About Us - History of Autobarn

Eighteen years ago nine major Victorian specialist auto parts and accessories retailers got together and formed a co-operative named Autobarn. Seven years later that co-operative became the foundation of the Autobarn franchise system, as we know it today.

The initial concept of the Autobarn group was to bring together existing and successful specialist retailers of automotive parts and accessories with the aim of developing a strong corporate image and greater market awareness to successfully combat the growing penetration of large corporate players in the automotive retail market, from such diverse quarters as Department Stores, Discounters, Service Stations and Hardware Stores, to name but a few, and in the process, giving the group greater buying power, stronger advertising clout, more marketing opportunities and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences to benefit all the members of the group.

The concept proved so successful that within five years the group grew to 28 stores all trading under one corporate identity and developing a unique and successful approach to the retailing of automotive parts and accessories.

In 1991, the members decided that Autobarn had something to offer which had proven very successful and was different from its competitors. Thus the idea of franchising the Autobarn retail concept evolved.

To ensure the continued growth and success of the enterprise as a Franchise System Autobarn adopted a number of principles that it has followed. These are:

1. To establish clearly defined and exclusive territories.
    
2. All shareholders that owned stores were franchised to Autobarn. This was to ensure all decisions adopted by the shareholders were fair, balanced and in the best interests of Franchisees and Franchisor alike. To this day, 80% of shareholders continue to own franchised Autobarn outlets.
    
3. Creating a Franchisee Advisory Council known as the National Council whose function is to:

a) Review, approve and provide input for the Advertising programs and Marketing initiatives proposed by the Marketing Department.

b) To regularly review and evaluate products, existing and new and submit for ranging in all stores.

c)  Monitor and recommend changes to pricing policies.

d)  Discuss issues of interest and/or concern to franchisees with the franchisor.

e) To provide franchisee recommendations and ideas to promote the group into the future, on a macro scale.

Autobarn is very much a Franchisee orientated business. This is very strongly reflected in the way the business is directed and conducted.

The one constant in the way Autobarn is managed is the total focus on the main objectives of developing and growing a strong, vibrant and profitable specialist retail organisation, which is attuned to the needs of its customers, is dedicated and committed to meet and fulfill its responsibilities to its franchisees and meet the expectations of its shareholders.

It has been Autobarn's stated aim to prove that franchising is the best system for small business.  Autobarn's approach to franchising and achieving pre-eminence in this sector is based on the knowledge that its own success is closely linked to the success of its franchisees and is the underlying principle to the Autobarn culture and the way it manages its franchising business.