SEATTLE, WA -- (Marketwire) -- 04/23/12 -- Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. today announced it has chosen Full Slate as its exclusive partner for online appointment scheduling, enabling customers to book service appointments online for the first time in the company's 40-year history.

After a successful pilot program in which 25 Meineke centers "test-drove" Full Slate for three months, Meineke is making the appointment scheduling software available to every center across the country.

Rather than calling in to schedule an oil change, tune-up or other service, customers can now simply go to Meineke.com, select their store of choice and book online, a convenience hailed by Meineke clients and management alike.

"Online appointment scheduling has been a big bonus for our customers and a valuable tool for store managers," said Ryan Tracy, who piloted Full Slate in the five Meineke shops he owns. "Not only does it free up more of our time, it allows us to book appointments during non-business hours. We have received countless new customers as a result of using Full Slate and now have a technological leg up on our competitors."

This "leg up" was recently highlighted in a J.D. Power and Associates study as one of three ways car care companies can maintain high levels of customer satisfaction, noting that customers who schedule a service appointment online are "notably more satisfied with the experience" than customers who call or walk-in. Additionally, the study revealed that customers who schedule online spend $17 more on service per year than customers who call, and $36 more on service per year than those who do not make an appointment (walk-ins)*.

"Meineke takes great pride in evolving its business system and providing its franchisees with the tools needed to generate exceptional business results," said John Vitagliano, VP of Marketing and Dealer Communications. "Online scheduling with Full Slate is one of those tools, and we're pleased to provide it as a resource for our centers nationwide."

This is the second strategic partnership Full Slate has announced in the last two months. Earlier this year, Full Slate partnered with Associated Hair Professionals, a national membership organization that provides business support resources for professional hairstylists and barbers; Full Slate is the exclusive provider of online scheduling software for its members.

About Full Slate
Full Slate is an online scheduling company. The company's software as a service (SaaS) functions as a 24/7 virtual receptionist to support small businesses who see clients by appointment. Full Slate's online scheduler enables clients to go to a business' website or Facebook page anytime to make their own appointments. Small businesses can take advantage of Full Slate, now integrated with Google Apps™, to fill more appointments, add new clients and drive repeat business. No more phone tag, missed calls or lost leads. Web-based with a mobile interface for iPhone and Android, Full Slate is specifically designed to make it easy for small businesses to manage a busy schedule. For more information, please visit: www.fullslate.com or follow us on Twitter @full_slate.

About Meineke Car Care Centers
Beginning in 1972, Meineke Car Care Centers (www.meineke.com) has expanded its menu of product offerings to meet the demands of a changing marketplace. In 1986, the chain relocated from Houston, TX to Charlotte, NC. Demonstrating steady growth, both domestically and internationally with locations in Canada, Mexico, South Korea, the Mid-East, China and new openings scheduled for Chile and Caribbean, Meineke now represents over 900 franchised service centers, with an additional 100 licenses sold and in development. The American Association of Franchisees & Dealers recognized Meineke in 2001 as its first automotive industry Franchisor to earn the coveted Fair Franchising Seal. Meineke regularly appears in Entrepreneur Magazine's Annual Franchise 500 (55th overall and #1 in class for 2011), a list of the 500 best franchise opportunities in America.

* J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Customer Service Index Study