Shop Operations Archives - Page 53 of 73 -
Be Careful Not To Make A Sale For Your Competition

A few years back, my service advisor was speaking to a customer about the condition of her tires. He explained in detail that the tires on her car were worn to the point that she needed to replace them and recommended that she do this before the winter. She believed my service advisor and was thrilled he took the time to educate her. But, he forgot one important part of the sales cycle; Asking for the sale.

It’s December – Are You Prepared for 2015?

I know that there are many things on your mind this time of the year. With the winter here and the holidays upon us, there’s a lot going on these days. But as a business owner, you need to consider that 2015 is right around the corner. The better you prepare now, the more successful you will be in the New Year and beyond. I have put together a short To-Do list to help you prepare.

The Value Of Digital Inspections And Workflow Management

Many shops across the country have introduced Digital Inspection and Workflow Management on tablet devices in the back shop and internet browsers in the front office. A significant number of these shops scored such incredible productivity and efficiency results that it begs the question, “What have they done differently than others who are still trying to find their mojo?”

Digital shop inspections
A SIMPLE Retirement Plan For The Self-Employed

Of all the retirement plans available to small business owners, the SIMPLE IRA plan (Savings Incentive Match PLan for Employees) is the easiest to set up and the least expensive to manage. These plans are intended to encourage small business employers to offer retirement coverage to their employees. SIMPLE IRA plans work well for small business owners who don’t want to spend a lot of time and pay high administration fees associated with more complex retirement plans.

Women In The Automotive Industry Do More Than Survive: They Thrive

To make it in the automotive industry, you have to be hardworking, friendly and diligent. To make it in the automotive industry as a female, you have to be a confident go-getter, in addition to all of the above. Fortunately, the auto industry is attracting more and more of these strong, talented females, which means women have new career opportunities knocking at their doors. But why would a woman choose a male-dominated workplace over other options?

Are Your Salespeople ‘Winging It’ On The Phone?

Each and every interaction your salespeople have with potential customers on the phone is an opportunity to enhance customer relations, the image of your business and increase sales. So, be honest, are your salespeople properly equipped to optimize each and every phone interaction they have with potential customers?

Tips For Planning The Company Holiday Party And End Of Year Celebrations

‘Tis the season for holiday festivities, end of year celebrations and employee recognition but it is also a time of year that can be a source of liability for an employer if not handled properly. Here are a few quick tips for planning the upcoming company event(s).

What Every Shop Owner Needs To Know About Accountants

In order to build a successful auto repair shop, there are a number of things you will have to do. You will need to have clearly defined goals, a plan, and you will need to surround yourself with successful people. You will need gifted techs and advisers, a great support staff, the help of marketing professionals and business coaches, and a great accountant as well. Unfortunately, most shop owners don’t understand how to find the really great accountants, they don’t know what to expect from them, and they don’t know how to utilize their services.

Interviewing Tips And Techniques For Finding The Right Candidate

We all know that the recruiting process for a small business can be overwhelming and time consuming, not to mention how expensive it can be if the wrong person is hired and they aren’t a good fit for the company or the position. So, what can be done to help make the process more efficient and effective to avoid the risk of a bad hire? In one word: Preparation.

Tackling Substance Abuse

Substance abuse can be a tricky subject for a business to navigate. Add the fact that many states have now, for instance, legalized marijuana for medical purposes, and you may find yourself scratching your head over what to do if you encounter an issue with an employee.

A Step-By-Step Guide To Learning From Your Customers

As business owners, our best teachers will always be our employees and our customers. They understand many components of our businesses, and, in most cases, they really do care about our success. Learning from our employees is relatively simple. All we need to do is pay attention to their passing comments and engage them during our employee meetings and reviews. Learning from our customers, on the other hand, may take some extra effort.

Giving Your Business A Face Lift

We hear time and time again from our readers that in today’s ultra-competitive market, every edge is necessary to beat the competition. Fine-tuning your shop’s customer service and perfecting shop operations are the first – and most ob­vious – steps. Beyond that, successful owners are working hard to deliver even more to their customers.