Adaptable Leadership Fuels Shop Harmony, Growth
You’d probably agree that your most valuable assets walk out of the door every evening. You’d likely also agree that every one of your employees is unique, bringing a varying level of skills to your shop, but also each displaying different personality traits that can affect the harmony within your business.
Dan Freeman, Industry Veteran Of 50 Years, Takes A Look Back And A Look Ahead
Dan Freeman, who’s been at the helm of Automotive Parts Associates (APA) for 25 years, looks back on his storied and successful career, and looks forward to giving back to the industry in his well-deserved retirement that begins later this month.
Age Of Convenience Dictates Streamlined Communication Methods
The manner in which the majority of your customers prefer to communicate about vehicle service is changing, as their need for convenient and easy information access accelerates. You likely have noticed that their attitudes and expectations are vastly different than what you were used to encountering.
Executive Q&A Part 2: Art Blumenthal, Nationwide Automotive Aftermarket Business Broker
In the second of a two-part series, we delve deep into the process of selling a business by interviewing Art Blumenthal, nationwide automotive aftermarket business broker, who provides business valuations, exit planning and buying and selling adviser services. Part one of the executive interview appeared in the November/December issue of Shop Owner.
Executive Q&A, Part 1: Art Blumenthal MBA, CBI Nationwide Automotive Aftermarket Business Broker
In the first of a two-part series, we delve deep into the process of selling a business by interviewing Art Blumenthal, nationwide automotive aftermarket business broker, who provides business valuations, exit planning, and buying and selling advisor services.
Maintenance Mindset Racks Up Miles And Service Opportunities
How many miles do you think a pampered engine could rack up? Hundreds of thousands? How about millions! Irv Gordon, a Long Island, NY, resident who has traveled the U.S. for nearly 50 years, can attest to that. He’s driven the same vehicle, a shiny, red 1966 Volvo P1800, racking up nearly 3 million miles.
Consumer Confidence Increases, Back-to-Back Monthly Gains Spell Good News
The Consumer Confidence Index is up and that should spell good news for your business. Posting another gain in May, standing at 76.2 (up from 69.0 in April), consumer confidence is now at a five-year high.
Increased Cross-Selling Incidents Will Improve Your Shop’s Bottom Line
As miles rack up on your customers’ vehicles, are you getting the most mileage out of your oil change services and maximizing every service occasion? Oil change service is the leading driver of traffic through service bays and represents the greatest opportunity for cross-selling other services, according to new car care research from The NPD Group.
Editor’s Notebook: August Is Brake Safety Awareness Month
For the sixth consecutive year, the Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) will sponsor a period of Brake Safety Awareness. New for this year, the highly successful annual promotion will expand to the full month of August, rather than the typical week as in years past.
Editor’s Notebook: Be Your Own Steward
One of the most important jobs you have is to make sure your customers are satisfied and that they return to your shop for additional repairs and preventive maintenance. Exceeding their expectations should rank among one of your most important-customer service strategies.
First Impressions Really Do Count
Continuing recent discussions with ImportCar shop owner readers extolling the benefits of shop image as it relates to attracting new customers and retaining existing ones, Frank Scandura, owner of Frank’s Mercedes Service, with locations in Henderson and Las Vegas, NV, says that his customers are catered to even before any work is done on their vehicle.
Frank’s European Service Tackles Even The Toughest Jobs And Over-Delivers On Customer Expectations
Walking into the serene, peaceful waiting room at Frank’s
Mercedes Service in Henderson, NV, one would think that it’s a
laid-back business. But, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.