2015 Editions Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Shop Owner Magazine
6 Tax Tips For Charitable Giving

If you make charitable donations and want to claim a tax deduction for your gifts, you must itemize your deductions. Following are some tips to guide your efforts at donating business gifts to charity.

Fuller Automotive: From Buggies To Autos, Shop Stands The Test Of Time

Not many shop owners can trace their roots back to a time before automobiles, when horse and buggy were the standard means of transportation. But that’s exactly what Chris Fuller can do with Fuller Automotive that started when his great-grandfather Willis Fuller transitioned from working on horse-drawn carriages to the internal combustion engine. Now Fuller Automotive & Tire Center in Auburn, MA, has eight bays for repairs on all makes and models, and is separated by a shared waiting room with a four-bay SpeeDee Oil Change center.

Repair One Automotive: Team Atmosphere Bolsters Shop’s Success

Creating a team atmosphere is sometimes easier said than done in a repair shop setting. Not so with Repair One Automotive. Since opening in January 2003, owners Brent and Brenda O’Neal have made every effort to build not only a team atmosphere, but a positive environment where “employees know their ideas are both listened to and valued.”

Executive Interview: Marc Rosone, Global Director Of Product Management And Marketing, Robert Bosch LLC, Automotive Service Solutions

Marc Rosone is global director of product management and marketing for Robert Bosch LLC, Automotive Service Solutions, with responsibility for the Bosch, Robinair and OTC brands. Rosone is responsible for international oversight of A/C tools and equipment. He joined the service solutions business in 1997, acquired by Bosch in 2012, and has since served in a variety of sales and product management roles within the company.

Defining Your Brand Strategy And Telling Your Shop’s Story

Do your uniforms look like every other shop in the area? Does your waiting room look the same? Do your advertisements look exactly like what everyone else is sending? These things are all part of your shop’s brand – its image in the community. And you can either choose to look, sound and act like everyone else, or you can choose to build your own brand, tell your own story and set yourself apart.

4 Reasons Why Job Descriptions Are Essential To A Small Business

Most companies use job ­descriptions as a recruiting tool, to define performance standards and career planning. Those are all great uses, but here are four more reasons that job descriptions should be used in a ­company.

Illegal Substances And Their Impact On An Auto Repair Business

As I am sure you’re aware, an employee’s drug use can lead to injuries and losses that will drive up your insurance rates, absenteeism, poor performance and even theft. If you’re unsure of what to do, then you’re reading the right ­article.

Freddie Kish’s Complete Car Care Center: The Federated ‘Shop Of The Year’

Every year, a deserving independent automotive repair shop is named Federated’s Shop of the Year. The annual program recognizes a top shop whose owners have a demonstrated track record of excellence in such areas as customer service, quality repairs, knowledgeable staff and community involvement. For this year’s winners, add “tenacity” and “determination” to that list.

Federated shop of the year
Rad Air Complete Car Care: Where Customer Service Is King

Behind every successful independent automotive repair shop is a staff that not only provides expert repairs, but one that treats customers with the care and respect that keeps them coming back – and telling their family and friends. Since founding Rad Air ­Complete Car Care in 1975, Shop Owner Andy Fiffick has ­expanded from his original Parma Heights, OH, location to three company-owned facilities and nine franchised operations throughout Northeast Ohio. Along the way, staffing has always been a critical component for success.

Valuable Perks To Keep Your Shop ‘Top Of Mind’

What would one more visit per year from your best customers mean for your shop? Let’s say you have 100 current customers and the average customer comes in twice per year. If you can get each one to come in once more every year, you would grow your sales by 50% without spending a dime.

e-newsletter
Is Business Coaching Right For Your Shop?

Whether you’re a new shop owner looking to increase your car count, or an industry veteran hoping to build loyalty from your existing customer base, hiring a business coach to help you achieve your goals might be worth considering.

business coaching
Executive Interview: Ted Hughes, Head of Marketing, North America, MAHLE Aftermarket Inc.

Ted Hughes, AAP, was named head of marketing in North America for MAHLE Aftermarket Inc. in February 2011. Hughes leads the marketing department with responsibility for promotions, public relations, advertising, motorsports programs, and the advancement of all electronic and web-based activities. He’s approaching 15 years with the company, having served in various marketing roles since graduating in 2000 from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor of business administration (marketing) degree.

Ted Hughes 8x10 Young Executive of the Year