Bill’s Quality Auto Care Lives Up To Its Name And Keeps Customers Coming Back For 19 Years
Bill’s Quality Auto Care Owner Bill Garcia was “green” before green was even popular. When he opened his shop in Simi Valley, CA, 19 years ago, it was a given that he would promote best practices such as recycling waste oil and metals. And he and his staff are always working to make the shop as energy efficient as possible.
Selling an Independent Auto Service Business: An ‘Emotional Rollercoaster’ For Both The Buyer And The Seller
“Am I supposed to just keep working until I drop dead?” is a question many Baby Boomer generation business owners may ask themselves sooner or later. Jim Hermansader, a veteran of the automotive service industry who had spent 43 years, since he was 18 years old and fresh out of high school, in a family-owned business, had to ask the question out loud when he received some pushback from those who challenged his decision that it was time for his business to change hands.
Call The Top 3% Of Your Customers In December
The holiday season is right around the corner, so do what your competition will never think to do. Identify the top 3 percent of your active customers, as well as the individuals who have referred the most people to you over the past year. Then set aside time to call them during the middle of December.
Want More Customers In January? Touch The Right Hearts In December
So your business is going to be closed on Christmas day, and you’ll be at home with your family. Lucky you. Unfortunately, this is not the case with many who work in your local police department, fire department, emergency rooms and animal rescue services.
Don’t Let Discounts Kill Your Business
The effects of the recent Great Recession have left many people with a sense of uncertainty over the economy. Perceived consumer attitude is pressuring some companies into lowering prices or offering discounts in order to attract new consumers or to maintain their customer base. I would urge all businesses to seriously consider and examine the effects of price reductions and discounting.
Let’s Clean Up
Let’s talk about cleanliness. I mean really clean, not just on the surface. Ever walk into a business that looked clean initially, but really wasn’t? You could just tell. The next thing you know you’re looking closer at the places under tables and chairs, and then it’s pretty obvious it’s not very clean at all.
25% Of Your Labor Rate
How much in monthly sales should you be able to generate per square foot of your auto repair shop? We’ve found that a good rule of thumb is 25% of your labor rate.
Setting Your Goals In 2013
When it comes to setting your long-term goals, the best advice I can give you is to make sure that they all align with your core beliefs and that they are challenging enough to inspire you. As the leader of your company, you are not only responsible for setting the goals, but it’s your job to inspire your entire team as well. I am sure you will agree that you can’t inspire others if you are not inspired yourself.
Creating Team Spirit In An Automotive Repair Shop
Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Clearly, one of the keys to success in building an auto repair shop is having your entire staff working together as a team. The question is, how do you create an environment that fosters team spirit?
Pam’s Motor City Automotive: Love For Cars Is The Foundation For A Successful, Female-Owned Repair Shop
Pam Oakes has always had a love for cars, a passion handed down through the generations of her family. In fact, she’s a fourth-generation technician; her father, grandfather and even great-grandfather came before her and taught her everything they knew.
Web University: Part 1
Beginning with this issue, we will answer shop owners’ questions about the most dynamic and increasingly important marketing channel, the Web. Whether it’s Google search, social media or what to do with Google+, you’ll find answers to the most challenging questions, in both a “Go Deep” and “Quick Bites” format. Questions submitted by shop owners will be answered by Uwe Kleinschmidt, CEO of AutoVitals, a leading supplier of web-based marketing and service advisor productivity tools.
Executive Interview: Ben Johnson, Director Of Product Management, Mitchell 1
Ben Johnson’s expertise in the automotive aftermarket industry began on the shop floor and grew through his career as he moved from owning his own auto repair center to his current position as Director of Product Management for Mitchell 1, a leading provider of Repair Information, Shop Management Software and CRM solutions to the Automotive Aftermarket. In between, he developed expertise in vehicle technology at Delphi as Director of Global Product Development for Service Tools and Educational Products, at the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) as a Project Manager, and in other leadership positions in product management and diagnostic platforms in the automotive industry.