The Columbia metro contains the state capital and the University of South Carolina. As a result, the market has a growing and diverse economic base with a strong foundation in government, education and insurance. The city of Columbia itself is the second-most populous city in South Carolina, with 141,000 people. Mavis has been saving people money on tires for more than 50 years. While the company was founded as Mavis Tire Supply Corporation in 1972, its roots can be traced back to 1949. Originally a bicycle shop, the family owned business became a tire shop by filling a neighborhood need to work on automobile tires and quickly grew their reputation and customer base.