Small Business Spotlight – May 2017: Rick’s Automotive

Company name: Rick’s Automotive
Person in charge: Rick Hughlett, Owner
Year founded: 1980

Describe your company:
We are a full-service automotive repair shop, complete with a tire and lube facility. We have worked to cultivate a strong reputation as an independent family business with a friendly, caring staff comprising highly trained professionals.

Tell us about some recent highlights, awards or achievements.
We were recently named one of the top 10 automotive repair shops in the nation by Motor magazine. I’m also proud to say we recently received the Excellence in Business Award from Ozarks Technical Community College.

What makes your business unique?
We’re most proud of the longevity of our employees. We have about 40 employees, and more than a quarter of them have been with us for 20 years or more. And despite the growth of our company over the years, we’ve kept the shop right here instead of moving or building another location. We think that stability and longevity makes us unique – it makes us a team of specialists, which is critical for successful car repair today. We work with all types of cars and can handle all types of situations, mostly because we have 22 mechanics and technicians – someone on our staff will specialize in the problem you have.

What advice do you offer to help car owners get the most out of their cars?
Newer cars don’t break down as often, but it’s even more important to make sure they get regular maintenance. If you’re sure to follow the instructions in your owner’s manual, your car will almost last forever – it’s not uncommon for cars to last for 200,000 or 300,000 miles if you maintain them well.

We also think it’s important to develop a relationship with your mechanic. We encourage people to come by and visit with a service advisors before you need something done. If you’re familiar with your mechanic and your mechanic is familiar with you and your car, they can offer better and more timely service.