Houston-area shop feels right at home repairing classic and everyday vehicles

Nov. 7, 2018
At Dan’s Automotive, maintaining a family atmosphere is their biggest asset as it influences the entire shop’s attitudes and procedures.

At Dan’s Automotive, maintaining a family atmosphere is their biggest asset as it influences the entire shop’s attitudes and procedures.

“Our business is our reputation and the reputation of our family,” says owner Dan Woodall, who is joined in running the operation by his wife Emma and daughter Audra Woodall-Acevedo.

At a Glance:
Dan's Automotive
Spring, Texas
Location
Dan Woodall
Owner
1
No. of shops
17
Years in business
10
No. of employees
0
No. of DRPs
9
No. of bays
$1,500
Average repair order
4 days
Average cycle time
40
Vehicles per week
$20,000
Average weekly income
$1 million
Annual gross revenue
PPG
Paint supplier
R.O. Writer, CCC
Estimating system used
www.fixmycarinspring.com

“We are a ‘small business’ in every sense, and it’s most important to us that people know we care about every single customer and employee along with their safety and success,” he notes. “We believe our customer service is something that sets us apart. Our customers are not just a number – we don’t have to try to make sure they know that because it’s who we are, so it happens naturally.”

Having just a single location means that “we’re able to visit with our customers and really get to know them,” he adds. “We believe in the Golden Rule and we always treat others how we want to be treated – like family.”

Audra observes that “as a father of four girls he understands what it means to be patient and how to speak to our customers in a way that helps them understand and be comfortable with their vehicle’s needed repairs and decisions. Dan is an ‘old school’ country boy on so many levels. He wears the same uniform our technicians wear because he too works on cars and gets dirty.”

Dan’s cellphone number is printed on every repair order. “If customers have after-hours questions or needs they are always welcome to contact Dan directly – and they do,” she reports.

From left to right: Audra Woodall-Acevedo and Dan and Emma Woodall

“We never want customers to walk away with negative things to say. With that being said, we are realistic and know we can’t make everyone happy all the time, but we do try,” Dan explains. “Our business is here to take care of and educate the community, our family and the families of our employees.”

Equipped with a special children’s waiting room filled with toys, “on school holidays and summer vacation you will find kids and grandkids of ours and the neighboring radiator shop – and their customers -- playing at our facility. We’re not always the fastest, cleanest or quietest, but we are honest and we’ll take care of each customer and their vehicle.”

At age 70 Dan still comes into the shop each day and remains a steady and ultra-knowledgeable hands-on presence. “We are real with our customers,” according to Audra. “Dan will sit on the couch and visit with the customers, and he’ll tell them when to not waste their money. Dan will call the customers himself to follow up and ensure that all is well with their repairs or trips they recently took, and if we mess up we’ll make it right.”

Attention to detail

Located outside of Houston in Spring, Texas, “Our area used to have the small-town feel, but it’s full-on city now. The growth around here has been tremendous, which is great for work but not for getting the kids to school or running errands,” Audra points out.

Houston’s flat expanses and large levels of rainfall generate a considerable amount of routine street-flooding above and beyond the occasional onslaught of a hurricane. “The ‘turn around don’t drown’ (safety warnings from authorities) sounds simple, but with many people it’s not so easy,” quips Audra. “We get lots of jobs from water damage,” mostly due to motorists driving into dangerous high water conditions with unpredictable and unsafe hazards lurking below the surface.

Advance Auto Parts is the primary vendor for both mechanical and collision repair supplies at the full-service facility, with additional paint & body needs served by TASCO Auto Color, a PPG Platinum-rated distributor covering Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee.

“We were especially impressed with the Advance Auto Parts team and how they stepped up” to assist the entire community when Hurricane Harvey roared ashore in 2017, she says. A Dan’s Automotive technician had his home flooded with he and his family losing everything they had. Advance came through with crucial items of necessity along with a supply of snacks and other welcome contributions to help them through a devastating and stressful experience.

“It was a kind gesture from people who didn’t have to and who didn’t know our tech personally, but they heard about his need and they were there for him,” Audra recounts. “It’s good people as such that that we want to do business with. Plus, anytime there’s an issue parts-wise they are on top of things for us. They ensure we get the parts in a timely manner and always come through in times of an ‘emergency,’ which is common with our classic cars.”

A member of Advance’s “topnotch and admirable” TechNet employee training and business purchasing program for 3 years with Audra also being selected to serve on the TechNet National Advisory Council, the shop recently became an official full-fledged TechNet facility.

“We chose to partner with Advance Auto Parts and TechNet because their business model is similar to ours,” says Dan. “They truly care about their customers, they understand what customer service is all about and they go above and beyond for us in many aspects. If we need something that seems un-findable they involve their people and friends until they make it happen.”

He greatly appreciates “their attention to detail” and especially the performance of Advance Regional Senior Vice President Mike Cooper, pointing out that he is “the most genuine person and a natural leader, and that carries over to his team.”

In dealing with all of the shop’s vendors “we get to know our reps,” Dan says. “They don’t just walk in, throw a card on the counter and leave. They sit down and visit with us, speaking to everyone in the office on each trip. We don’t rush them out. We are upfront and honest with them about our experiences -- good and bad -- so we can help them improve, if needed, as well.”

Making old new

Referring to Dan as “a true Chevy muscle car guy to the bone,” Audra notes that the shop brings in a considerable amount of customers who own classic vehicles. “We see everything from daily drivers to project cars for both mechanical repairs and paint & body work – major and minor.”

She goes on to explain that “because of Dad I grew up around the classics and absolutely love them! Their simplicity, aesthetics and history are extremely appealing to me and I’m concerned about their future and who is going to keep them alive. Because of that and my love of making old new, I would love to get more in to the full-restoration side of things in the future.”

Dan has a collection of classics and works-in-progress, including a 1978 El Camino, a 1938 Chevy Sedan, a 1966 Ford pickup and a 1969 Nova that was Dan’s race car 25 years ago. “We’re now making it street legal and safe, up to ‘Dad standards,’ for me to drive -- he took out the 383 stroker, put in a 350, 4-wheel disc brakes, new firewall, and some other fun stuff,” says Audra, referencing her involvement with the local Niftee 50ees Classic Car Show gatherings. Her young daughter has already taken notice of a creampuff 1968 Mustang, “so it seems the Chevy vs. Ford battle will live on in our family.”

Dan has been a longtime participant in the car show circuit and the resulting referrals rendered through the events. The company actively sponsors raffles along with other promotions, “and that helps get our name out there a bit as well,” Audra says. “A lot of our classic car customer base is from people simply driving by the shop and noticing other classic cars in the parking lot. They’ll stop in to look and talk about the cars and see if we can work on theirs.”

Word-of-mouth referrals and social media postings comprise the key aspects of attracting sales. “Dan is ‘old school’ and does not maintain a big advertising and marketing budget,” she says.

“Our advertising and marketing is simply a couple of neighborhood newsletters, one local paper, and supporting the youth in our community via sponsorships of sports teams, FFA (Future Farmers of America) and Boy Scouts events. My daughter and I are very involved with National Charity League (NCL),” Audra adds.

“Through NCL, my Dad and I have hosted the high school sophomore-aged girls to a Car Care Clinic the past few years. They are 15/16 year old girls, so I don’t go in to too much detail, but I go over basic maintenance items and how to notice/do certain things. Knowledge is power, and my concern is keeping the young ladies safe and giving them enough information to help ensure they don’t get taken advantage of.”

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