Family Service Day LTD, an award-winning organization with a mission to help independent automotive businesses do well by doing good, has announced a new partnership with AutoVitals, a provider of cloud-integrated solutions for increased customer acquisition, retention and shop productivity. Through Family Service Day’s flagship initiative, “Keeping Cars Kickin’,” participating auto repair shops offer vehicle maintenance, service and car-care education at no charge to families that need help with their car care.
“Family Service Day is aligned with our goals of strengthening service providers, who build long-lasting relationships and grow our industry,” said Uwe Kleinschmidt, AutoVitals’ founder and CEO. “We believe our partnership will help fuel the success of shops across the country and inspire other business to join this positive movement of automotive professionals.”
Founded in 2009 by shop owner Charlie Marcotte, Family Service Day provides member shops with a step-by-step blueprint, coaching and online resources that enable independent shops large and small to host successful local events, even with no prior marketing or event management experience. “By utilizing our talents as automotive technicians to help local families that need a ‘hand up,’ independent automotive repair shops make a direct impact on their communities and attract ongoing positive attention for their efforts,” said Marcotte.
Since 2009, Family Service Day has grown from a single-shop grassroots effort to a national cause marketing initiative available to automotive repair shops in all 50 states. Shops in 14 states held Family Service Day events on the company’s first national day of service on Nov. 7, 2015. Shop owners and employees across the country provided necessary preventative maintenance and car care education at no charge to local families who needed help caring for their vehicles. Families were pre-selected and referred by local and national non- profit partners. Local businesses pitched in by sponsoring the events and providing in-kind donations to make the day a fun-filled event for the children and their families.
“Involvement from our industry partners is critical in making our ‘Keeping Cars Kickin’’ program a successful community-level marketing solution that spotlights participating independent repair shops across America,” said Marcotte. “It is a privilege to work with AutoVitals, a company with cutting-edge technology that helps shops become digital shops.” As part of Family Service Day’s new 2016 member rewards, AutoVitals will provide a free iPad Mini with ruggedized case to each SmartFlow subscriber after the shop’s first event.
In addition to individual shop events held throughout the year, preparations for the company’s next national day of service on Oct. 15 are underway. Shops interested in becoming Family Service Day service providers should email [email protected] with “Keeping Cars Kickin’” as the subject line.
Click here for online member registration.