Pep Boys


Four navy friends founded The Pep Boys auto supply store in Philadelphia in 1921, Emanuel Rosenfeld (Manny), Maurice Strauss (Moe), Graham Jackson (Jack) and Moe Radavitz. Each invested $200. After much brainstorming they named their venture Pep Auto Supply, after Pep Valve Grinding Compound, which was one of their suppliers. A local street cop would often recommend to motorists upon issuing them equipment citations they go to the boys at Pep for replacement parts. The name stuck as Pep Boys and later was changed to The Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack. Soon after the partners commissioned Harry Moskovitch to draw up the now famous corporate caricatures.

The company went public in 1946 on the American Stock Exchange and switched over to the New York Stock Exchange in the early 1980’s under PBY. The company’s success comes from a combination of hard work and innovative thinking. In the beginning expansion and growth were slow because the founders were fiscally conservative and insisted on owning rather than leasing stores and doggedly avoided debt.

All this changed in 1986 when the company’s first non-founding family member became president in 1986. The new CEO, Mitchell Leibovitz knew the industry was changing and wanted to adapt to these changes while expanding the 159 stores. He devised a five-year plan for Pep Boys that encompassed six goals: store expansion, a refined merchandise mix, increased warehousing and distribution capacity, improved promotion of the service operations, modernization of systems support, and consolidation of the headquarters in Philadelphia.

It all paid off. Today Pep Boys has become an industry leader in the automotive retail business. Now there are over 580 stores around 35 states and Puerto Rico. An average store is 18,200 sq ft, has 25,000 different auto items for sale and includes a preventative maintenance and maintenance service bays. With its unsurpassed diversity that includes tires, auto parts, accessories, and service, Pep Boys caters to three segments of the automotive aftermarket that it identifies as: do-it-yourself, buy-for-resale (sales to professional mechanics and garages), and do-it-for-me (the service side).

Pep Boys is nationally recognized for their excellent customer service and competitive pricing on all brand name tires. Mechanics perform practically any automotive service except body work and engine replacement. Pep Boys computerized merchandising and inventory control help stores tailor their offerings to the local market. They are open on weekends and hours are extended to 9 p.m. on weeknights. The cornerstone of Pep Boys system is an ethics policy that dictates termination of mechanics that make unnecessary repairs. All their auto technicians are certified by the Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and have agreed to have their commission docked if their work has to be redone. Their Website, www.pepboys.com is comprehensive and easy to navigate. You can usually print online coupons that can be redeemed at local stores. You will be surprised what else the Pep Boys can do for you. Check them out and take a look for yourself.