Auto Zone: From One Step to An Extra Mile

AutoZone,Inc. is a leading retailer and distributor of automotive parts and services. It was conceived by J.R. "Pitt" Hyde III, a University of North Carolina Economics graduate, who envisioned having an automotive parts retail store that would resemble a supermarket that was “clean, well-organized and with easy access to its products and customer services.”

While working for his grandfather's food company, Malone & Hyde Inc., Pitt Hyde helped develop the company's retailing division that would later expand to include sporting goods stores and supermarkets. During that time, he already saw a need for such retail store that would specialize in automotive parts needed for the upkeep of vehicles.

From that singular vision, Hyde created a reality and opened the first Auto Shack store in Forrest City, Arkansas on July 4, 1979. In 1986, the store became an independent company, with him as its Chairman and CEO. From a sales of $300 on that day in 1979 to more than $8.1 billion in annual sales since then, the Compnay, which is now known as Auto Zone, has become the leading retailer in automotives parts in the U.S. and a Fortune 500 company.

Despite its steady growth, it continued to venture into new businesses and markets, and expanded its services. Today, Auto Zone serves customers over 48 states and going beyond the borders to Mexico and Puerto Rico, and employs a strong workforce of more than 65, 000 employees who call themeselves the Auto Zoners.

The Auto Zoners live by the Company Pledge of “putting our customers always first; we know our parts and products; our stores look great; we've got the best merchandise at the right price.” Moreover, among other values Auto Zoners live by is embracing diversity.

Diversity is an important fuel in the Auto Zoners' drive for not only providing customer needs but going beyond expectations, and working the “extra mile.” At Auto Zone, each individual's heritage, differences and unique qualities are appreciated, accepted and respected. With their divese thoughts, knowledge and skills, AutoZone is able to build strong teams of Auto Zoners who value the ideas and opinions of others.

The Company's diverse workforce in turn is what helps AutoZoners undertand in a better way the needs of their customers, and offer better solutions. It believes that “the different experiences, viewpoints and talents of our AutoZoners lead to WOW! Customer Service and help our teams succeed.”