Women are purchasing more cars than ever before. Repair businesses that respond to women' s needs and expectations by providing clean waiting rooms, timely delivery, and repair orders that are easy to understand are making smart business decisions. There is a growing appreciation of female customers. Efforts to address the needs of female customers are evident in the marketplace. Donna Wagner, Director of Operations for the Car Care Council, Port Clinton, Ohio, believes that the presence of female professionals in repair shops may help create a more user-friendly environment for female customers.
Many women feel less intimated when interacting with female service advisors and technicians.
A greater comfort level can turn the whole repair experience into a more positive one. While the total number of women in the repair profession is small, the rate of increase over the last few years is noteworthy. ASE, the national non-profit organization that tests and certifies repair professionals, has also seen an increase in the number of females participating in its testing and certification program. While the number of ASE-certified male technicians has increased by 14 percent in the last two years, the number of certified female technicians has more than doubled from 1,329 in 1994 to 2,041 in 1996. Challenging careers as automotive service professionals are not gender-specific.