2010 Editions Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Shop Owner Magazine
Year-End Tax Planning for Businesses

Businesses can take several measures at the end of the year to reduce their tax burdens in 2010. Here’s a rundown of best options.

Using Customer Feedback to Improve Your Business

As a business owner, feedback is generally accepted as a way to make improvements to your shop or services, and is even a helpful method to short-term and long-term business decisions. For most shop owners and repair businesses, customer feedback is often immediate, allowing you to act upon it quickly.

Paving the Way to Profits and Increased Market Share

With the year quickly winding down, as a shop owner in this business, there are likely certain strategies, policies, practices that you are really emphasizing now to ensure your shop finishes the year on a more solid note.

Positive Service Implications from a Sophisticated Aftermarket

We’ve all been hearing for years how vehicles are becoming more sophisticated, with electronic content on the rise each model year. Sensors and on-board computers are communicating with each other to make constant adjustments allowing the vehicle to operate as fuel efficient and environmentally clean as possible.

4 Things You Can Do to Make Your Business Inviting to Women

Women influence 85% of all consumer-purchasing decisions in the U.S. When thinking about the impact that this group has on commerce and on businesses in general, you are probably asking yourself this question: “Am I getting more than my fair share of this opportunity?” Continue reading to gain some valuable insight into marketing to women.

Small Town Satisfaction: Marc’s Garage Scores with Community-Rooted Customer Service

In today’s technology-saturated marketplace, consumers are bombarded with e-mails, robo-calls, text messages, twitter updates and more virtual junk mail every day. But unless Grandma’s getting out the good stationery, an honest-to-goodness hand-addressed thank-you note nestled in the daily stack of credit card offers is nearly as rare as a UFO sighting!

The Real Art of Advertising: More Than Pretty Pictures and Catchy Phrases, Part I

During challenging economic times, nearly everyone in the automotive service industry asks the same nagging question: “How much should I really be spending on advertising?” In truth, the answer to that question should be another question: “Are you spending or investing?”

Choosing a Lift That Will Contribute Most to Shop Profitability

As the centerpiece of the service bay, lifts are critical to the productivity and profitability of any automotive repair shop. A lift that’s properly matched to the job at hand will let technicians work more efficiently, for greater profitability. If the lift is well-made, it will provide enhanced productivity for years to come.

Robeks Smoothie Franchisee Anne Randles

In the automotive service industry, there are more than 100 automotive franchises trying to sign new franchisees. These franchises can range from windshield repair to full-service repair. Whatever the case, turning your location into a franchise, buying an existing franchise or starting a new franchise can be a challenging task.

Producing a Quality Shop Video Can Help You Break Through the Clutter

Want to build your business by reaching customers through an exciting, visual medium? Videos may just be your answer. They can serve as the ideal medium to break through the clutter and help build your shop’s name and reputation in the community in a unique and visual manner.

Things To Consider Before Opening Your Second Shop, Part I

You have thought about it long and hard and decided it may be time to open a second shop. Here are some things to consider: 97% of all new businesses fail within the first five years. There are two primary reasons that these businesses fail: Under Capitalization and Poor Management.

Shop Profile: No Place Like Bob’s Wheel Alignment

When Bob Archer opened the doors to Bob’s Wheel Alignment in Charlottesville, VA, almost 30 years ago, he had one technician and one front-office secretary. Today, the shop employs 21 people and has grown to more than 17,000 square feet. What’s made Bob’s so successful all these years? “Service, service, service,” he says.