Pickering’s Auto Service, a dependable, full-service, family owned and operated auto repair service in West Denver, is celebrating 40 years in business.
In honor of the milestone, Pickering’s hosted an invitation-only party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, at its Lakewood location.
Pickering’s Auto Service was founded in Lakewood by Randy Pickering — a fourth-generation Pickering in the auto industry — in 1976. It was then known as Lakewood Tire and Wheel Center and would be housed at two locations before settling on the current name and location. In 1998, Pickering’s acquired the property at 90 S. Wadsworth Blvd. and built a new, 15-bay auto repair facility with state-of-the-art equipment.
Poised for expansion after 30 years in the community, Pickering’s opened a second location with 10 bays at 8070 Sheridan Blvd. in Arvada in 2010 and continued to grow.
The Pickering family, which includes Randy’s three children who run the business with him, believe their success is largely due to their commitment to the community and superior service, helping them outshine their competition. To the Pickerings, auto service is about the service as much as the auto.
“First and foremost, our goal is to build trusted, long-lasting relationships with customers while extending the life and safety of their vehicles,” Randy said. “Many of our customers have been with us throughout the first four decades of Pickering’s Auto Service and have become part of our family. We’re looking forward to continuing to build that family for generations to come.”
When customers visit Pickering’s, 1950s memorabilia surrounds them. For the Pickerings, this is a nod to a time when auto service providers knew their customers well and cared about them, as Pickering’s strives to do in the modern world.
“A visit to Pickering’s is different from other auto repair companies from the start,” said Randy’s daughter Taylor Pickering, the company’s marketing director. “When customers walk in, they see our family’s history in the auto industry through our history wall, full of family business photos extending over 100 years. They’re greeted by a welcoming staff member who makes them feel comfortable and listens to their needs. We communicate with each customer openly and honestly throughout the repair process, inform them of all of their options and complete each approved repair in a timely manner to get them safely back on the road. For a lot of people, visiting an auto repair facility isn’t something they look forward to, but we strive to make it more enjoyable.”
While Pickering’s likes to pay tribute to past generations, the company continuously moves forward, always training and using the latest technological tools and advances.
As a NAPA AutoCare Center, Pickering’s provides a multi-point vehicle inspection to help ensure that the customers see and understand what repairs need to happen and why. Pickering’s also uses Auto Apps text messaging, which allows Service Advisors to efficiently communicate with customers at the customer’s convenience throughout the service period. Technicians at Pickering’s are ASE-certified experts in vehicle repair and are continually trained on the latest vehicles and equipment to properly repair a vehicle the first time.
Looking to the future of Pickering’s Auto Service, Randy feels that the company is the strongest it’s ever been.
“Over the years, we have worked to redefine the independent auto repair industry in the eyes of our communities and to prove that independent auto repair shops are honest, ethical and trustworthy establishments capable of taking care of customers’ needs,” he said. “As the next generation of Pickerings moves into leadership roles within the company, this vision has never been stronger. My children value the same principles that we founded Pickering’s Auto on, and they appreciate the importance of building relationships with our customers and treating them like they are part of our family. Their individual strengths and perspectives bring so much to the operation, and it’s been very rewarding to watch.”
Committed to environmentally sustainable practices, both Pickering’s locations are Energy Star and Green Garage certified, and the company participates in several recycling and environmentally conscious initiatives, including burning its own waste oil for heating. The Lakewood location is powered by 250 solar panels.
Pickering’s Auto Service has earned several respected affiliations and titles, including that of AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility, NAPA AutoCare Center (since 1995), Better Business Bureau member with an A+ rating since 1983, Automotive Service Association of Colorado member, Air Care Colorado member and ASE certification.
As a committed member of the Lakewood and Arvada communities, Pickering’s gives back through working with charitable organizations such as Hands of the Carpenter, Coats for Colorado and Toys for Tots with plans to host a blood drive with Bonfils Blood Center in the near future.
