July/August 2014 Archives - Shop Owner Magazine
Executive Interview: Roy Kent, Federated Auto Parts

Roy Kent Roy Kent joined the Federated Auto Parts management team in January 2014 as chief strategy officer and president of new business development. An industry veteran, Kent’s vast aftermarket experience includes a long career at Federal-Mogul where he held a variety of positions, most recently serving as vice president of wholesale distribution. At Federated, he oversees

What Is Your Roadmap To Profitability?

Your roadmap begins with collecting all the labor dollars for your technicians’ time. Through measuring and managing, you can determine whether or not you are collecting all the labor dollars that are available to you, or if you are leaving money on the table. Once you start measuring a few important metrics, especially ­effective labor

Two Tools For Resolving Employee Conflict and Improving Morale

Is your shop a hotbed of employee conflict? Even if we look only at generational differences, it’s not hard to see why employees can butt heads and morale can suffer. Millennials are replacing Gen Xers, who displaced the Baby Boomers before them. Each group grew up in a vastly different world, and each has their

Rischbieter’s Automotive Continues Long Tradition Of Quality Service

For some, automotive repair is in the blood — especially when you follow in the footsteps of your dad and his dad before him. Bob Rischbieter, Jr., grew up working at Rischbieter’s Automotive in St. Louis, MO, so it comes as no surprise that he now owns it. “My grandfather, Ted Rischbieter, first opened the doors

Rischbieter's Automotive
The Case For Consistency: Exceeding Expectations Builds Customer Loyalty

No customer likes surprises when it comes to doing business with any type of service provider. When customers can count on consistently great service each time they do business with you, their confidence increases and they are far less likely to shop around for their vehicle service needs. But when the customer’s ­experience is inconsistent

3A Automotive Service: Where Friendly, Honest Auto Repair Equals Profitability, Customer Satisfaction

Let’s face it: No one likes working weekends. Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to catch up on chores, visit with friends and, most importantly, spend quality time with family. It’s why 3A Automotive Service is closed on the weekends, and it just might be one of the reasons President Jimmy Alauria doesn’t have much

Will Your Tax Returns Understate The True Value of Your Auto Service Business?

After more than 30 years of owning and successfully running the town’s well-known and successful auto service business…starting out long ago as a single location and growing to multiple sites over the course of his career…Dan the Auto Man is about to make the biggest decision of his professional life. Dan has decided that it’s

What Every Service Adviser Should Know About Selling

Many years ago, when I was still working on cars, I came to the realization that I would someday own my own shop. I also realized that in order to do so, I would first have to learn how to sell service. At that time, I didn’t know how to sell, and I also had