best at their previous places of work, now we have them all here under Driven’s roof.”
continued. “Automotive repair shops have gotten a bad rap in the past for overcharging customers for replacement of parts they don’t need. We have well-earned our custom- ers trust by making sure they understand what is needed and why, allowing customers to view the repairs required with their technician, and by offering quality work at fair prices. This puts us in a very good place in the market as we continue to build strong relationships. We offer all repairs and maintenance and honest service – why would people go anywhere else?” she laughed. The Loyalty Card program at Driven Automotive is Jamanda’s way of giving back to her repeat customers. “We want customers to know we appreciate them. We offer a $50 discount on their next invoice by seeing us for five oil change services. This can be applied to any parts or service. It’s a nice treat that everyone appreci- ates,” she said. Everyone also appreciates the Pick-Up, Drop-Off Service at Driven Automotive. On all services that take longer than an hour and half, Driven offers customers a drive to and from their home or workplace in the Hammonds Plains-Bedford and Larry Uteck areas. “Starting a business is hard, but the motivation was easy.” In just six short years in operation, Driven Automotive’s growth has been substantial. “We have doubled the size of our building and we have quadrupled our sales in compari- son to year one,” Jamanda said. “The market here required a high-quality aftermarket repair shop – and we continue to fill that need. Nova Scotia can be tough on cars and vehicle owners in our area appreciate quality work, but they want a good experience, too. We just give them what they want. I think what stands out to me the most is how our custom- ers appreciate us every visit, not just that one occasion. Everyday we get to be on the receiving end of apprecia- tion due to our positive attitudes, our honesty, and our hard work. You don’t know how grateful we are every day for our customers.” This is also confirmed by another post on their website from a very happy customer, “Brought my car in for an oil change (which is at a very competitive price!) and turns out one of my rear springs had broken. They showed me exactly what was wrong and what it should look like, which was comforting to me because I don’t know anything about cars, so I knew I wasn’t being lied too. They drove me to my business and finished my car very quickly. Also loved the air freshener and the hand-written note left in my car, 100% will be going back and be recommending Driven Auto! Driven-Auto.com greets you with professional photos of Jamanda and her staff alongside an easy-to-use contact form if you wish to request an appointment.
Jamanda is the technician of the technicians. Her official in-shop designation is Service Advisor, but she’s much more. “My favorite part of the business is learning new things and being able to pass that along to the customer,s” says Jamanda. She even produces brief preventative main- tenance and FAQs videos for customers on Driven Automo- tive’s Facebook page. When I asked her what the reaction is like when Driven Auto- motive customers first learn that the business is female- owned and operated, her answer perfectly captured the experience of a happy irony. “I wouldn’t say that they’re shocked, but I would say they’re pleasantly surprised,” she laughed. “Most household finances are managed by women – they’re the financial decision makers. People, husbands too, really enjoy having a woman on this end to explain to them what is required and where the costs come from. It’s a real trust factor for them. Even in 2018, we do work harder as women in the trade to prove our knowledge and competence. That’s OK though – we have been doing a good job of it,” she said.
“We operate our business a bit differently than what people typically expect from an automotive repair shop,” Jamanda
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018
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