PRESS RELEASE: Local family mechanic, Barr Automotive, wins local and state awards for excellence in customer service.
Barr Automotive, a second-generation family-owned and operated mechanic in Hornsby, take out multiple business awards in 2020; Business Person of the Year (Igor Stjepanovic) in the Hornsby and Kur-Ring-Gai Local Business Awards; and the 2020 Australian Achiever Awards – NSW state winner in the Automotive Services Category.
In 2019, Barr Automotive won Most Outstanding Automotive Services Award in the Hornsby & Kuring-Gai Local Business Awards. In 2020 they were finalists and shared that title with their friendly competition Barrie Auto Electrics (Lydia’s parents, Branka and Deyan Barrie) who took out the award.
Barr Automotive is also a finalist in the 2020 Small Business Champion Awards, which due to coronavirus restrictions, the ceremony has been delayed until 2021.
A brief history of the business:
Barr Automotive has had an evolutionary journey through two different families, yet maintained its core values: transparency, authenticity, and honesty, with maintaining its high standard of service.
The Beginning: In the 1970’s the business opened as Denis Barr Automotive, started by its namesake Denis Barr on Red Leaf Avenue in Wahroonga at the old Petrol Station as the resident mechanic. In 1986 Denis Barr Automotive relocated from red leaf avenue Wahroonga to 5 Hornsby Street, Hornsby.
Transfer from one Family to Another: In 2009 Denis Barr sold Denis Barr Automotive to long-time friends and industry colleagues Deyan & Branka Barrie (of Barrie Auto Electrics) Denis Barr Automotive came under the management of the Barrie Family. In 2012 Denis Barr Automotive relocated from Hornsby Street to 14 James Street Hornsby into a bigger and better facility.
Generational Transfer & Rebrand: In 2019 Denis Barr Automotive changed hands from one generation to another. Lydia (daughter of Branka and Deyan) and her husband, Igor, purchased the business after having spent several years in the Barrie management team. Lydia and Igor rebranded the business to Barr Automotive to reflect the fresh nature of the business.
About Lydia & Igor Stjepanovic
Although growing up in the automotive industry, Lydia Stjepanovic was a marketing and management graduate who moved into the events industry, specialising in customer experience. In 2014 she left the industry and joined the family business as the Service and Operations Manager.
Igor Stjepanovic an electrical engineer and project manager with a Master’s in Business Administration saw an opportunity to join the family business with his wife and in-laws. Igor joined the business in 2018 as Mechanical Workshop Manager.
Lydia and Igor believe that as a small business they have a responsibility to the local community to provide genuine, honest and trustworthy service. Their ethos is a focus on cultivating authentic exchanges, creating the best customer experience possible.
QUOTES
“We have always been customer’s first – as business owners, we understand we need to view ourselves in their eyes. In our industry, I feel there isn’t enough empathy for the stress of leaving the family chariot, weekender, daily driver, in the hands of others to take care of. We aim to alleviate that stress by providing timely and jargon-free information. Our approach is simple, we put the customer in control of their maintenance and repair decisions
We were always customers first and as customers we – which is why we can understand the stress of leaving the family chariot in the hands of someone else to take care of. We aim to alleviate that stress, providing clear and regular jargon-free information. Our approach is simple, a holistic approach that puts the customer in control of their maintenance and repair decisions.” Igor Stjepanovic
“We provide more than just a service; we create a relationship and customer experience based on trust, honesty and empathy. Knowing your own vehicle intimately means you will be less likely to rush into an expensive or regretful decision.” Lydia Stjepanovic
ATTACHMENTS include: photographs, logos and 2020 Australian Achiever Awards Media Release
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/localawards/photos/a.1544249552498271/2730122207244327/?type=3&theater
https://thebusinessawards.com.au/business/34235/Barr-Automotive
https://businesschampions.com.au/finalists#finalists
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydiastjepanovic/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/igorstjepanovic/
Social Media
https://www.Instagram.com/barr_autos
https://www.Facebook.com/barrautomotives
https://www.Linkedin.com/company/barrautomotive
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-stjepanovic-5a81533a/
