Quality and service are at the core of Speedy Auto Service Moncton

Mike Hamson is currently President of Donovan Auto Group of Moncton, New Brunswick but that’s not where he started his business career. We spoke with him and learned a lot about how he went about getting into the auto repair business.

In talking with him, MIke said, “We acquired Speedy Auto Moncton in September 2022 as our first step into the automotive repair industry. Recognizing that we had a lot to learn about the business and the industry, we decided to start with an established shop rather than building from scratch. Speedy Auto Moncton stood out to us because of its excellent reputation and loyal customer base, making it a solid foundation for our entry into the field.”

The right opportunity
Autosphere then wondered how he first got started in the auto repair sector to which he answered, “We initially started in real estate but realized that adding an operating business would be a great complement to our group. Automotive repair was one of the few industries we considered, and when this opportunity came along, we seized it. Over the past two years, we’ve had to learn quickly, but we’ve been fortunate to have an incredible team of employees and the guidance of an excellent business coach. Their support has been instrumental in helping us navigate the industry and build on the success of our venture.”

At this point, we just had to ask what some of the reasons were that Hamson chose this profession—we readily got our answer. “We were looking for an industry with strong, stable fundamentals—one that would always be in demand and provided a reliable foundation for growth. At the same time, we wanted something practical and straightforward, avoiding unnecessary complexity while still offering opportunities for meaningful impact. Automotive repair perfectly fit the bill! Vehicles are essential to everyday life, and keeping them safe and reliable is a service that directly improves people’s lives. The industry combines the stability of consistent demand with the satisfaction of solving tangible problems, making it an ideal choice for us.”

Slower more thorough approach
Autosphere went on to ask how the business had evolved over the years and was told that their focus was adjusted from getting as many cars through as possible to a slower, more thorough approach that prioritizes giving each customer a complete understanding of the health of their vehicle. We want to shift from primarily being a repair shop to one that helps people maintain their vehicles, ensuring they have a reliable car while saving money over time by avoiding the big, nasty, surprise repairs!

Hamson’s business is a full aftermarket shop and there isn’t much they can’t fix. They have six employees at this location—three licensed technicians, one third-year apprentice, one service advisor and a manager. As to their facility, they just finished a renovation over the holidays which saw them add their seventh bay and open up a lot of space!

We asked about when it came to equipment, had Hamson made any recent investments in machines like tire changers, alignment machines, tools, etc. and why?

Mike replied, “We have invested heavily in maintenance equipment which aligns with our mission: putting safe vehicles back on the road. Our most recent purchases have been two A/C machines, a coolant flush machine, power steering flush, alignment rack and aligner, and soon, a transmission flush machine.

Training and technology
Autosphere asked Mike to tell us about training at his location—how does he ensure his staff and technicians remain current with the latest technology and procedures?

“We try to take advantage of training as much as possible; this is especially important with the growth of the EV market. We want to adapt with the changing reality of our industry which means training has to be one of our biggest investments. We also see training as a great tool for employee retention and recruitment. Our people make our business, so we need to show them that we are willing to invest in their growth,” Hamson replied.

After asking whether the business was aligned with any brand and if so, why? Mike quickly told us, “We are aligned with two brands but in separate ways. We are a Speedy Auto franchise which has been an amazing group to work with. From the shop owners within the wider Speedy group to the awesome staff on the ground, they have been a dream to work with. On the day-to-day side, the main brand we buy from is APM. We assess our suppliers on parts quality and delivery times and APM has been top-shelf on both.”

Strong, loyal customer base
Autosphere also wondered that in order to build a strong, loyal customer base, what were some of the factors Mike considered important?

Hamson stated, “One is shared goals: We want our customers to know we share the same goal as they do—a safe, reliable vehicle that lasts as long as possible. This alignment builds trust and reinforces that we genuinely care about their best interests.

“Second would be process and customer experience. We prioritize having our team dialed into a consistent, thorough process to ensure top-notch quality and reliability in every service we provide. At the same time, we strive to maximize the customer experience by creating a welcoming, clean, and unique environment that makes people enjoy their time with us.”

We also asked what some of the challenges/opportunities were he saw in today’s service repair industry.

Mike stated that a shrinking labour pool is a definite challenge, and he sees the growth of the EV market as a really interesting opportunity over the next decade!