Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie Freerksen.
Hi Ellie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Sure, there are many moving parts to my story as it is constantly changing! I am a Kwik Lube Oil Change Business owner by day and a superhero Mental Health Therapist by night! Haha Only kidding on the night part!! So, three years ago, I was working as a Mental Health Therapist. My husband and I were at our son’s wrestling tournament and ran into a friend and her husband who was watching their son wrestle. In our previous day to day passing, she and I had a running joke of buying each other’s carwashes! She would say, “hey, you guys own carwashes, you should buy our carwashes in Owatonna”. I would then say to her that she should buy ours in Dodge Center. We had done this for a good year prior to this particular day at wrestling. On this particular day, she had said this again and I had said “ok, lets do it.” So, she had asked if we were serious to which my husband and I both said yes. Within a day, my friend and her husband had set up a meeting with her parents. As it turned out, it was not just carwashes we were agreeing to buy. We quickly found out that it was a laundromat, hand bay carwashes, an automatic and a 2 bay kwik lube shop. At first, this was overwhelming but I do love a challenge and it was something new and exciting! We agreed to buy everything and came to an agreement with my friend, her husband and her parents as they were all owners together. My husband and I purchased the business in December of 2023 and we have no regrets. We remodeled our shop and even added many services such as breathalyzers, tires and a new bay for small repairs such as brakes, rotors, a/c recharge etc. Our Kwik Lube is amazing and our staff is wonderful! We are grateful for the opportunity from the previous owners and also from the Owatonna community for accepting us as new business owners and welcoming us with open arms!!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
With any business there are challenges within staff changes, policy changes, implementing new services and customer relations. However, we focus on a family environment and take each experience as a learning experience. We also take any opportunity to show improvements and how to lead rather than be bossy with each other. Customer service and having a positive attitude is our main focus. We want all of our customers and staff to feel valued and important to the success of our business. Challenges and struggles will happen but that is what makes life exciting. Owning this business for me was a challenge because it was something I had never done previously. I was nervous but also excited because I love new opportunities and I also love learning. My husband has a background in trucking, automotive repair and carwashes, so he was accustomed to this industry and has been a solid learning block for our staff and to me! He also operates a business in Dodge Center where he offers automotive repair, tires, breathalyzers, DOT inspections, carwashes and towing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Apex Pro Kwik Lube?
Our business focuses on strong, positive interactions with staff and customers. I am a Mental Health Therapist, so I tend to approach things from a learning aspect with our staff and sometimes with customers as well. We do leave personal conflicts and personal issues outside of the workplace but if I see someone struggling, I tend to help teach a lesson in a way that uplifts them personally as well. I think that is what I am more known for within our businesses. Our staff members will often say that they come to work for Mental Health Therapy. I love that! I don’t think that is how other people run their business as it can be misconstrued as being too involved. However, my goal is to help each of my staff feel valued and feel like they are moving toward success. I have always been a leader who has the mindset of “Why watch someone struggle when I could do something that helps?” Because of the way we run our business, we have very few issues with conflict between staff and very few issues with staff missing work. I believe it has to do with how we approach our staff! I also think our customers are #1! We value every customer who walks through our doors and will go above and beyond for them. We had a customer who came into our shop on the weekend. He was in town to pick up his grandson and take him to a ball game in Minneapolis. The customer had a bad tire. Our shop didn’t work on tires at this particular time. We only did tire rotations but not repairs or replacement. My husband and I together wanted to help this customer in time to bring his grandson to the game. Our shop searched Rochester, Owatonna and Faribault for a new tire. It seemed hopeless initially but we didn’t give up. We finally found a tire for the customer, we put it on for him in Dodge Center (they do tires there) and the customer was very thankful. A few days later, we received a thank you card in the mail thanking us for taking the time for them. The customer said that without us, they would have been stuck in Owatonna all weekend (no tire shops or dealerships were open) and missed the game and time with their grandson. We were soo thrilled! This is the service we offer! Anytime we can go above and beyond, we do. Our staff feels the same. There is another time where a customer was on the road outside of our shop-over by the gas station. One of our employees went over to see what the guy needed. This customer had a bad tire. Our employee came back to the shop, grabbed a tire patch kit and an air tank and went to patch up the customers tire. It is so awesome that our staff shares our same values and thoughts toward customers! We want all of our readers and customers to know that we do go above and beyond and they are not just another customer for us!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I don’t have a lot of time for books, apps or podcasts but am always looking for recommendations. I do my best life work by believing in myself and my skills. I believe everyone has the tools they need to do good work, it just takes special people to help realize this. My husband also shares these same thoughts about tools and doing his best work. I think we complement each other in that way as well. I am the one who takes every moment as a learning opportunity and I share that with others any chance I get. He is the one who takes a calmer approach and lets the situation work itself out in times of challenge. We are both lifelong learners and we continue to grow through each experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.apexprokwiklube.com and apexproautocare.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Apex-Pro-Auto-Care-and-Towing-100086944135507/ and https://www.facebook.com/KecksKwikLube/
