This year, Lenehan’s Motor Factors are celebrating an impressive 40 years servicing the motoring needs of drivers across the county.
The business, once entirely manual, has grasped technical advances to ensure their offerings stay top of their field but there is one thing that remains unchanged and non-negotiable: excellent customer service, or as Richard Lenehan says ‘putting people first.’
“We have a huge counter business and this is where you’ll find the chat and banter. Service here is pretty unique.”
“When someone walks in you really have to see them because everyone, no matter how young or old, that comes in deserves your attention and your time. We have people who have been coming for years, very loyal customers, and we appreciate that relationship and loyalty. Likewise, there are people coming in and they mightn’t know what they want. We give them the time and attention to help them out, get them what they need.”
Anyone who has been to Lenehan’s will know what Richard is talking about. From the moment you enter the store there is a friendly hello and often a laugh, but always excellent advice and service.”
Michael shared how everyone who walks through their doors is treated with respect, and that they matter. “We try to help everyone. If a child comes in for a cardboard box, you do your best to get it for him. You do what you can, and no child leaves without a packet of sweets. If you are looking for a part, we don’t just sell it to you, we’ll give you advice on the car if you want it as well, that’s the difference.”
“People remember,” Richard added. “You’d be out and about, at the pub or out at the lake, and someone would tell you their sister, mother or brother was in and you looked after them. I genuinely think that’s a huge part of why we’re still going strong after 40 years and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
Stocked up with vehicle parts, tools and accessories
Lenehan Motor Factors specialise in supplying vehicle parts, tools and accessories in their Mullingar Motor Factors, stocking both original and spurious vehicle spare parts. These include car parts, van parts, light commercial parts, mechanical tools, mechanical equipment and car accessories.
Stocking a complete range of high quality car parts, the knowledgeable and helpful staff can advise on what parts are best suited for specific cars and what branded and spurious spare parts are available. All vehicle parts come with a warranty. These include clutch kits, drive shafts, engine components, shock absorbers, suspensions, steering racks, timing kits, ball joints, bearings, brake components, exhausts and all vehicle parts. If the part is not in, the staff will order it in for you and Lenehan’s next-day delivery is second-to-none.
Father and son Michael and Richard Lenehan told Topic about this gold-standard service and how they can provide it free of charge.
“We carry a wide range of stock, it’s actually rare we are asked for something that we don’t have but someone else would. For example, we might have the top 300 part numbers for a particular item, and that will cover 95% of the range. They are stocked in our store, ready and available. If it is not available, we can order it in and have it for you the next day. If you come in by 12pm it will be there that day,” Richard said.
Lenehan’s twice-daily deliveries make this popular service possible. “There is a daily delivery at 7am and 2pm,” Michael said. “If you came in and ordered an air filter for your car at 6pm, we’d have it the next day with no additional charge – carriage, phone calls, none of that. That’s changed – twenty years ago we would be charging, but now companies don’t charge us once we order a certain level of stock, say over €150. The only day we don’t have deliveries is Saturday, but the business in the shop every weekend shows how well-stocked we are.”
A little bit of history
The story of Lenehan’s Motor Factors began 40 years ago, when Mullingar car enthusiast Michael Lenehan opened his first shop in Millmount Shopping Centre. Crazy about cars since he was a young child, he had originally planned to become a mechanic but finding himself working in the stores of local garages, he became familiar with every car part and accessory and decided to set up his own business.
Over the years, Michael was joined by his children in the business Richard, Karen, James, and just before Covid, he retired, signing the business over to current owner Richard.
In 2015, the family moved to their current purpose-built premises in Zone A, Mullingar Business Park with ample parking for cars, vans and trucks. Michael recalled his concerns around making the move, considering business was booming where they were, but the family pushed ahead and took the risk – a risk that paid off.
“I was nervous because when some people move their business, the customer doesn’t always follow but from the first day, the business took off,” he said. “From the start, business just took off. We couldn’t believe the amount of people that came in.”
Richard Lenehan didn’t share his father’s worries about the move as he felt the customer would come if they gave them what they wanted – the same great service but with better parking! “We thought our location in Millmount was brilliant, and it is,” he said, “but we were restricted in the customers that could park and we could only fit four people at the counter so people would be standing out in the yard. A guy with a truck or a bus can pull up at our shop now, there’s lots of parking just outside the door and the place is far bigger.”
As business grew, Lenehan’s took on two new staff – Barry Aughey and Darragh Rooney, who soon became part of the team. This was a big move for the family-only store but Richard realised it was necessary if they were to continue growing.
“You will only do a certain amount of business with a certain amount of staff,” he explained. “If you’re busy you need more staff or you’ll lose the orders. I wouldn’t have known that but it’s turned out to be true, and the lads are a great addition. Barry is a great asset and Darragh is so sharp with technology. We all get on great.”
Contact Lenehan’s Motor Factors on 044 934 2415
