KUKUI Text Connect Brings Fox Run Auto’s Message Right to Customers

Mackenna Herr • September 20, 2022

A Delaware auto shop attracts customers by using text communication and campaigns for more targeted marketing.

A cartoon of three men standing next to each other with a car in the background.

Mike Defino knows that taking care of customers is what made his auto shop successful. His entire team at Fox Run Auto takes a customer first approach, and customer relationship management (CRM) is a top priority. When Fox Run Auto began using KUKUI their goal was to revolutionize the way they stayed in contact with customers. It was a decision that proved to be profitable.


FOX RUN AUTO

 


Maintaining Personal Contact with Thousands of Customers


Over the years, thousands of customers have been added to Mike’s active contact list. With each new contact, personal communication became harder to manage. However, contact with customers wasn’t something Mike was going to shortchange or let fall behind. In fact, his goal was to continue wowing clients with even better CRM.

 

The solution for Fox Run Auto was Text Connect from KUKUI. It gave the auto shop another way to stay in contact that was extremely efficient to manage. And as Mike quickly found, many customers prefer text communication. Numerous reports have noted that Millennials in particular prefer text communication over phone and email. Many Gen Zers are now old enough to drive, and they are even more comfortable communicating solely by text.

 

Fox Run Auto discovered text wasn’t just another means of communicating with customers. It has also been an effective part of the shop’s marketing efforts that encourages repeat business even when customers are less inclined to come in the shop.


Leveraging Text Connect During COVID


As the COVID pandemic took hold it became clear that it wouldn’t be business as usual at Fox Run Auto. With people driving less and staying in more, the team needed to adjust how they communicated with customers and what they offered.

 

Text Connect was a key part of the strategy that got Fox Run Auto through the pandemic. They created a text marketing campaign that offered deals on car detailing and disinfecting services. Mike says they saw an increase in business that can be directly contributed to their texting efforts.

 

Not only has KUKUI’s texting tools brought in more business, but it's also lowered marketing costs. Mike says compared to the post cards they were using, the text campaigns he can run through KUKUI are much more cost effective. One other advantage is that the texts are much more targeted. The message is delivered right to the customer in their hand. It’s almost guaranteed to get seen unlike other forms of marketing that the Fox Run Auto team has tried in the past.


Simple Features and Over-the-Top Customer Service Make Texting Campaigns Easy


KUKUI doesn’t just provide access to a comprehensive platform. Accounts also come with personal assistance aimed at helping clients fully leverage the tools. Mike appreciates that the tools are intuitive to use even if a person isn’t very techie.

 

And though he has a firm grasp on using the platform, Mike says he enjoys the monthly coaching calls with Ronnie, his dedicated KUKUI rep. They go over the key objectives and activity to make sure Mike is getting the full benefit of the system. “I didn’t expect this platform to be as easy as it is,” Mike said, “But with a little help and a solid crew it’s been very successful for us.”


See What Else KUKUI Can Do for Your Auto Shop


Get a personal demo of the KUKUI platform to discover more of what this powerful All-in-One-Success Platform can do, and more specifically, how it can help your business grow. 

A smartphone displays a My Rewards loyalty app, surrounded by floating green coins, set against a dark background.
By Gabby Oglesby March 18, 2026
Last month we launched My Rewards, KUKUI’s built-in loyalty program. Since launch, our clients have already started using it to strengthen long-term relationships.
A glowing, metallic digital cube with internal circuit patterns, surrounded by floating data panels against a dark grid.
By Rick Sage March 12, 2026
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of how auto repair shop owners research marketing strategies, analyze competitors, & evaluate their online presence.
A human hand and a robotic hand work together to assemble glowing, digital puzzle-like gear pieces on a dark surface.
By Rick Sage March 12, 2026
Learn how AI is changing how customers find auto repair shops and how to use it wisely. Download the Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing.
By Heather Myers March 5, 2026
AI can evaluate your auto repair website, but its insights aren’t the same as real data. Learn where AI gets it wrong—and why those mistakes can look convincing.
Mechanic holding wrenches, wearing blue uniform. Workshop setting. Text: Kukui, $3B Strong.
By Rick Sage February 27, 2026
In 2025, KUKUI shops generated nearly $3B in revenue, including $547M from marketing, with the average shop producing $1.5M and strong customer retention.
By Heather Myers February 18, 2026
Using AI Tools to Evaluate Your Auto Repair Shop Website: A Smarter Approach 
Person using a phone while holding a steering wheel, icons of social media floating around.
By Gabby Oglesby February 4, 2026
For today’s drivers, choosing an auto repair shop often starts online. Before they call or book an appointment, many customers check Google, scroll through your Facebook page, or look for recent updates that show your shop is active and trustworthy.
Person in suit touching a digital
By Gabby Oglesby January 20, 2026
In 2025, we made our product easier, clearer, and more impactful—helping shops save time, communicate with customers, and see the value of their marketing.
By Mary Wirth December 16, 2025
Your All-in-One Hub for Social Media Success
A black car with a rising blue graph superimposed, in a factory setting.
By Rick Sage December 9, 2025
Build a simple, effective 2026 marketing plan for your auto repair shop using modern tools like online scheduling, text marketing, QR codes, and automated reviews.