Service and family at C&J Automotive
Jack Crowley, owner of C&J Automotive of Hammonton, knew from an early age that he was going to enter the vehicle repair business.
“My dad started our first location in Berwyn, Pa. in 1988. I and my sister grew up in the business; we were sweeping floors at 8 years old, and we grew up understanding the background of the repair. I went to college at West Chester University for business, and, when I graduated school in 2013, I went into business with my dad,” Crowley said.
Crowley said that, shortly after, the business expanded.
“We bought our second location in Newtown Square, Pa. in 2014. As we continued to grow, the business shifted hands from my father to me. He ended up moving down to the shore full-time—and he and I partnered up on the Hammonton location,” Crowley said.
That Hammonton location, which opened April 19, is at 425 S White Horse Pike, formerly the site of Losco Motors. Crowley said that a long-time employee of that establishment, Jim Costa, is the manager of C&J Automotive of Hammonton.
“When we bought the location, Jimmy decided to stay on with us. We’re super-excited; he’s been excellent. He knows all of our customers, and he’s a local; everyone in Hammonton knows Jimmy. We’re fortunate to have him, and he’s the manager over there,” Crowley said.
Crowley said that that type of relationship between clients and businesses—and between people in general—is part of what prompted him to open a location in Hammonton.
“We love the community; we love the small-town feel that Hammonton has. My mom is 100 percent Italian, and there’s a big contingency of that, so we figured, ‘Hey, these people are a lot like us. This would be a really awesome way to expand our reach towards the shore.’ A lot of our customers from our three Pennsylvania locations are part-time or full-time residents, so it gave us a chance to serve them on their way down to the shore,” Crowley said.
One of C&J Automotive’s specialties, Crowley said, is “the ability to work on all vehicles.”
“Our original location specialized in Europeans, so we train all of our technicians in the imports as well as the domestic vehicles. We’re very comfortable with the import vehicles,” Crowley said.
Additionally, C&J Automotive features some of the latest in diagnostic technology.
“Anything that we’re going to recommend to you to repair, we’re going to send you videos and pictures. Every customer receives a full inspection of their vehicle, digitally, via text message. They’ll have videos and pictures of any repairs that should be performed. It’s been a huge differentiation factor for us,” Crowley said.
Crowley said that his business utilizes digital inspection for every issue, from major malfunctions to a pesky check-engine light.
“We pull codes, and then run diagnostics. When we hook it up to the computer software, whatever scanner we’re using will see that and be able to submit it to the customer and let them know exactly what’s happening, what systems could be impacted by the check-engine light and then our angle of attack on how to repair it from cheapest to most expensive—depending on exactly what the code was,” Crowley said.
Additionally, Crowley said that C&J Automotive will soon be selling used cars.
“Our goal is to keep used-car-buying customers as long-term repair clients. We’ll offer warranties; we have a three-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, no questions asked,” Crowley said.
Crowley said that there are currently four C&J Automotive locations—the fourth, in Lansdale, Pa., opened just after the Hammonton one—and plans are in the works for a fifth. Having that many locations, Crowley said, gives them an edge.
“We have the ability to give pretty aggressive pricing because we have the four locations. We’re going to come in cheaper than most of our competition,” Crowley said.
Each location, Crowley said, is family-owned and operated, and each takes care of its employees and the community around it, which he hopes will continue here.
“We strictly promote from within, so we have partners that started as technicians in our Berwyn location 10 years ago who now have ownership in the company ... Our hopes are to serve the community, to be a big part of Hammonton. Anything that we can do, we’re happy to give back to the community,” Crowley said.
For more information, visit candjautorepair.com or call (609) 561-7775.