Reader Profile
HONEST-1 AUTO CARE
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Established to make female customers feel welcome and appreciated Lewisville, with a population of about 106,586, is located about 22 miles northwest of the heavily populated Dallas/Ft. Worth area, close to the huge recreational area of Lewisville Lake. The shop, a franchise location of the Honest-1 network (with headquarters in Florida), handles all aspects of service including HVAC, suspension, brakes and alignment, engine diagnostics and repair, radiator repair, transmission service, differential service as well as offering a towing service. Does your shop offer general automotive repair or do you tend to specialize in specific makes or types of repairs? Our location offers general automotive service for all makes. What is your business philosophy? Co-owner Robin Mainer noted, “In addition to providing the very highest quality service possible, our primary focus is to treat our customers with respect, to provide 100% transparent communication, and to establish a high degree of integrity. “Both Kim and I previously worked as outside sales for insurance companies. While working in the insurance industry, whenever we had our vehicles serviced, we often felt disrespected or talked-down to by various shops because we are women. “When the insurance industry underwent some major changes, we began to consider a new career path, and we realized that there was a need for a ‘female-friendly’ service shop that would treat all customers, male and female, with equal respect. “My ‘last straw’ moment occurred when I
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Owners Robin Mainer and Kimera Shepler run Honest-1 Auto Care in Lewisville, Texas, and emphasize treating each customer with respect. visited a local shop for service and asked the owner a few questions regarding why certain parts and labor were required, in the attempt to simply understand what was needed and to understand what I was paying for. When his response was a gruff, ‘I don’t have time to explain this to you because you’re a woman,’ that struck a nerve, and at that point I was convinced that Kim and I needed to remedy this. We knew that we could do better, and had an opportunity to establish and grow a successful service operation by catering to the female market, by offering quality service in an atmosphere that was inviting and comfortable for
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7/30/20 7:54 AM
