SWAN Hill Autobarn have won the Victoria Franchise Store of the Year Award, and manager Nigel Decker couldn’t be prouder of his team.
“I’m just so excited for them – we’ve had a lot of ups and downs like other businesses, but it’s great to see them come through and get this achievement at the end of the year,” Mr Decker said.
Winning the award comes down to a range of factors – having a variety of merchandise, having a clean and appealing store layout, etc. – but for Mr Decker, what it really comes back to is the customer service.
“I’m so proud of the community for coming through for us, as well – we couldn’t have done it without our customers,” he said.
“Obviously we’d like to have things go back to normal, but we appreciate that our customers know we try do everything that we can for them.”
Mr Decker is incredibly impressed that his team have continued to keep morale in a year he described as “crazy”.
“They’re just a ripper crew, and they get the job done,” Mr Decker said.
“I’m stoked for them, we’ve been together since the beginning of the pandemic, and I’m proud of my wife [Erin Decker] for the work she’s done as well.”
This is the first time Swan Hill Autobarn have won the award, and the only disappointment for Mr Decker and the team has been the inability to celebrate in person.
“It’s just a shame that the awards conference is via Zoom – it’s not the same!”
Autobarn Pty Ltd, between the years of 1991 and 2005, have won the Franchise Council of Australia National Franchisor of the Year, Best Homegrown Franchise System, and numerous other Australian Auto Aftermarket Awards.
In BRW Magazine, Autobarn is regularly featured as one of the top 500 growing franchises in Australia, and as of 2015, there are over 200 Autobarn and Autopro franchises across the country.
