This Knight sees the Light

By Bob Cox

Once upon a time and just over three years ago to be exact, lived a young man who was a gifted and skilled mechanic. People would travel from the ends of the earth to have their vehicle’s properly diagnosed and repaired. All in this story would go on to live happily ever after, all that is except for the young mechanic who felt conflicted and torn. His name was Marcus Knight.

You see, Mr. Knight had been raised with a strong set of ethical standards that were not being practiced by some of the repair shops he had worked in. According to Marcus, it was common for some shops to not honor warranties, while others would either break things or misdiagnose problems and then go on to charge their customers because they could get away with it.

Finally, the day came when Marcus had had enough, so he packed up his tool box and started his own repair shop called Knight’s Automotive off Power Inn Road in Sacramento. We had a chance to speak the other day and here’s how it went.

Q: How long did you work at other shops as a mechanic?

A: About 10 years. I worked at a machine shop for about three years and then a dealership for a little while, but mostly independent shops. I spent about five years working at a shop in downtown Sacramento before the owner passed away.

Q: What drew you to the automotive industry?

A: Well, my Grandfather was a machinist for the military and he worked on aircraft. So I started out working on airplanes when I was a little kid and he would take me flying. We would work on stuff at home and it was just in my blood. I was born to do this.

Q: What separates your shop from other shops in town?

A: Well, multiple things really. One of the things that definitely stands out is that the repairs we do are being explained to you by a mechanic, not a salesman, which means we don’t try to pull as much money out of you as possible. I noticed how that happened at some of the shops I worked at. Another thing is just being basically honest and having integrity. We are dedicated to excellence in every aspect and really go the extra mile, like if a customer needs to be towed. I’ve even met people on the side of the road.

Q: What do you do in your shop to maintain your high ethical standards?

A: Well, I’m just upfront and refuse to charge for stuff that we break. We specialize in diagnosis, but if we do misdiagnose a car and hang a part on there that doesn’t fix it, we don’t charge for that because I feel like that is wrong. You’re paying us to figure out what’s wrong with the car and fix it. We have a strong faith and we all practice the golden rule.

Q: Is it common for auto mechanics to misdiagnose a car?

A: It’s pretty common in the industry. That’s why we check and recheck. I think that’s why I have developed good relationships with all my customers and a lot of them have become friends. There’s more to life than just going to work and collecting a paycheck.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to mention about your shop?

A: Yes, we literally work on everything. We do hybrid repair, diesels, foreign and domestic cars and trucks up to one ton. We’re also looking to hire one more full time mechanic with at least five years of experience that has a good ability and a strong knowledge base. That would free up more of my time to spend with my customers.

Marcus credits much of his inspiration for opening up his own business to his mother Rebecca Spuehler. Rebecca has enjoyed a fulfilling and prosperous career as the owner of her own Avon business. She has rented a space off Madison Ave. near Auburn Blvd. for several years and has used it as a retail store and training center. In a career spanning nearly three decades, Rebecca’s contagious enthusiasm and generous heart have helped her recruit and develop the top sales team in Sacramento. I caught up with Rebecca recently find out what’s new and exciting at Avon.

Avon is on the Move!

Q: You’re in the process of moving your business from a retail shop to your home. Do you think this will change anything for your customers or your sales team?

A: Yes and I’m excited about the move! This move will give me more time with my sales reps and my customers, especially when I’m delivering products. I’ve built an incredible business from home before I even opened up my store 25 years ago, so I’m looking forward to building up our team from my home and plan to double my business this year!

Q: How were you able to build the number one sales team for Avon in Sacramento?

A: Just being consistent in everything I do and having a belief system that it can work. Also, just wanting this badly enough. You have to believe in and love your product. That’s really one of the most important things. Somebody made a joke about me one time when she said I was a walking, talking Avon machine! And she was right because I wear their clothes and use all their products. I’m always excited about the products and how it changes people’s lives.

Q: If someone is interested in selling Avon, why should they consider joining your team?

A: Well, I have a lot of knowledge and experience. I feel like I’m generous and I believe in giving things to my team members to help them be successful, like catalogs and samples. I also have an incredible manager and we work really well together and have built a winning team.

Q: What’s new and exciting at Avon?

A: We are putting together a ton of gift baskets and I customize them for people that are busy and don’t have time to shop. I arrange beautiful customized gift baskets for Valentine’s Day and fill them with things like cologne and jewelry. I even deliver them to my customer’s home or place of business. All they need to do is let me know what their sweetheart is interested in and their price range and we’ll do the rest!

Q: How difficult is it to start a part-time or full-time Avon business?

A: Avon has made it really easy to start a business, so if you’re interested in selling Avon, call me and I can help you get started in just 10 minutes! For just $25, we will help you get off to a great start with a beautiful starter kit.

Editor’s notes: For more information about Knights Automotive, call (916) 753-4332 and for more information about Avon call (916) 331-1001.