Shop View: YHS Automotive Service Center
Exterior Facelift
Paul Garrett opened YHS Automotive Service Center roughly six years ago, and when he did, he entered a location with a unique challenge. His Houston-area shop had previously been five other repair shops, all of which had come in and failed throughout the years. In order to showcase the building’s new ownership and prove that YHS was there to stay, Garrett invested close to $200,000 in a full shop facelift.
During the process, Garrett redid the shop’s roof line, put an awning out front, fixed up the business’s sidewalk, had the parking lot painted, built a compressor storage room, installed a gate and put out a new sign.
“We wanted to improve the shop’s image. It was five shops before we went in there and I had customers coming in saying, ‘I hope you make it, no one has lasted longer than a year,’” Garrett says.
Updated Customer Space
In order to class up the interior, Garrett completely remodeled the office with new flooring, ceiling, and desks. He installed a new front counter in the front of the shop, and updated the business’s bathroom.
The shop’s waiting room also got a complete makeover, with fresh new cabinets, and a framed TV. Garrett also included a small coffee section and a work area with free WiFi so customers can take out their laptops and work at the shop while they sit and wait for their vehicle.
“With the waiting area, I wanted to create a first-class environment,” Garrett says.
Cool Air
Along with the exterior and waiting room facelift, Garett also remodeled the back of the shop by redoing the floors and painting the walls. One of the largest changes, and arguably most important to Garrett, was the installation of air conditioning.
The independent repair shop Garrett previously worked at had no A/C, and that was something he always wanted to have different at his own shop, for his sake and his employees.
“Here in Houston, I worked 18 summers over there (at the previous independent shop) and it was hotter than hot,” Garrett says.
He spent roughly $38,000 to put air conditioning in the back of the shop, to provide comfort for his employees in order to survive the Texas heat.
Speciality Advertised
YHS Automotive Service Center specifically specializes in Hondas and Acuras, and in order to get that information to their customers, Garrett makes sure to publicize their specialty throughout their signage and website. YHS even stands for Your Honda Shoppe.
Below the shop’s name on the outside signage, it says “Honda Acura Specialist.” With the shop staff’s experience with those vehicles, as well as the factory scan tools, they are able to pull in customers and compete as a true dealer alternative.
SHOP STATS: YHS Automotive Service Center Location: Houston Operator: Paul Garrett Average Monthly Car Count: 300 Staff Size: 4 Shop Size: 4,700 sq ft Annual Revenue: $ 850,000
