Building trust in the “Midas Touch” is a primary goal for the customer-focused operators running Midas‘ almost 1,300 tire and total car-care stores. To underscore their commitment to this Midas core value, as well as sales growth, community involvement, business engagement and loyalty to the brand, the company launched a Midas Franchisee of the Year Award program and announced its inaugural recipients:
- Jimmy Medina, a high-energy Kahului, Hawaii, rookie whose annual sales have risen by 84 percent since he opened his location in November 2014;
- Mark Smith, an 18-year veteran whose business success is matched by a commitment to the Richmond, Virginia, community where he operates; and
- Alan Mahrt, president of a growing, 38-store, people-focused organization known for its repair skills and extracurricular efforts in support of local food banks.
Medina says he was an overnight success – after 20 years of preparation. A former general manager responsible for the operation of a multi-store Hawaii organization, he made a cherished dream a reality when he opened his own shop. “Long before I became a Midas franchisee, I was planning how I would do it,” he explained. “I learned from all the franchisees I had the privilege to work with, taking the best of their ideas and creating a plan for my business.
“I am proud to represent Midas,” said Medina. “I wear my Midas attire out in the community and encourage my employees to do the same. I assure them they are not just employees, but valued team associates working for a great brand.”
Smith, whose shops lead the Midas system for sales, proves conclusively that nice guys can – and often do – finish first. The four-store owner has earned accolades and awards as a caring, sharing businessmen as committed to addressing the needs of the community as he is to fixing cars. Every year, he gives away hundreds of oil changes as fundraisers for schools, churches and scout troops, organizes blood drives in his shop’s parking lot (he’s at 20,000 pints and counting) and supports local food banks. “Because our stores are active members of our communities, we build awareness and trust, which leads to our business becoming stronger, which in turn results in our giving even more back to the community,” said Smith.
Mahrt’s Midas franchise organization is equally committed to the communities it serves, along with the folks who serve them. His fully invested and highly motivated team has gotten behind “Midas Drive Out Hunger,” a franchisee-driven effort to fight food insecurity across North America. In 2015, ASE donated more than $75,000 to local food banks, resulting in more than 375,000 meals. When Midas and its franchisees conducted a 25-stop, coast-to-coast food drive last summer, ASE collected more than four tons of food – the most at all 25 stops.
This year, his company is increasing its footprint by building a new store in Ankeny, Iowa. “We believe in Midas and feel so good about its future that we are putting our money where our mouth is and expanding with the brand,” said Mahrt.
“Jimmy, Mark and Alan are a credit to our organization,” said Mike Gould, Midas executive vice president and chief operating officer. “The dedication they show to their customers, their business, their communities and our brand is impressive. Midas has many strengths, but by far our greatest is and always has been our franchisees – the lifeblood of our organization.”
