BY BOB SEIDENBERG
The people
at the Tilden for Brakes Car Care Centers are putting the pedal to the metal.
Although the 75-year-old New York-based firm had made
its reputation solely on brakes, under new ownership Tilden is ticketing total-car care as
its key to growth.
Tilden's concept expansion marks a move similar to
that of other auto aftermarket firms that are expending their concepts in order to grow.
From 1923 through 1995 the family-owned company was
known as Tilden for Brakes, says Bill Reichert, director of franchise development. In
1995, the family sold its majority ownership to a |
new management team and
owners who began to position Tilden to expand from eight car-care centers in New York City
and vicinity to 150 across the country within the next three years.
"People feel more comfortable going to a
multistore chain with multiunit operators," says Robert Baskind, Tilden's new
president."With more people keeping their cars longer, a total car center offering a
full menu of automotive repair services has bigger business potential".
"The car-care business is one of the
faster-growing segments of the automotive repair market," maintains Mr. Baskind.
"But established names are either sold out or much too costly," he claims,
making Tilden an affordable option.
New franchisees receive training at the Huntington,
Long Island, N.Y., shop, the |
company prototype. Joe
Montefusco, the franchisee-owner of the shop, has been with Tilden since 1951.
Business acumen is the most important asset you can
bring to the job, he says. "You also have to stay on top of the (overall automotive)
business," which is behind Tilden's move into more-than-brake care.
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Tilden For Brakes Car Care Centers TM
300 Hempstead Turnpike
Suite 110, West Hempstead, NY 11552
Phone: 516-746-7911, Fax: 516-746-1288
Franchise
fee: $25,000; initial investment: $131,533- $171,233;
royalty: 6%; ad fee: 3% |