All-Female Oil Changes

All-Female Oil Changes

EASLEY, S.C. -- On Highway 183 (at Highway 135) in Easley, the oil change business is getting a makeover. Dipstick Fastlube is like most other shops, except the only men you will see are customers.

"We get a lot of male customers. I'm not gonna lie about that," said Lori Miller, owner of what she calls the nation's first all-female oil and lube shop.

Miller opened her shop in April, and has serviced more than 1,200 customers.

She and her staff of four other women are certified Pennzoil technicians who perform a variety of automotive services.

But there is an occasional doubter.

"The customer this morning, he goes, 'You do know what you're doing, right?' I go, 'No. We put the oil in the gas tank," Miller said jokingly.

Make no mistake, the majority of customers at Dipstick Fastlube in Easley are men.

"Everyone likes to see the good-looking technicians," one said.

"You can't complain. Can't ask for more," said another.

But men aren't the only ones who can be found getting their oil changed at this all-female business. Miller says she has regular women customers, like Meredith Smith, an English Teacher at Pickens High School.

"She's not going to take advantage of me and tell me lies. 'I need this done and I need that done,'" said Smith.

There is no mistaking Miller's oil and lube business for any other. A red lip-smack adorns the sign out front, and there are lip-shaped chairs in her lobby.

The store has performed so well since it opened, Miller says she wants to open a chain of all-girl oil and lube shops, where the majority of customers will likely be men.

"We have a guy that shows up everyday and buys a drink out of our machine. We have a lot of that actually," said Miller.

"She's not going to take advantage of me and tell me lies. 'I need this done and I need that done,'" said Smith.