Bohanna Motors has been awarded the Mobil Seller Service Station of the 12 months award. Picture / Dave Chapman
Bohanna Motors has been awarded the Mobil Seller Service Station of the 12 months award. Picture / Dave Chapman
Not way back, Martin Bohanna thought of closing his petrol service station.
A ram raid, varied rising prices and different stuff have been virtually too laborious to bear.
However he mustered the braveness to persevere, particularly due to his loyal employees, the enterprise had been a part of his household for thus lengthy, and it was effectively revered and patronised by the neighborhood.
The service station was quickly again on its regular ft and now there’s absolute proof of how good issues are.
Bohanna Motors, in Waikanae, on the Kāpiti Coast, has been declared the Mobil Seller Service Station of the 12 months.
The accolade is a formidable achievement, particularly contemplating there are over 300 Mobil service stations all through New Zealand.
“It was a bit out of the blue and we didn’t count on it in any respect,” Martin stated.
The award was sealed in Auckland at a two-day Mobil roadshow convention, which he couldn’t attend due to work commitments.
“My Mobil consultant rang me and stated that we’d received the award and turned up on the service station with it.
Martin Bohanna with the Mobil Seller Service Station of the 12 months award. Picture / David Haxton
“Employees have been rapt and I’m rapt for them.
“Mobil shouted us a pleasant morning tea.”
The morning tea was very effectively deserved.
“After a few years of laborious slog with Covid, gasoline gross sales happening, after which the ram raid, it has been good to get by way of it after which win a serious award.”
The ram raid occurred on October 12 and work to repair the injury didn’t get accomplished till the primary week of Might.
“A ute was pushed by way of the entrance of the service station showroom and vaping product stolen.
“Ninety seconds was how lengthy they have been within the constructing.
“And so they did $79,000 value of harm.
Ram raid aftermath at Bohanna Motors.
“That was on prime of two actual laborious years and I ended up having a psychological breakdown.
“I used to be prepared to drag the pin [on the business].
“It was actually laborious work however fortunately the assist of our prospects, and stuff like that, helped us by way of.
“On the day of the ram raid, builder Mike Craig got here and constructed us a brand new store frontage with ply and timber framing, earlier than 1pm, after ringing me at 7.30am.
“He stated, ‘I see you’ve been ram raided’, I stated ‘yeah we now have’, and he stated, ‘I’m on my means [to help]’.”
The Mobil Seller Service Station of the 12 months award was based mostly on loads of issues resembling thriller customers, gasoline turnover, well being and security specs, buyer expertise, and Mobil loyalty programme numbers.
“It’s an enormous vary of issues which are taken under consideration.”
He was grateful his service station has been chosen.
“It’s good to have acknowledgment about what my employees are doing is appreciated, as a result of we nonetheless serve on a regular basis on the forecourt, and our gasoline gross sales are starting to dwindle down due to electrical vehicles plus the worth of gasoline.
“It’s a altering dynamic within the job now, sadly, however we attempt to be an excellent old school service station.”
Martin revealed among the service station’s secrets and techniques for achievement.
“It comes right down to my employees and our pursuit to ensure our prospects get the most effective service they’ll.
“It’s so much like an enormous household.”
Bohanna Motors, which employs 15 employees, was began in 1979 by Martin’s mother and father, Brent and Helen Bohanna.
In 2020, Bohanna Motors was runner-up Mobil Seller Service Station of the 12 months.
