Lincoln Square Service: Where Heritage and Customer Service Hit Home
Carmelo Rios was still relatively new to Lincoln Square Service in Chicago, IL, when the previous owner decided to retire and offered Rios the opportunity of his lifetime. “I came in as a manager, and five weeks later I became a partner,” says Rios.
Things to Consider Before Opening Your Second Shop, Part 2
As part of your business plan, you need to determine who you’re “A” customers are and do some demographic research to determine where they live and how many of them there are in a given five-mile radius.
Executive Interview: Chris Alexander, Director of Commercial Sales, Old World Industries
Chris Alexander was hired in 1996 as a sales assistant selling PEAK antifreeze. In 1998, Alexander moved into the commercial side of the business, developing the southeast and southwest territories. He earned several promotions as a result of his strong work ethic and selling expertise before assuming his current position in 2007.
Business Maintenance for Peak Performance: Internal Analysis will Rev Up Your Business, Part 1
From my experience, cars and companies have a lot in
common when it comes to keeping them running smoothly
and achieving top performance. The owner’s manual for any business is the strategic plan that has been developed. The
gauges are the financial reports that are generated on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
Personalized, Precision Service: Formula H Motorworks’ Business Ethic Engages Customers for Life
“If we weren’t working on Hondas, we probably wouldn’t be in the auto repair business,” affirms Jeff Baker, co-owner of Formula H Motorworks in Middletown, NY. In referencing both his and co-owner brother Brian’s love of all things Honda, Jeff also reinforces the duo’s specialization in and commitment to the Honda/Acura brands.
Protecting Your Business with Non-Compete Agreements
Non-compete agreements are a great way for business owners to protect an employer’s reasonable competitive business interests. These agreements can also be utilized to limit post-employment competition provided that the agreement is reasonable in terms of geographic limitations, duration and type of activity restrained.
Bring in New Customers with New Approaches: 10 Ways to Elevate Your Shop’s Image in the Community
Although it’s been proven to be far less expensive for a company to keep existing customers than gain new ones, attracting new business remains a very important part of growing your business.
The Real Art of Advertising: More Than Pretty Pictures and Catchy Phrases, Part 2
In the September/October issue of Shop Owner, we introduced the “new” art of advertising in a modern market, and presented strategies automotive repair shop owners can use to corner their market, maintain loyal customers, and expand their shops’ value and customer base.
Is Equipment Leasing Catching On In The Aftermarket?
If you got a chance to attend the SEMA and AAPEX shows in November, you saw probably tens of millions of dollars’ worth of cars, products and equipment. It was an incredibly vast display of all things automotive. But how does all this stuff get out of the showroom and onto the floor of a typical repair shop?
The Falsehoods of Credit Card Terminology
The statement you receive from your credit card processing company every month or quarter contains a lot of complex information. There are words and numbers everywhere that may or may not mean what you think. Understanding your statement, what you are being charged and why is critical to being an informed shop owner and may even save you a lot of money.
The Buck Stops Here
Some business owners and managers continue to be stuck in the past. They fail to realize by squeezing out the last drop of productivity, cutting their overhead to the bare bones, trying to cut costs, working harder, and continuing to do business the same way with the same old customers and the same projects won’t cut it today.
Labor-Related Tax Breaks Businesses Need To Know
In this tough economy, every business could use a break. Here is a list of available tax credits to businesses who hire employees fitting in the following categories.