- Story by Tess van Straaten Photography by Don Denton

Cars have been Kevin Jensen香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 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,香蕉视频直播� recounts Kevin. 香蕉视频直播淚 worked there for 10 years, working my way up to manager, and I saved to buy my own location.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淲hen I moved here, I didn香蕉视频直播檛 know Victoria at all,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淚 literally drove up and down every street looking for a location, and this was the only location that would have worked. It香蕉视频直播檚 a destination [business] and we were looking for a destination area close to where people lived and worked.香蕉视频直播�

In just three years, Kevin香蕉视频直播檚 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 years香蕉视频直播攂ecoming the first outlet in British Columbia to reach the $1-million milestone.

香蕉视频直播淭hey gave us our million-dollar rings,香蕉视频直播� says Kevin, who is the current vice-president of Big O Tires Canada and a past president. 香蕉视频直播淲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 we香蕉视频直播檝e kept that level up until today.香蕉视频直播�

For Kevin, who香蕉视频直播檚 vigilant about training and quality workmanship, the biggest challenge with running the business香蕉视频直播攅specially in the last few years香蕉视频直播攈as been finding experienced employees.

香蕉视频直播淲e spend a lot of money just making sure we香蕉视频直播檙e fully staffed. Right now, I香蕉视频直播檇 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 don香蕉视频直播檛 have staff to keep open. There香蕉视频直播檚 a shortage of over 500 Red Seal mechanics in British Columbia right now.香蕉视频直播�

This past year, with the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been new challenges to overcome香蕉视频直播攆rom too much business to too little. Before the pandemic, Kevin香蕉视频直播檚 team was servicing about 40 cars a day. That all but dried up overnight in the early days of the crisis.

香蕉视频直播淚t was probably the only time that I felt helpless and had no control over the future of my business,香蕉视频直播� Kevin admits. 香蕉视频直播淐OVID-19 was an obstacle you can香蕉视频直播檛 really hurdle. If they shut down the whole country, there香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�

By last June, business was booming again香蕉视频直播攁nd revving to record growth for the second half of the year.

香蕉视频直播淲e had six record months of almost double the volume,香蕉视频直播� says Kevin. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝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.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淭hat will give us three locations within a block downtown,香蕉视频直播� Kevin explains. 香蕉视频直播淭hat gives us 15 hoists and parking for almost 50 cars.香蕉视频直播�

The original Quadra location is also being totally revamped, from the ground up. Kevin says they香蕉视频直播檙e investing 香蕉视频直播渜uite a bit of money to bring all the shops to the next level.香蕉视频直播� It could be seen as a big risk or as finding an opportunity amid a crisis.

香蕉视频直播淪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,香蕉视频直播� Kevin says. 香蕉视频直播淧eople have a tendency to buy stocks when they香蕉视频直播檙e going up, but really you should be buying when they香蕉视频直播檙e going down.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淚n the last 20 years, there are probably at least 50 per cent fewer [repair shops] and the population is growing. We香蕉视频直播檒l probably be the last in the downtown core within two or three years.香蕉视频直播�

With many accolades over the years香蕉视频直播攊ncluding several Black Press 香蕉视频直播淏est in the City香蕉视频直播� awards香蕉视频直播攁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.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e just a big family,香蕉视频直播� Kevin says. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 what makes our business香蕉视频直播攐ur employees and customers.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淵ou can do anything you want to do香蕉视频直播攜ou just have to try hard enough and put the time in. It香蕉视频直播檚 just a matter of focus and hard work.香蕉视频直播�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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