MAACO Collision Repair & Auto Painting is an American franchisor of auto painting and collision repair shops based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was founded in 1972 by Anthony A. Martino and Daniel I. Rhode.
History
Charlotte Corporate Video- MAACO Holiday Promos -
Ten years before MAACO's founding, Martino had launched AAMCO Transmissions with partner Robert Morgan. He created both names by using the first letters from his name (Anthony A. Martino).
In 1967, with close to 500 stores in operation, Martino sold AAMCO to Morgan.
In 1972, Martino opened a pilot auto painting center Wilmington, Delaware. He chose the name MAACO (Martino, Anthony A. and Co.) to instill confidence in potential franchisees who knew of AAMCO’s success. The new company grew quickly, with close to 200 franchises open in less than five years. In October, 2008, Driven Brands of Charlotte, N.C., a holding company which owns Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. as well as Econo Lube and other auto service related concerns, purchased Maaco outright from Martino's family after his death in January 2008. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In 1993, a MAACO franchise in Framingham, Massachusetts won a painting contract for Massachusetts State Police cruisers, which caused controversy after a Boston newspaper reported that some of the MAACO shops involved in the contract were owned wholly or partly by Jane Gnazzo, the wife of Jerold Gnazzo, the state's Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
MAACO Franchising, Inc., has been cited numerous times by Entrepreneur magazine as #1 in its category in the Annual Franchise 500 survey.
Advertising campaign
Through the 1980s and 1990s, the company ran a television and radio ad campaign featuring the slogan "Uh oh, better get Maaco".
MAACO was the sponsor of the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas from 2009â€"2012 at a reported $1 million a year.
Company details
Since 1972, Maaco has repaired some 16.5 million vehicles. The company currently has 475 bodyshop locations across the United States and Canada. Maaco has trademarked the term North America’s Bodyshop. The franchises provide auto paint and auto body repair services for over 650,000 vehicles a year, more than any other paint and body repairer..
References
External links
- Maaco official website
