Estevan’s Fountain Tire is the recipient of the Readers’ Choice Award for Best Tire Shop in a contest offered by the Estevan Mercury. The auto shop, which was voted into first place by local readers, earned its prestigious title by letting its local mindset be a driving force in the business.
“We pride ourselves on being part of the community,” said Aaron O’Connor, Assistant Manager at Fountain Tire.
Fountain Tire is a nationally owned tire chain. Most of its locations are locally owned and operated. It offers a multitude of auto services and mechanical needs. Its tire services include flat repairs, tire replacements, balancing and tire repairs, and seasonal tire changeovers. Other services offered incorporate shock struts, wheel alignment, and oil and filter changes.
The staff members feel a close connection to the town they work in and the people they work for. “Any kind of charitable donation we do, we try and do mostly the local ones as well as taking part in different local things,” O’Connor added, mentioning his manager’s active hand in local sports clubs and teams.
In addition to its community involvement, this Fountain Tire, located on 4th Street, wants to make its local roots official. It is currently in the process of shifting its ownership to reflect that. “We will be 50 per cent Fountain Tire owned and 50 per cent locally owned,” O’Connor said. Its focus on servicing cars and taking care of customers is enlarged by the fact that many of the shop’s customers are friends and personally known by staff members. “That’s just the sort of thing that happens in a nice, small town like Estevan, so of course we want to do an exceptional job,” Aaron O’Connor said.
What makes Fountain Tire stand out from other auto shops is local mindset and focus on customer satisfaction.