One of the ways we approve a female friendly garage business (other than our ATA, BSI and OFT Stage 2 preferences) is to monitor quality standards and a commitment to customer service through leading trade awards and competitions, especially when the organisers are names we trust. We then ask them to sign the female friendly FOXY Promise and we help them promote their services to local women drivers.
A recent Aftermarket (UK motor trade) Magazine and Shell Helix Motor Oils competition, called The Better Garage Competition, asked garages to complete an online multi-choice business quiz to test their know how in terms of finance, regulations and sensitive complaint handling skills.
In this way they were able to judge which UK garages were the best managed, good at marketing and customer-oriented. I’d add ‘and online literate’ because many garages aren’t this yet and because more and more women are using the internet in 2009 it’s essential to be this to be truly female friendly.
And the 2009 garage winners were…
Logix Auto Centre of Rotherham, Motorbodies of Luton, Hillside Garage of Carnforth, Furness Park Service Centre of Barrow-in-Furness, Autocar Repairs in West Dulwich, Peoples Liverpool, Berkeley Vale Motors in Bristol (already a female friendly FOXY subscriber), Stadium Auto Repairs of Neath, Pinner Road Motor Spares in Harrow and St James’ Garage in Bridgnorth.
Well done to you all.
There is a huge amount of competition out there but when you know that garages don’t have to be licensed or mechanics qualified it is reasssuring to read about quality standards that deserve recognition and are usually (but not always*) the sign of a female friendly garage.
If they are female friendly businesses by intent, I’m confident that they’ll want to subscribe to FOXY Choice in due course where we list all quality awards (like this one), special services for women and investment in superior amenities.
FOXY Steph
*By that I mean that the business owner has to spot the difference between what men and women expect and want to be seen as female friendly – some bosses don’t employ or welcome women, even though they probably do a good job for male motorists.
