82 Business View - March 2015
tomers, while a partnership with Xivic brought about
the Meineke app which allows customers to find a
Meineke near them and schedule an appointment for
any of their car care needs.
Meineke’s proprietary M.Key center management sys-
tem has allowed franchisees to run reports and en-
hance efficiency in pricing, inventory control, employee
compensation and sales trends.
Car maintenance tips from Chevron, the company’s
leading oil provider, are included on the Meineke web-
site as well. Also, Mudlick Mail is a provider of direct
mail marketing, while Full Slate is a go-to provider of
online appointment scheduling functions.
“In 1972, we operated out of small shops and it was
a very transactional business,” Rivera said. “We’re go-
ing to sell you a muffler, and that was basically it, and
we’ll get you out as quickly as possible, something the
shop and customer both appreciated. Today’s busi-
ness is very, very different. It’s not transactional. It’s
about taking care of your car and keeping you on the
road, so you can live your life. And to do that, it’s more
than just a transaction.
“It’s car maintenance, it’s follow-up appointments for
brakes, tires, or oil, or for whatever it is. And yes, we
still specialize in exhaust. We’re trying to create an
experience that lends itself to repeat business, some-
thing that a soccer mom would be comfortable with.
It’s clean, it’s got coffee, maybe it’s got somewhere for
the kids to play.” The franchise offering has become
a fixture on industry lists, including five consecutive
appearances on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise
500, where it’s been slotted at Nos. 55, 53, 51, 52
and 53 from 2011 through 2015. It’s also been includ-
ed each of the last four years on Franchise Direct’s
FRANCHISE
