Right On Track

Elaine and Darryn Sunnex: ‘Pit Stop provides so much support’

Pit Stop’s support and training keeps customers safe and franchisees up-to-date

After three years as Pit Stop franchisees, Darryn and Elaine Sunnex are very happy with the decision they made. Throughout the turbulent Covid years, business for the popular vehicle servicing chain remained steady as people travelled more within their own country.

‘Warrant of fitness issues ensure a regular supply of work, of course, but we’re also picking up on a lot of delayed maintenance. And as people keep their cars for longer, that means more business for us, too.’

Darryn and Elaine bought Pit Stop Paraparaumu when they returned to New Zealand after 25 years travelling the world. Darryn had spent 40 years as a mechanic, latterly working in a management role.

‘We wanted to work for ourselves rather than other people,’ Darryn says. ‘Franchising appealed because of the assistance and back-up it provides – not to mention the big marketing benefits of a reputable brand. Pit Stop has a great reputation, and the Paraparaumu centre had been a very well-run business for more than 30 years.’

Elaine adds, ‘It shows the excellence of the system that so many franchisees have been with Pit Stop so long, and that the company attracted good people right from the start.’

So much support

Darryn jokes that, ‘I was born in Christchurch and I’d never been anywhere near Paraparaumu in my life! I knew nothing about the area, or the suppliers, or the customers, but the franchise was very supportive, the track record of Pit Stop meant the bank was prepared to lend against the business itself, and the systems were great.’

‘Pit Stop provides so much in terms of support,’ says Elaine. ‘Issues like health and safety, compliance, and all the HR requirements of being an employer can be a legislative minefield, but the franchise has got it all covered, along with the systems and software you need.’

Darryn says that the systems also help with two other key elements of running a busy and successful Pit Stop centre – building relationships, and staying on top of scheduling repeat servicing and warrants to keep customers’ vehicles safe and efficient.

‘Your customers are your business, so you have to look after them and keep them coming back. You also need the systems to book the right amount of time for each job and ensure neither you nor your customers are wasting valuable time. It’s simple, with the right training and tools.

‘Of course, the growing number of hybrids and electric vehicles means you need to stay up-to-date with new technology, and Pit Stop has had a big push to set us up for handling it with a lot of training. As a result, we’re already seeing a lot more hybrids through the door than we expected. That’s another benefit of being part of the franchise.’

In fact, the couple say they would happily invest in a second Pit Stop if one became available locally, ‘But they are so popular – the last one nearby was snapped up by one of the mechanics when the franchisee retired.’ That level of demand makes opening a Pit Stop even more attractive for new franchisees.

All sorts of opportunities

Les Seiler, Franchise Manager of Pit Stop says, ‘Darryn and Elaine have demonstrated how good the Pit Stop opportunity is and how solid the demand is for our services – whatever else is happening in the world.

‘Pit Stop has been New Zealand’s favourite one-stop-shop for all sorts of vehicle servicing since 1978. With more than two million cars on the road now, the company enjoys a big share of a growing market. This means we have opportunities in greenfield sites, existing outlets and additional outlets in established areas to satisfy demand, and the investment can be as low as $100,000 +gst.

‘We are looking for people like Darryn and Elaine who are highly motivated, have good management skills and some experience, and want to get into business with NZ’s leading automotive service. Wherever you want to be, give me a call – we have locations available in just about every part of the country.’

Advertiser Info

Pit Stop

www.pitstop.co.nz

Contact Les Seiler

P 0-9-634 3666 M 027 222 7487

less@pitstop.co.nz