Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Fordyce. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nicole, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?

One of the best ways we have ever shown appreciation to our customers was just recently when we hosted a Customer Appreciation Lunch to celebrate our one year anniversary. We wanted to do something more than simply say thank you. We wanted to create an experience where people could come together, enjoy good food, and feel part of our community.

We opened our shop from noon to two and served amazing BBQ, desserts, and drinks. The turnout exceeded anything we could have imagined. What made it really special was the fellowship. Customers were not just stopping by, they stayed, visited, and connected with one another.

To my knowledge, no other auto shops in our town have ever done something like this, so I think our customers could really feel how genuine our appreciation was. It was not just about business. It was about relationships. The feedback we received was incredible, and seeing our customers laugh, eat, and celebrate with us made it clear they felt valued.

For us, it was a reminder that our shop is not just about cars. It is about people. That event gave us a chance to show our gratitude in a way that words alone could not.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the owner of Nicole’s Auto Care Center in Harrisonville, Missouri, where we provide full-service auto repair. I have been in the industry for about ten years now, but my journey with cars actually started much earlier. Back in high school, I attended a local career center for Automotive Technology simply because I had an interest in the subject. What I did not know at the time was that I would also meet the love of my life there, my husband Jimmy, who was already working in a local shop.

Life took me in another direction for quite a while. For about fifteen years, I worked in an entirely different field before coming back to the automotive world. Around ten years ago, I left the corporate world to run the front office of the shop where my husband was working as a mechanic. At the time, the plan was to eventually purchase that shop when the owner retired, but as often happens, life had other plans. Looking back, I truly believe it worked out for the better.

In August of 2024, we purchased our shop here in Harrisonville. The building itself has deep roots in the community, as it was originally Gregg’s Wheel Alignment, which opened in 1965. We are now the third owners of this space, carrying forward its history while creating our own story under a new name.

At Nicole’s Auto Care Center, our focus is simple but powerful: we take care of people by taking care of their cars. Auto repair is not always easy. The work itself is physically demanding, and the process of diagnosing today’s vehicles can be complex. But our goal has always been to make it as stress-free as possible for our customers by being honest, transparent, and thorough.

What sets us apart is the way we approach relationships. We see every person who walks through our doors as more than just a transaction. We take the time to explain what is going on with their vehicle, answer questions, and make sure they feel comfortable with the process. For me, the greatest compliment is when a customer tells us they feel like family here, because that is exactly how we want people to feel.

I am most proud of the fact that in just one year, we have built a shop that is thriving not only because of the repairs we do but because of the trust we have earned. Our brand is built on integrity, hard work, and genuine care for our community. For anyone who has not heard of us before, what I would want them to know is that we are more than just another repair shop. We are a family-owned business dedicated to doing right by our customers every single time.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe the biggest factor in building our reputation has been honesty and respect. We treat every customer with the same level of care, whether they drive a well-used older vehicle or a brand new Cadillac. At the end of the day, people rely on their vehicles to get them to work, school, appointments, and everything in between, so we make it a point to always be transparent and fair about what their car needs.

Another thing that sets us apart is our shop name. Nicole’s Auto Care Center is a little unique in the automotive world, and I think it creates a sense of comfort before customers even walk through the door. For many women especially, seeing a female name on an auto repair business can feel refreshing and reassuring in an industry that has traditionally been male dominated. While the name is mine, the work we do is very much a team effort. Our reputation comes from the way all of us work together to provide honest communication, dependable repairs, and a welcoming environment for every customer.

Word of mouth has also been a huge part of our growth. When customers leave here feeling respected and confident in the work we have done, they tell their family and friends. That kind of personal recommendation carries more weight than anything else we could do, and it has helped us build a loyal customer base that continues to grow.

I truly believe that combination of treating people with respect, being upfront and honest, creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, and earning trust through word of mouth is what has allowed us to build such a strong reputation in our community.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the biggest examples of resilience in my journey has been opening Nicole’s Auto Care Center. My husband and I had both worked in the automotive industry for years (my husband for 22 years and myself for over 8 years), and for a long time the plan was to eventually buy the shop where we had worked. When that plan fell through, it was difficult because it felt like the future we had envisioned for ourselves was gone.

Instead of giving up, we took a leap of faith. In August of 2024, we decided to buy a building that had been home to a long-standing repair shop in Harrisonville. It was a scary decision because starting a business comes with so much uncertainty.

Now, a year later, I can say it was the best decision we ever made. The shop has grown faster than we imagined, and the support from our customers and community has been incredible. For me, resilience was about facing the disappointment of one plan not working out and choosing to believe that something even better could be built. That experience taught me that resilience is not just about pushing through hard times, it is about trusting yourself enough to take risks and create a new path when the old one closes.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolesautocare
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Nicoles-Auto-Care-Center-61564365515254/
• Other: [email protected]