Oil Can Henry's was an oil-change shop based in Tualatin, Oregon, United States.[1] Prior to being bought by Ashland Inc. in 2015, the company operated as a franchisor, and had locations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Arizona, Colorado and Minnesota.[1] After the acquisition, the shops were re-branded as Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations.
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1972 (Portland, Oregon) |
| Headquarters | Tualatin, Oregon 45°22′53″N 122°46′17″W / 45.381294°N 122.771283°W |
| Products | Oil change, car maintenance |
| Parent | Ashland Inc. |
| Website | www.oilcanhenrys.com |
One feature of these shops was that they did not have waiting rooms; instead, customers watched the service from their car using a monitor that displayed live video from cameras placed around the car, and were also given a free newspaper to read (either local or USA Today).[2] Employees were known for their uniforms that feature a bow tie and a newsboy cap.[3] The company motto was "The One You Can Trust".[3]
History
edit
Oil Can Henry's was founded in 1978 by Marshall Stevens, a Tigard, Oregon, real estate developer.[4] In 1988, the Shepanek family and friends purchased the company for $340,000, while Stevens continued to own franchises.[4] Then named OCH International, the company began selling franchises in 1989.[5] Sales at the company grew to $15 million in 1996.[4]
The company was the nation's 18th largest oil change company in 1997.[4] That year Oil Can Henry's signed a deal with Valvoline that included loan guarantees, payments to franchisees to help cover start-up costs, and a discount on oil.[4] By April 2007, the company had grown to 67 locations, with ten of those as company-owned shops.[5] Stevens had to sell 12 of 14 of his locations in 1991 due to financial problems.[4]
Oil Can Henry's and its customers donated a total of $71,000 to the National Military Family Association in late 2014.[6]
Oil Can Henry's and its franchisees donated $91,000 to the National Military Family Association in November, 2015.[7]
OCH International sold to Ashland Inc. on December 11, 2015, which also owns the Valvoline brand.[8]
Operations
editThe company had locations in six different western states: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Arizona, and Colorado, with the majority of the shops located in Oregon and Washington. Oil Can Henry's also offered a variety of other vehicle maintenance services in addition to oil changes.
The original store location in Tigard is called "Gearhart's Lubricatorium," featuring Steampunk-style gear-operated oil dispensers adorned with velvet and brass, based around the organization's fictional founder, "Henry Gearhart."
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Oil Can Henry's franchise statistics
- ^ Bhargava, Rohit (2008). Personality Not Included: Why Companies Lose Their Authenticity and How Great Brands Get It Back. McGraw-Hill Professional. pp. 76–77. ISBN 978-0-07-154521-1.
oil can henry's.
- ^ a b Tellijohn, Andrew (June 6, 2003). "Oil Can Henry's is looking in our 'hood". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
- ^ a b c d e f Make, Jonathan (June 13, 1997). "Oil Change". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
- ^ a b Johnson, Kelly (April 20, 2007). "Slick oil change operation slides into Central Valley market". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
- ^ "PV Oil Can Henry's makes 2nd largest donation in country to vets". Prescott Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
- ^ "Around the Industry: Oil Can Henry's Donates $91,000 to the National Military Family Association".
- ^ Rogoway, Mike (December 11, 2015). "Oil Can Henry's, based in Tualatin, sells to Valvoline's owner". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
External links
edit- Oil Can Henry's (official site)