Local auto dealers, repair centers earn female-friendly honor

Several auto dealers and repair centers in and around the Houston area have been certified "female-friendly" toward customers.

The nationally recognized askpatty.com provides a training and certification program for mechanics and auto retailers to increase the likelihood that female customers' expectations are exceeded.

Recently, the staff at Adolf Hoepfl & Son Garage in Houston completed the training program and made the commitment to exceed its female customers' expectations to be accepted to the Certified Female-Friendly program.

Other businesses in the Greater Houston area that are female-friendly certified are Lone Star Chevrolet (the seventh largest Chevy dealer in the nation) and service shops Accurate Auto Center in Tomball and Vic's Precision Automotive in The Woodlands.

Owner Vic Tarasic, of Vic's Precision Automotive, recently was quoted in Shop Owner magazine. "Our best customer is female, married, 35 to 50 years of age and holds a job," he said. "In most cases, she is the prime decision-maker. This is 'our' best customer, and other shops may have a totally different-looking customer."

The askpatty.com Certified Female-Friendly Program was designed for auto retailers and mechanics to attract and retain women customers. In order to be certified, applicants must complete a number of steps including making changes to their facilities starting with the restrooms, completing online training modules and passing tests. Once certified, certain standards and requirements must be maintained.

For more information about the program, e-mail Amy Hile at amyh@askpatty.com or visit askpatty.com.