Growing a Franchise
SPONSORED
Five years after opening her Rockwall, Texas location, franchisee Amy Stehr is considering expanding alongside the brand.
The automotive industry has a long history of being dominated by men. But Amy Stehr, a Christian Brothers Automotive franchisee in Rockwall, Texas, is proving that women are innovating in the industry on a daily basis.
Stehr first learned about Christian Brothers Automotive’s franchising opportunity through her husband. The couple was initially looking into running the business together—they both fell in love with the brand after visiting one of its existing Texas locations. But when her husband was unable to leave his current day job, she decided to launch the business on her own.
“Investing in Christian Brothers Automotive was something that had been on our radars for a while—we both thought that the brand’s customer service was exceptional and realized that it would give us a chance to be business owners. That’s why we didn’t want to wait to get the ball rolling when we realized that my husband wouldn’t be able to dedicate all of his time to it right away,” said Stehr. “As soon as I went through training and saw our location come to life, I knew that we made the right decision. I also fell in love with the idea of being a woman running an automotive business—it provides me with a one of a kind opportunity to change people’s perceptions of women leaders in this increasingly popular industry.”
To say that Stehr has been successful with Christian Brothers Automotive would be an understatement. Five years after opening its doors for business, the Stehr’s Rockwall location is thriving. And with plans to potentially open up another unit nearby down the line, the Stehr’s consistent success with Christian Brothers Automotive is inspiring them to grow alongside the brand.
“What makes Christian Brothers Automotive so unique—especially within its segment—is the people behind it. Everyone involved with the brand truly wants to make a difference and is bonded by the brand’s roots in the Christian faith. It was the first thing that stood out to me at the home office and it still stands out to me now as a franchisee—every corporate team member and local owner involved with Christian Brothers Automotive makes up a supportive family,” Stehr said.
Right now, that family is made up of more than 160 units that are currently open for business. And as Christian Brothers Automotive continues to move forward in 2017, the brand is planning to add another 15 to 20 locations to its system. That growth is sure to include other women entrepreneurs like Stehr. As the franchising industry continues to evolve and welcome more women leaders and business owners, industries traditionally thought of as male-dominated—including the automotive industry—will become more diverse.
“I’m incredibly proud that I have a job that allows me to improve the automotive industry on a daily basis, especially as a woman. I’m excited to see even more women enter this space and succeed with their own operations down the line,” Stehr said.
Sign up for the 1851 Franchise newsletter to get our biggest stories before everyone else
By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.
About the Author
Cassie has over five years of digital and traditional media experience. She joined NLA after working as a television news producer in both Milwaukee and Chicago, and now specializes in aligning strategies across the board for her clients, ultimately building buzz and telling compelling stories through content marketing, social media, digital campaigns and traditional PR.
Cassie has a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast and Electronic Communications from Marquette University. In her spare time, Cassie enjoys traveling and exploring what new cities have to offer in addition to spending time with her friends and family.
