- Story by Tess van Straaten Photography by Don Denton

Cars have been Kevin Jensen91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 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,91裸聊视频� recounts Kevin. 91裸聊视频淚 worked there for 10 years, working my way up to manager, and I saved to buy my own location.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淲hen I moved here, I didn91裸聊视频檛 know Victoria at all,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚 literally drove up and down every street looking for a location, and this was the only location that would have worked. It91裸聊视频檚 a destination [business] and we were looking for a destination area close to where people lived and worked.91裸聊视频�

In just three years, Kevin91裸聊视频檚 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 years91裸聊视频攂ecoming the first outlet in British Columbia to reach the $1-million milestone.

91裸聊视频淭hey gave us our million-dollar rings,91裸聊视频� says Kevin, who is the current vice-president of Big O Tires Canada and a past president. 91裸聊视频淲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 we91裸聊视频檝e kept that level up until today.91裸聊视频�

For Kevin, who91裸聊视频檚 vigilant about training and quality workmanship, the biggest challenge with running the business91裸聊视频攅specially in the last few years91裸聊视频攈as been finding experienced employees.

91裸聊视频淲e spend a lot of money just making sure we91裸聊视频檙e fully staffed. Right now, I91裸聊视频檇 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 don91裸聊视频檛 have staff to keep open. There91裸聊视频檚 a shortage of over 500 Red Seal mechanics in British Columbia right now.91裸聊视频�

This past year, with the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been new challenges to overcome91裸聊视频攆rom too much business to too little. Before the pandemic, Kevin91裸聊视频檚 team was servicing about 40 cars a day. That all but dried up overnight in the early days of the crisis.

91裸聊视频淚t was probably the only time that I felt helpless and had no control over the future of my business,91裸聊视频� Kevin admits. 91裸聊视频淐OVID-19 was an obstacle you can91裸聊视频檛 really hurdle. If they shut down the whole country, there91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

By last June, business was booming again91裸聊视频攁nd revving to record growth for the second half of the year.

91裸聊视频淲e had six record months of almost double the volume,91裸聊视频� says Kevin. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝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.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淭hat will give us three locations within a block downtown,91裸聊视频� Kevin explains. 91裸聊视频淭hat gives us 15 hoists and parking for almost 50 cars.91裸聊视频�

The original Quadra location is also being totally revamped, from the ground up. Kevin says they91裸聊视频檙e investing 91裸聊视频渜uite a bit of money to bring all the shops to the next level.91裸聊视频� It could be seen as a big risk or as finding an opportunity amid a crisis.

91裸聊视频淪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,91裸聊视频� Kevin says. 91裸聊视频淧eople have a tendency to buy stocks when they91裸聊视频檙e going up, but really you should be buying when they91裸聊视频檙e going down.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚n the last 20 years, there are probably at least 50 per cent fewer [repair shops] and the population is growing. We91裸聊视频檒l probably be the last in the downtown core within two or three years.91裸聊视频�

With many accolades over the years91裸聊视频攊ncluding several Black Press 91裸聊视频淏est in the City91裸聊视频� awards91裸聊视频攁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.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e just a big family,91裸聊视频� Kevin says. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 what makes our business91裸聊视频攐ur employees and customers.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淵ou can do anything you want to do91裸聊视频攜ou just have to try hard enough and put the time in. It91裸聊视频檚 just a matter of focus and hard work.91裸聊视频�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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