MAACO is seeking new locations, and Pittsburgh is on the top of its list for expansion, the company announced. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pa., MAACO is a North American network of approximately 500 franchised collision repair and auto painting centers.
With declining new car sales and declining car production estimates, coupled with an increase in the length of time that consumers keep their cars and an increase in the size of the total collision repair market, the company says it’s poised to grow.
“Our business has a recession-resistant history, and we are committed to building our business, helping our franchisees and serving our customers in every way we can,” said Patrick Donohue, vice president of franchise development for MAACO. “Our research is showing us that the Pittsburgh market is underserved by body shops, so it is a market we have targeted for growth. Currently, we have no MAACO franchises in the marketplace. We’d like to have six.”
In addition to new franchise development, the company is also seeking to convert existing traditional, independent shops to MAACO franchises, according to Donohue.
“For an independent body shop owner looking to sell his or her business, there is no rescue plan,” Donohue said, noting the continuing decline in the number of independent shops. “Often, they’re holding onto their real estate in hopes that it will have value outside the industry. As a landlord, they risk losing their auto industry assets, such as their paint booth and equipment, when they lease to a client outside the collision industry.”
Additional markets targeted for expansion include: Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix and Rochester.
MAACO says its franchise conversion program assists independent owners in transitioning their shops to MAACO franchises and provides helpful support systems for store operators. The company says its training program is one of the most comprehensive in franchising
Since 1972, MAACO has painted more than 16 million vehicles and currently services more than 500,000 vehicles a year at its nearly 500 outlets. MAACO’s newly introduced Cosmollision service combines cosmetic and collision repair of damaged, but drivable vehicles.
For more information about MAACO and its conversion program, call (866) 248-5931 or visit www.maacofranchise.com.
