Meineke Car Car Centers LLC has opened a location in Albermarle, N.C. It is the first Meineke outlet for new franchisee Kong Vang, who is a dentist.
Vong says he has built a successful practice by creating a great experience for his patients, educating them on the procedure needed, and treating them how they should be treated. That same philosophy is how he plans to build a successful Meineke franchise.
“I want to provide my customers with an understanding of the repairs we are recommending, educate them and enhance their overall experience,” says Vang.
“I plan to run my store like I run my dental practice, from the friendly greeting customers receive when they walk in, to being informed throughout the process, and understanding what service was performed and why. I want to give them the feeling they get when they visit a five-star hotel and leave my center delighted about the service they received and want to come back.”
To achieve an excellent customer experience, Vang points to two key components - hiring the right people and utilizing the Meineke eInspection system. Meineke eInspection allows technicians to educate and communicate with the car owner electronically, using email, text, photos and videos to help explain exactly what services are needed and why. It provides increased transparency to the repair process.
“Meineke has great training and a proven playbook for success in the automotive service business. Combine that with the customer service model that I have used in my dental practice, and I believe that is a formula for success,” said Vang.
Besides dentistry, Vang has two main interests: cars and philanthropy.
“I love cars, and I love working on cars,” says Vang. “I own seven cars, from classics to late models”.
To help fulfill his philanthropic goals, Vang heads a non-profit called “Create a Vision.” Through his non-profit organization, Vang provides free dental cleanings to underprivileged children as well as school visits to talk with children about careers, in hopes of helping them create their own vision for the future.
“There are many underprivileged children that are lost, and our goal is to show them that they are loved and give them hope by helping them see a career path forward,” says Vang.
Vang’s brother Kao will be running the Meineke business, and Vang will remain in his dental practice.
“My goal is that the income stream from the Meineke franchise will supplement my income to enable me to spend more time with my family, and free up more time to provide free dental services,” says Vang. “You can’t give away what you don’t have. My goal is that success with the Meineke franchise will translate to success for many, many young people.”
Vang plans to open two more Meineke locations.
To learn more about franchising opportunities with Meineke, visit https://www.franchisewithmeineke.com .
Meineke Car Care Centers is a division of Driven Brands Inc., an automotive aftermarket franchisor. The company says there are more than 800 stores in the Meineke franchise network servicing about 3 million cars a year.
Driven Brands, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is the parent company of four North American automotive aftermarket brands across four distinct verticals: Repair & Maintenance, housing Meineke Car Care Centers; Paint & Collision, housing Maaco and CarStar North America; Distribution, housing 1-800-Radiator & A/C; and Quick Lube, housing Take 5 Oil Change. Driven Brands says it has more than 2,500 centers across North America, and combined, all businesses generate more than $2.6 billion in system sales and service approximately 8 million vehicles annually.
