Pirtek is eyeing Wichita for U.S. expansion.
Pirtek, the global leader in hydraulic hose replacement services, is embarking on an aggressive new U.S. growth plan following the recent buyback of the brand’s American operations. Pirtek CEO Glenn Duncan counts Wichita among the company’s key U.S. growth areas, and is targeting the opening of its first location in the market by the end of 2015.
“We’re looking to fill the holes on our map,” Gwyn O’Kane, Pirtek’s vice president of franchise development, told The Wichita Business Journal. “We can show people a lot of successful owners.”
Pirtek sets itself apart through its on-site service. Each franchise begins with three service vans, meaning technicians will be available to customers any time they need a repair. And the franchise model, which is supported by a growing staff at Pirtek USA, allows for the owners to focus on growth in their own respective markets.
“Our owners work on the business not in it,” O’Kane said.
In Wichita, O’Kane says there is enough industry and a large enough metro-area population that the Air Capital is a hole on the map the company wants to fill soon.
And there could be the potential for more growth. Pirtek won’t be on every street corner, but once the first store is opened and running successfully, Wichita could likely support another location.
“You get one, and very often it leads to another,” O’Kane said.
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