FinishMaster Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Boucherville (Québec), April 25, 2018 – With roots firmly planted in providing exceptional customer service, FinishMaster, Inc., (“FinishMaster”) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uni-Select Inc. (“Uni-Select”, TSX: UNS) celebrates its 50th year in business.
On April 25th, 1968, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, founder Jim White completed FinishMaster’s first transaction with the aspiration of delivering automotive aftermarket products to collision repair shops. Over the past fifty years, FinishMaster has expanded from a single outlet to a team of more than 1,800 associates with over 210 branches, becoming the leading national independent distributor of automotive paints, coatings, and related accessories.
“The core values Jim embodied from the very beginning have stood the test of time and still guide us forward today. We continue to put our customers first and embrace change with the market,” said Steve Arndt, President and Chief Operating Officer of FinishMaster. “As we reach the milestone of our 50th year, I can confidently say Jim and the FinishMaster family have succeeded in the paint business. We are grateful to our team, customers, and manufacturer partners for their support of our growth.”
“Uni-Select is celebrating 50 years as is FinishMaster, solid North American leaders. A great combination delivering value to customers in both countries for 50 years! We have now expanded to the UK and look forward to serving customers in all these markets for many years to come. Congratulations to FinishMaster!,” said Henry Buckley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Uni-Select.
In celebration of this anniversary, FinishMaster has donated $50,000 to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (“CREF”). The contribution provides support for CREF and their mission to improve high school and college collision school programs by training and connecting students interested in entering the industry.
To read more about FinishMaster’s history and hear a special message from Jim White, visit the website: http://www.finishmaster.com/50-years
ABOUT UNI-SELECT
Uni-Select is a leader in the distribution of automotive refinish and industrial paint and related products in North America, as well as a leader in the automotive aftermarket parts business in Canada and in the UK. Uni Select is headquartered in Boucherville, Québec, Canada, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol UNS.
In Canada, Uni-Select supports over 16,000 automotive repair and collision repair shops through a growing national network of more than 1,100 independent customers and over 60 company-owned stores, many of which operate under the Uni-Select BUMPER TO BUMPER®, AUTO PARTS PLUS® AND FINISHMASTER® store banner programs. It also supports over 3,900 shops and stores through its automotive repair/installer shop banners, as well as through its automotive refinish banners.
In the United States, Uni-Select, through its wholly-owned subsidiary FinishMaster, Inc., operates a national network of over 200 automotive refinish company-owned stores under the FINISHMASTER banner which services a network of over 30,000 customers annually, of which it is the primary supplier to over 6,800 collision repair centre customers.
In the UK and Ireland, Uni-Select, through its Parts Alliance group of subsidiaries, is a leading distributor of automotive parts supporting over 23,000 customer accounts with a network of close to 200 locations including over 170 company-owned stores.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
The information provided in this news release may include some forward-looking information, which could include certain risks and uncertainties, which may cause the final results to be significantly different from those listed or implied within this news release. For additional information with respect to risks and uncertainties, refer to the Annual Report filed by Uni-Select with the Canadian securities commissions. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release, and Uni‑Select does not undertake to publicly update such forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.