C A S E S T U DY
UTILIZING USED BUILDINGS
Don’t let a building compromise the business model B Y PA U L H O D O WA N I C
BENJAMIN RINENBACH PHOTOGRAPHY
When looking to expand, there are two options. Build from the ground up, or use an already existing structure. While in many scenarios, constructing a building from scratch is the most desirable option, not every business will have the resources to do so and not every community will have space for one. So what should owners hoping to expand evaluate when looking at an existing building? “A lot,” says Edward Hymes, president of Jiffy Lube. THE CHALLENGE For any business, whether it’s a national brand like Jiffy Lube or a young and developing multi-shop operator, careful consideration and hours of site visits are spent to find the exact facility, both from where it sits geographically and what’s inside the four walls. The challenge is finding the best building that fits your business’s needs. THE SOLUTIONS Pay attention to location. This is the first step regardless of whether it’s a new build or repurposing an existing structure, Hymes says. Where the business sits has a great influence on whether
it will be successful. Hymes, and his Jiffy Lube colleagues, look at a litany of factors when considering where a shop should go. Does this population need a quick lube? Is this area of people going to spend money servicing their car? What is the traffic count? Will it be aided by other retail in the space? Is there an opportunity for synergy with other car care services? “The last piece of it is probably the competition as well,” Hymes says. “You really need to take that into account of where they’re placed and where you’re placed in relation to not only the population growth but the traffic flow as well.”
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All of these are questions that need to be answered, and it’s not a onesize fits all discussion. Jiffy Lube has locations in all 50 states, both in rural and urban areas. There are no specific benchmarks that must be cleared, but all the factors need to be understood. Make sure it fits the desired business model. Jiffy Lube diverts a bulk of expansion resources into new builds. The main reason behind that, Hymes says, is it allows them to make sure their desired business model is carried out exactly how they want it. When going into an already existing location, unless you have the resources for a total remodel, it will likely require some concessions to the “perfect layout” you have in your head. So when Jiffy Lube does use an existing building, there are several things the location needs to have to fit their business model. First is bays. At minimum, Jiffy Lube needs three drive-in service bays, but Hymes much prefers it if it has at least four or five. Especially as Jiffy Lube prioritizes secondary services, those secondary bays have become very important, he says. For other businesses, three bays might be the right amount, or even too many, but for Jiffy Lube, that’s the ideal number. It also must have an attractive and
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