Auto Super Shoppe Mayne is a large full-service workshop in Onehunga, Auckland. It has grown over the years from the corner site it started on to encompass five buildings along two street frontages, with each building serving different client needs. The original building is used for general servicing and the next door one is auto electrical, tyres and wheel alignments. Going the other way there is a VTNZ WOF outlet, a second workshop for more major repairs and classic car servicing and lastly a paint and panel shop. There are around 14 staff excluding the VTNZ staff. The business was started in 2002 by Doreen Gibbs and Annie Tuck, who still own it. Doreen’s son Jared works in the business. They are surrounded by a number of other workshops within two blocks and have obviously differentiated themselves well to be so successful in a competitive environment. A few of their unique offerings include opening six days a week with Saturday reserved for WOFs and servicing for people that work during the week and the provision of three trades vans as loan vehicles, to appeal to many of the small businesses surrounding them (along with 10 other courtesy cars). One of their marketing features seen on the building’s exterior and also on stickers on magazines in the waiting room is a bright pink heart with the words “I love Auto Super Shoppe Mayne” on it!
They do around 10 services a day (60 a week), so use quite a large quantity of oil. They have been long term users of Penrite oils, bought via Repco (they are a block away from the Onehunga Repco, so the Repco staff drop in regularly to check stock and oil quantities on hand). The main workshop has three 250L pump over tanks for the three main oils used; Penrite Vantage Sem-Synthetic 10W-40, Penrite Vantage MV Full Synthetic 5W-30 and Penrite FS Full Synthetic ATF. The Classic workshop also has 205L drums of both engine oil grades on portable trolleys. They stock some specialised Penrite products in 20L drums and 5L packs such as LV ATF ,Premium Gear Oil 80W-90 and CVT. and 10W-30. The only time they don’t use Penrite is if a vehicle specifically requires an OEM manufacturer oil such as some newer BMW models.
Darren commented that the new Penrite Rego Search facility has been a boon in terms of checking the correct oil grade to use on each vehicle and that the local Repco branch staff provide great support when needed. He also liked that Penrite offer a full range of oils to cover all their needs.
One side of the business Auto Super Shoppe Mayne is big on is the environmental aspect, they keep separate storage for used rags, oil filters, plastic oil drums, oil and waste fluids and scrap steel with Salter Cartage collecting all but the scrap steel.
Auto Super Shoppe Mayne is a great example of a thriving repair business in a tough environment and Penrite is one of their key supply partners.
