- Story by Tess van Straaten Photography by Don Denton

Cars have been Kevin JensenB次元官网网址檚 passion for almost half a century. He started working in the auto repair industry when he was a 16-year-old high school student in Edmonton, and a job just a few years later in Vancouver would change the trajectory of his life.

B次元官网网址淚 got a job at Big O Tires in Kitsilano when I was 20. I saw how successful some of the franchise owners were and I realized it was a good opportunity,B次元官网网址� recounts Kevin. B次元官网网址淚 worked there for 10 years, working my way up to manager, and I saved to buy my own location.B次元官网网址�

Kevin opened his own Big O Tires franchise in downtown Victoria 27 years ago, after driving around the city scouting for the best spot.

B次元官网网址淲hen I moved here, I didnB次元官网网址檛 know Victoria at all,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 literally drove up and down every street looking for a location, and this was the only location that would have worked. ItB次元官网网址檚 a destination [business] and we were looking for a destination area close to where people lived and worked.B次元官网网址�

In just three years, KevinB次元官网网址檚 burgeoning business would become the most successful Big O Tires franchise in the entire province. It went from zero business to $1 million in revenue in three yearsB次元官网网址攂ecoming the first outlet in British Columbia to reach the $1-million milestone.

B次元官网网址淭hey gave us our million-dollar rings,B次元官网网址� says Kevin, who is the current vice-president of Big O Tires Canada and a past president. B次元官网网址淲ith hard work and perseverance and a little bit of luck and a great location and great landlords, we ended up being the biggest store in our franchise group and weB次元官网网址檝e kept that level up until today.B次元官网网址�

For Kevin, whoB次元官网网址檚 vigilant about training and quality workmanship, the biggest challenge with running the businessB次元官网网址攅specially in the last few yearsB次元官网网址攈as been finding experienced employees.

B次元官网网址淲e spend a lot of money just making sure weB次元官网网址檙e fully staffed. Right now, IB次元官网网址檇 say half the people who used to be open six days a week in automotive are now only open five days a week because they donB次元官网网址檛 have staff to keep open. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a shortage of over 500 Red Seal mechanics in British Columbia right now.B次元官网网址�

This past year, with the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been new challenges to overcomeB次元官网网址攆rom too much business to too little. Before the pandemic, KevinB次元官网网址檚 team was servicing about 40 cars a day. That all but dried up overnight in the early days of the crisis.

B次元官网网址淚t was probably the only time that I felt helpless and had no control over the future of my business,B次元官网网址� Kevin admits. B次元官网网址淐OVID-19 was an obstacle you canB次元官网网址檛 really hurdle. If they shut down the whole country, thereB次元官网网址檚 not a lot you can do if people are staying home and not driving to work. We were lucky they designated auto repair as an essential.B次元官网网址�

By last June, business was booming againB次元官网网址攁nd revving to record growth for the second half of the year.

B次元官网网址淲e had six record months of almost double the volume,B次元官网网址� says Kevin. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been doing 60 or 70 cars a day, which is incredible, working six days a week and 12 hours a day. That was the biggest challenge.B次元官网网址�

To better meet the demand, Big O Tires is expanding to a Pandora and Quadra location, which will mean six more hoists and an additional 20 parking spaces. The Johnson Street location across the road, which was being used as a mechanical repair facility, is also being expanded and will be used as a speed lane for fast flat repairs and quick winter tire changeovers.

B次元官网网址淭hat will give us three locations within a block downtown,B次元官网网址� Kevin explains. B次元官网网址淭hat gives us 15 hoists and parking for almost 50 cars.B次元官网网址�

The original Quadra location is also being totally revamped, from the ground up. Kevin says theyB次元官网网址檙e investing B次元官网网址渜uite a bit of money to bring all the shops to the next level.B次元官网网址� It could be seen as a big risk or as finding an opportunity amid a crisis.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes you just have to take an opportunity and when it comes to the availability of locations and getting a good deal on a lease rate, the opportunities are better in hard times versus when everything is successful. So if you have a few dollars to expand, it makes sense,B次元官网网址� Kevin says. B次元官网网址淧eople have a tendency to buy stocks when theyB次元官网网址檙e going up, but really you should be buying when theyB次元官网网址檙e going down.B次元官网网址�

With more and more people living in the downtown core and so many auto repair shops moving out of it, Kevin is also banking on demand continuing to be high in the area with so few competitors.

B次元官网网址淚n the last 20 years, there are probably at least 50 per cent fewer [repair shops] and the population is growing. WeB次元官网网址檒l probably be the last in the downtown core within two or three years.B次元官网网址�

With many accolades over the yearsB次元官网网址攊ncluding several Black Press B次元官网网址淏est in the CityB次元官网网址� awardsB次元官网网址攁nd rave reviews, Kevin says his biggest mistake was not buying the property all those years ago when his landlord offered it to him for $380,000.

At the age of 64, Kevin is now getting everything set up to pass the lug wrench to his son, TJ, and manager Tony Tummillo, who came to work for him after they worked together for a decade in Kitsilano.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just a big family,B次元官网网址� Kevin says. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what makes our businessB次元官网网址攐ur employees and customers.B次元官网网址�

Excited about what this year will bring as he drives change and embarks on expansions, Kevin says the secret to success is pretty simple.

B次元官网网址淵ou can do anything you want to doB次元官网网址攜ou just have to try hard enough and put the time in. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a matter of focus and hard work.B次元官网网址�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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