best practices to keep both customers and employees safe. As a business owner, it was very reassuring to have that information readily available so that we could make informed decisions.”
Willard had worked in the automotive industry for several years as an operations manager for a chain of repair shops before he decided to become an owner himself. He saw Take 5 growing nationwide and was attracted by the simple, easily scalable business model.
“Take 5 has a great management team, a solid playbook, and an extreme focus on the customer,” said Willard. “It’s a process that is easy to hire for and easy to train. And the Take 5 stay-in-your-car model gives customers peace of mind regarding safety and sanitation. Now that the state has opened back up, we have seen a steady increase in customers and traffic is above average for a new store at this stage. I am extremely happy with my decision to become a Take 5 franchisee. The experience has been everything I have wanted it to be.”
Take 5 is actively seeking single-unit and multi-unit franchise owners to expand the brand’s footprint.
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.
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.