Rose Automotive was established in 1999 as Express Brake [a mobile
brake service company]. The company primarily provided on-site brake services to large fleet customers. At the
request of the fleet managers Express Brakes services quickly expanded to all areas of auto repair. In 2000 Express
Brake began serving corporations with a Corporate Car Care Program. About 15 Austin companies HR Dept.'s
contracted Express Brake to have on-site service units set-up in their companies parking lots and service their employees
vehicles. In 2002 Express Brake became Rose Automotive
and moved into their first auto repair facility and began servicing vehicles in a traditional manner, in the shop.
And very shortly after, the mobile service was to end. Working conditions mobile were harsh on the technicians
and the time constraints [getting to customers in a timely fashion] proved too difficult to provide the quality
service Rose Automotive demands. So the mobile service units were packed away and attention was placed solely on
becoming the most reliable and trusted auto repair facility in Austin. Since becoming
a traditional service center, Rose Automotive has grown at a steady rate and has established a reputation, with 1000's
of Austinites, as an honest repair shop as well as a very personable place to do business. |
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| Chris and Kyra...very cute! |
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| Chris and Mary Austin stuffing their faces. |
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| Boudreaux and Rosie waiting on the next visitor. |
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What's Our Future Look Like?
Some people have asked us if we'll ever grow and open up another location or expand the one we
have. The answer is most likely NO. We were actually pretty large at one point. There were 3 technicians,
2 lube techs and a shop helper. We did a very large volume of business. The problem was it's very difficult
to keep tight control on quality when you get too large. That is the problem with most dealerships and chain's.
They need so many people to get the work done. The people who really care about the quality of work simply
can't oversee everything. And almost without exception, quality begins to fade. Customers become dissatisfied. The
shop has to deal with a lot of complaints. And the company is just not very fun to work for...it's more like
a daily battle.
So the downside to us being smaller is... we are not open 7 days a week, and we may not be
able to get everyones car in immediately. You may have to wait a little longer for service with us, but from my
experience that really is not much of an issue. Our appointment system is very efficient.
The upside is
we operate smart and lean. Meaning our overhead is pretty low so we don't have to [WON"T] sell you stuff
you don't need. We can be 100% honest, 100% of the time!
I don't have 4-8 technicians trying to increase
their paycheck by gouging customers.
So we may never be a huge company. And we will never make a lot
of money. But we will enjoy our work. And we will make sure we always stay a shop you can trust.
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- HELPING over PROFITS
- MAKE FRIENDS
not CUSTOMERS
Avoid the typical repair shop feel.
Keep ROSE AUTOMOTIVE
a friends and family place...
Comfortable, Relaxed and Helpful. |
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OUR PEOPLE
Chris Rose, Owner and Technician.
Chris was raised in a rural town in upstate NY...dairy cows and corn fields as far as the eye can see. At an
early age he began tearing apart household appliances and eventually the lawn mower. Wasn't much of a stretch to
realize he would end up fixing things. At seventeen he went off to serve his country. He spent 8yrs in the army
visiting the world. When he came back he got right into the auto repair business. Spending time as a mechanic,
service writer and shop manager for several dealerships, national repair chains and local repair shops. And in 1999
started on the path as owner of his own shop. He is married to his beautiful wife and business partner [Kyra].
He has 3 great kids, two with Kyra, Kali and Collin. And Stephan his oldest from a previous marriage.
Kyra Rose, Owner and Service Writer, "everything
but fix'em".
Kyra was born and raised in El Paso TX. At the young age of 19, she found
the greatest guy in the world [if she was asked, I'm sure that's what she'd say], married and had two of the greatest
kids in the world, Kali and Collin. Before she joined the Rose Automotive team she spent time as a sub teacher and then
ran a very successful home daycare. As the kids got older she closed the daycare and started doing the books for
the company and little by little took on a larger role until she held the position of "I do everything but fix'em".
So the whole place keeps on going smoothly everyday because of one beautiful woman.
Mary Austin Hewitt, Technician
Mary Austin came to us fresh out of technical school. We interviewed her as more of a joke than anything.
The big bad mechanic man was going to make the little girly cry. Well the joke was on us!!! She was/is one of
the smartest technicans that has ever come through our shop. So needless to say we not only got a new opinion of
female technicians, we also have one of the best on staff to prove how good they are. Mary joined us very
near the beginning of the company and if we're lucky she'll stay forever. She's a very special part of our
family. Let me give you one fact about Mary Austin... "You couldn't find a better technician to work
on your car!"
Our Kids
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| Collin baseball team won the championship |
These are two reasons we
can't be open all the time.
Family is so very important!
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| Kali's dance at the Trail of Lights |
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