Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1506076
B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S 58 VIP Tires & Service Earning Customers for Life—One Customer at a Time T h e c o m p a n y t h a t w e a l l k n o w t o d a y a s VIP Tires & Service traces its roots back through two different origin stories and a major business model shift along the way. John P. Quirk, the executive chairman of VIP, is a third-gen- eration owner in the tires and service business. His grandfather, Edward S. Quirk, founded Quirk Tire in Watertown, Mass. in 1926. VIP Discount Auto Centers was founded in Lewiston, Maine, in 1958. John took over Quirk Tire in 1985, and after grow- ing the business nearly ten-fold, acquired VIP Discount Auto in 2001. John renamed the combined entity VIP Parts, Tires & Service. John then began the transformation of VIP from a 'dis- count' chain to a professional automotive service business with the simple mission to "Earn an Automotive Customer for Life." In 2012 the next major change occurred. e company divested their retail auto parts business and renamed the firm VIP Tires & Service, allowing the company to focus and put the 'service' back into the service business. Quirk-owned VIP has become Northern New England's largest privately held automotive service provider and tire dealer, operating nearly 70 locations in New England and employing over 600 team members. Because of their focus on careers, industry certifications, training, quality, and professional- ism, VIP refers to their team members as Certified Automotive Professionals. e company earns customers by providing top- notch service seven days a week, so there is always a VIP nearby and ready to take care of any car problem – leveraging decades of experience to be there whenever and wherever they're needed. VIP gets it: Your car is your life. e company has been in business for nearly a century because they know that a car means everything to so many people across New England, and it means just as much to VIP's professionals. Honest. Trustworthy. Friendly. ese are just some of the adjec- tives that VIP's customers use to describe the service they receive in the more than five thousand 5-star reviews that the company's shops receive each year. Yes, that's right – five thousand 5-star customer reviews each year. Each member of the VIP family treats people the way they deserve to be treated – with respect. It is a team effort; there are so many people involved with ensuring that VIP customers have an exceptional tire and automotive service experience. From John Quirk, who serves as executive chairman, and Tim Winkeler, VIP's president and CEO, to the rest of the leadership team and the entire staff, teamwork is not just a cliché, it isn't just a buzzword, it is a way of life at VIP. Career focused With teamwork in mind, VIP has always been there for its hard- working employees, who ensure top-notch customer service and make the company's workplace culture a true industry leader. VIP is a staunch advocate for vocational careers, with the company's auto technicians climbing the career ladder on a regular basis. Starting off at $18 to $21 per hour, VIP technicians can rapidly increase their earnings to $60,000 or $80,000 per year. Many VIP Master Certified Technicians surpass the $100,000 annual threshold, B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F V I P T I R E S & S E R V I C E P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F V I P T I R E S & S E R V I C E P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F V I P T I R E S & S E R V I C E Above: A Make-A-Wish kid had his wish granted at VIP's 2022 Annual Managers Conference. Right: Grand opening ribbon cutting event at a new VIP store location. Below: VIP's 2022 Annual Managers Conference at the Samoset Resort in Rockland, ME.