Female-Minded Minnie’s Auto Repair open for business at 6220 St. Andrews Road

Shop will offer vehicle maintenance and repair with feminine touch

St. Andrews, SC (James Bowers) - Female auto owners are often intimidated when it’s time to have their vehicles repaired. Some of the business practices used by big auto service chains, including pushy sales tactics and deliberately offering confusing explanations of small problems have lent itself to this feeling of mistrust. Claudia Donnelley recognized these problems and proposed a solution; she’d open an auto shop targeted at female customers.

Donnelley and her husband have already co-owned Mickey’s Auto Service on Old Bush River Road for some time, so it seemed like a natural move. Adorned with hot pink trim and a warm, inviting waiting area, Minnie’s Auto Repair opened its doors Monday at 6220 St. Andrews Road. The shop makes use of a former Meineke Car Care location across from the Seven Oaks Shopping Center.

Officials with the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce were on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday afternoon, attended by a large crowd of fellow Chamber members. GICC president Kerry Powers says Minnie’s is a welcome addition. “They have a unique business model, and anything like this helps beautify the St. Andrews corridor and improve the economy, Powers said. “We’re really excited to have Minnie’s as a member.”

Donnelley says the name originated as a joke between her husband and her, a play on the fact that the main shop is called Mickey’s (like Disney’s Mickey Mouse), and Minnie,the name of Mickey Mouse’s longtime love interest. However, Donnelley recognized that women make up a huge part of auto service clientele and are often uncomfortable with some of the sleazier aspects of the industry.

“This store is from women, for women. We’ll have female techs, service providers, and customer service personnel," Donnelley says. “We want women to be really comfortable in this environment and give them the answers they’re looking for and make them feel like they’re being taken care of. We won’t do work that’s not approved, or sell you something that’s not needed.”

Minnie’s will handle all types of repairs and maintenance for vehicles spanning from sedans to tractors. Donnelley says that the store primarily markets itself through social media such as Facebook, and will offer several specials and discounts to its initial customers. Despite the primary targeting to women, men are obviously more than welcome to do business with Minnie’s.

The store is open Monday-Friday, 8 AM- 5 PM. For more information, call Minnie’s at (803) 851-7862, or visit them on Facebook at their page Minnie’s Auto Re