Collision Repair magazine 12#3

Page 42

LEGENDS OF THE INDUSTRY

All in the

J Martino ack and Vince Martino Brothers Toronto Collision in B founded lo , over h alf a ce or West Villag ntury a e, go.

FA M I LY The Martino Brothers’ family legacy was shaped by an unyielding desire to make customers happy. By Hayden Kenez

M

artino Brothers Collision~CSN’s flagship store has resided in the West-End Toronto neighbourhood of Bloor West Village for over half a century. Now in its second generation of family ownership, the collision repair centre has been a staple within the community for nearly as long. It has been the longstanding commitment to customer service and transparency that has sustained the business through economic and industry turbulence. “Keeping good relationships with employees, customers, and all the people you interact with on a day-to-day basis is incredibly important,” says Vince Martino Sr., one of the original Martino brothers who built their brand along with brother Jack Sr. “That’s something we’ve been set on since day one, and something the shop is still focused on today.” In 1955, Jack Martino Sr. and Vince Martino Sr. opened the doors of their new venture with open arms, intent on providing the best possible customer experience. Their intrepid and fresh attitudes helped to hasten the business’s permanence in the community. Of course, boasting backgrounds in mechanical work - both brothers were certified

as licensed mechanics – didn’t hurt either. With a knowledgeable and keen sense of the problems facing the industry, they helped to shape some of groups now perceived as the leading authorities on collision repair. Initially intent on pursuing the mechanical side of the business, the brothers decided the increasing demand of body shops warranted more focus. However, their true passion lay in a more transferrable prerogative: ensuring customers have the best possible experience, no matter the cost to the shop. “We’ve always told our employees, ‘put yourself in the customer’s shoes’,” says Vince

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Martino Sr. “They’re your bread and butter so you have to look after them properly. The shop began with a focus on the mechanical aspects of the business, but Jack and Vince Sr. soon recognized a component of automotive repair that was being neglected, and decided to capitalize on it – body repair. “There was more demand for body repair,” explains Vince Sr. “We wanted to get into something that was both new and exciting.” The brothers inaugurated their new body shop in 1963, purchasing a parcel of land near the original mechanical shop to house

Cutting the ribbon on the newest Martino Bros~CSN location: Vince Martino, Toronto’s mayor Rob Ford, Vince Martino Sr., Emilia Martino, Marie Martino and Jack Martino.


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