Are Your Techs Asking You For Recommendations?
When your techs come to you and tell you they’re stumped, if you give them a recommendation, you’ll lose regardless of the outcome. If you solve the problem, you’ve sent a message to your techs that you’re more knowledgeable than they are, which is not going to build confidence in your employees. But then it gets worse; you’ve also taught them to come to you when they’re up against a wall. This is a lose-lose situation, in that if your recommendation doesn’t solve the problem, the tech will come back to you looking for your next recommendation because you now own the problem.
Exclusive Auto Caters To Customers: Yucaipa, CA, Shop Awarded Top Honors For Customer Service With ‘Perfect’ Rating
When a customer visits Exclusive Auto, located in Yucaipa, CA, the staff’s goal is to greet that person immediately, and then to always exceed their expectations. It’s that kind of customer service ethic that has helped make the shop what it is today.
Let’s Clean Up: Shop Appearance Speaks Volumes About Image And Professionalism To Your Customers
Let’s talk about cleanliness. And, I mean more than just surface cleaning. 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 more closely under the tables and chairs, and then it’s pretty obvious that it’s not very clean at all.
What Does Shuttle Service Say About Your Business? Consider A Hybrid Or Electric Vehicle
Offering a shuttle service for your customers provides some great opportunities. Many times, customers drop by with an unexpected issue and have not planned for a ride back home or to work. By providing a shuttle service, you give your customer added value that may help them decide to leave the vehicle for repair and, hence, provides you with the opportunity for revenue.
Executive Interview: Jeff Blocher, Vice President Sales, & Dave McColley, Vice President Marketing and Product Development, Wix Filters
WIX Filter’s Jeff Blocher, vice president of sales, and Dave McColley, vice president of marketing and product development, work hand-in-hand to build the WIX brand. In their time working together on WIX Filters marketing, these two dedicated members of the WIX Filters and Affinia Group families have led a shift in the ways which WIX engages with customers, markets its brand and serves the aftermarket.
Pricing Your Shop’s Services Without Adversely Affecting Those Priceless Customer Relationships
There’s no doubt that pricing is one of the most misunderstood elements of business. There’s not only a lot of bad information out there, but with these tough economic times, there’s a lot of uncertainty, as well.
Brand Building: Plan For The Future … Now!
The great thing about a strong brand is that it works very hard in portraying exactly who you are and what your unique offer is. Ideally, when customers quickly see your logo, they should get a quick take on who you are as a business. So, yes, a logo is a real workhorse. But it does not work by itself. Designed well into your marketing materials, it should complement your message.
Harley’s Automotive: Resilient North Dakota Shop Bounces Back After Severe Flooding; Stays True To Core Values
When residents and business owners in the Souris River Valley were told last May that a flood was imminent in the coming weeks as a result of heavy rains and snow runoff, the owners of Harley’s Automotive Center in Minot, ND, sprang into action.
Traditional Vs. On-line Media: Tips For Evaluating Ad Buys
The most successful advertising investments target high-traffic customer locations – and, these days, that means shifting at least a portion of your ad spend to a growing list of on-line channels. To make the right decision, shop owners need to research potential return on investment and other factors before committing to any ad buy, and base their advertising investment decisions on a thorough understanding of the options.
Using The Web To Enhance Your Customer Service Efforts
As you’ll remember from the January/February issue of Shop Owner, we spent some time talking about the importance of an effective web presence. To get your fair share of motorists using Google to find an auto repair shop, you’ll need to ensure you have an effective website and well-ranked business listings, and that you maximize the value of your shop reviews to enhance your reputation and get better search results.
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.
7 Common Small Business Tax Misperceptions
One of the biggest hurdles you’ll face in running your own business is staying on top of your numerous obligations to federal, state and local tax agencies. Tax codes seem to be in a constant state of flux, making the Internal Revenue Code barely understandable to most people.