TRADE TALK
PASSION DRIVES PAY TO LEAD SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS Transforming mycar into one of Australia’s leading automotive brands is a proud achievement for Adam Pay mycar Managing Director, Adam Pay, always knew he was going to work with cars, even when he was a kid. “I’ve always loved cars and knew from a young age that I’d enjoy working in the automotive industry, as did my parents, who encouraged me to pursue an auto apprenticeship,” Adam said. “It was the combination of hard work and doing something I loved that ultimately opened up great opportunities and led me on this rewarding career journey.” Born and raised in Daventry, Northamptonshire in the UK, Adam moved to London in his early 20s before relocating to Australia in 2004. “I’ve been into cars for as long as I can remember, and I still have an obsession with them. I decided to take on my apprenticeship based on my passion for motors, starting with VW and Audi in 1988 – I really enjoyed it, particularly the technical aspects of the work,” Adam said. “My first job was at a petrol service station filling up cars. I had a great boss who took the time to teach me and nurture my interest in the auto sector. I loved the job and it led me to spending time in the workshop on weekends. “After I completed my apprenticeship, I ventured off to manage pubs in London for a few years. One day I heard an advert on the radio. Kwik-Fit, a big chain of fast fit workshops in the UK, were looking for team members and I thought ‘why not?’ “I went for the job and started shortly thereafter as a Tyre Technician, which was the beginning of my journey. “With hard work and passion, I worked my way through the ranks to eventually become Division Director, managing a large portfolio in the UK. “I moved to Australia in 2004 and accepted a role with what was Kmart Tyre and Auto Service (KTAS) as a Store Manager in Brisbane. With the same dedication and enthusiasm for the auto industry that I had in the UK, I worked my way up to eventually become Managing Director in 2013, and led the business through the major overhaul to become mycar in 2019.” Adam is instrumental in leading the evolution of mycar as it grows beyond its KTAS origins. “We trademarked the name ‘mycar’ in the late 1990s; however, we officially launched in 2019 following a rebrand from our KTAS origins, which began in Australia in 1969,” he explained. 94
Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine June 2021
“We completely revamped our brand with a fresh look, store signage, branded vehicles and everything else in between, all in under 12 months. We have since moved away from the KTAS brand and operate as a full-service automotive destination, with customers and team members at the centre of our core vision. “Now, I couldn’t imagine us going by any other name but mycar. “The change at mycar has been significant. We have transformed into a company that speaks more about the type of work we do and the relationships we have with our customers. “We’ve been on an important and rewarding journey to truly understand how we can serve our customers better, and we pride ourselves on helping them with a warm and personable approach, and a team who have a genuine love of cars. “Our customer-centric approach sets us apart. We call it ‘People First.’ We go beyond the technical needs of customers. We look at the person behind the wheel and think ‘how can mycar add value to your experience as a customer?’ “Our sense of care extends beyond just our customers to our most valuable asset – our people. We have created a workplace where trust, care and expertise are valued, so that our team can be their best selves at work. “Part of it stems from our flat structure at mycar, I’ll often show up to one of our stores and end up working on the shop floor to better connect with
mycar Managing Director, Adam Pay
our team members, or spend a few hours sitting with the Customer Team to understand how we can better serve our customers. Our commitment to caring for our customers is at the centre of everything we do; and we champion the message of ‘People First’ across our business. “Our goal is to help our customers with all their car care needs, no matter where they are in Australia, and we plan to open many more stores in the future, so we continue achieving this goal. “We want our customers to leave us feeling like they have been cared for. It builds trust and ensures that they come back to let us help them again. “We’re a growing national business with 269 stores across the country serving millions of different customers each year. We have a wide customer base, from those that have never lifted their bonnet, to genuine enthusiasts.” Adam describes his strengths as “honesty and enthusiasm.” “I am lucky in that I live and breathe cars and have
