Fastco Canada : More than meets the eye

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This article is part 2 in a series of stories on Fastco, a Canadian alloy wheel company established in Vaudreuil-Dorion, located west of the Island of Montreal. You can get acquainted with the company by reading up on their origins by clicking here.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre/Auto123.com

From the outside, Fastco's building could be confused with any other high-tech, modern business. Fastco's current digs were completed in 2006. The plan called for 40,000 sq-ft., which seemed like plenty at the time. Only two years later, in 2008, an extra 40,000 sq-ft. was added to the existing structure.

Today, they are at 90% capacity and are considering further expansion on the other side of F.X. Tessier in the next two years. Size considerations for the new edifice could be as high as 60,000 sq-ft. Pretty soon, they'll need their own zip code. As if that weren't enough, they are also planning on building a warehouse in Calgary.

How is all this possible? Simple: They deliver the goods, BS is not in their business vocabulary and they conduct themselves with the utmost level of professionalism. Most importantly, they have the right people doing the right job. This is no bull. Growth over the last few years has been in the order of 10 to 15%. And do remember that they do not serve the US, at least not currently. Ian Pavelko, Director of Product Development and all-around nice guy, added that as they stand at the moment, they can barely supply the existing demand in Canada.

But these are just words. Should you ever be lucky enough to get the guided tour as I did, you'll be overwhelmed with the sheer depth of involvement the company has in the business of wheels. As you walk in, you are greeted by a showroom plastered wall-to-wall with a huge selection of Fast and Replika wheels. If you're into wheels, this is heaven.

The offices are spacious, airy, well arranged and the staff, friendly and welcoming. Of the personnel on hand, 5 to 6 of them handle between 1,000 and 1,200 calls from over 200 accounts per day! Included in those accounts are Hyundai and Kia Canada. Fastco supplies them with “OE” aftermarket wheels and tires. When I asked Ian how they managed to get their business, he said that the “no-hassle, one-stop shopping” was attractive to them. That, and the trust that their work is beyond reproach. For the manufacturers, speaking of their dealerships, peace of mind is fundamental. Fastco delivers.