Meet Josh Wende of Elm Street Express

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Wende.

Hi Josh, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
If I go way back. I started wrenching on stuff when I was little because I saw my dad doing it. I would get presents for birthdays or Christmas, and I would take them apart to see how they worked. When I was around 6, I got my first dirtbike. I spent all my free time riding and repairing it (and all the dirtbikes and ATVs that followed). I started racing go-karts around the age of 14. 

After grade school, my parents shipped me off to a college prep boarding school in St. Louis, Mo. I was a square peg in a round hole with my mullet and grease-stained fingers. 

After four years of that, I moved back and started going to the Ohio State Branch in Lima. This was not for me. I quit Ohio State and ended up enrolling at Northwestern Business College (now UNOH) for Auto Repair. 

While going to school, I was working on a race team and doing a little of my own automotive racing with my father. 

From connections I made racing, I got a job working as a motorcycle mechanic. 

I took all my test to be ASE master certified but stayed in the motorcycle industry for the next 20 years. 

About this time, I had met my wife and decided I had better get a better-paying job since we planned to have a family. 

That put me working swing shift at a local chemical plant. After 2 kids and 12 years of swing shift, I wanted something more. 

While searching for what to do next, I came across a listing for an oil change business for sale. I called the listing agent, had a brief conversation, and decided I should go get an oil change and do a little snooping. 

I pulled into the only bay my car would fit in (because the other bays were full of junk) and got my oil changed. 

The place was neglected, but I could see that it had potential. 

After a little back and forth, I made a deal, and a few months later, the place was mine. 

We changed the name to Elm Street Express, did a lot of cleaning, and hired an awesome team. 

We are still working to let everyone know it is a whole new place, and business is slowly picking up. 

We believe if we do good work, use great products, and treat people fair, we will gain back all the business the previous owners lost and than some. 

As for now, I am still working my 12-hour rotating shifts at the chemical plant and spending my off hours at Elm Street Express. This is only possible because of my amazing crew. Without them, I would not be able to make it happen. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Initially, there was a ton of work to get the facility in shape. None of the car washes worked, the shop was an absolute pig pen, and I only had two employees. Once that the shop is mostly cleaned up (always more to do). The next task was finding more good help. I was lucky enough to meet Kendra, who had no history in the auto repair world but had the “can-do” attitude. She is the manager and has learned a lot since the beginning. She keeps the ship running smooth. The behind-the-scenes business management stuff is a challenge for me, but it gets a little easier every day as I learn a little more.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The core business is Oil Change service. This includes topping off all fluids (we are the only shop in Lima that proudly features Mobil1), checking all light functions, checking air filter, tire pressure, in addition we offer wiper replacement, bulb replacement, tire rotation, and brake service. We also have 3 self-service carwash bays and automatic carwash. 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I like to listen to a lot of different business podcast and try to read my fair share of business books. 

Contact Info:

• Website: Elmstreetexpress.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElmStreetExpress?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-wende-2a1926231