Magazine Archives - Page 35 of 63 - Shop Owner Magazine
Resolve To Keep Your Online Marketing Resolutions

Last year, I described resolutions as promises you make to yourself in hopes of making a positive difference in your life and the lives of others. You know … those promises you usually break before the second week of January! How about breaking that cycle? Let’s revisit some of those resolutions from 2013 and take a look at new resolutions for 2014.

Relax – R1234yf Is Not The End Of The World

I recently attended the Mobile Air Conditioning Society’s 2014 Training Event and Trade Show in New Orleans. The main topic of discussion was R1234yf, or “twelve-thirty-four” in A/C lingo. There has been a lot of hype about the changeover to this refrigerant. Don’t panic. The reality is that it is not the “air conditioning apocalypse” some are predicting.

ASE Undercar X1 Specialist Certification: Not What You Would Expect

Are you one of the 7,570 technicians who are ASE-Certified Undercar Specialists? If not, you should be. I recently took the X1 Exhaust Test to qualify as an Undercar Specialist. To gain this certification, you must be concurrently certified for Suspension & Steering (A4) and Brakes (A5) from the Automobile & Light Truck Test Series, and Exhaust Systems (X1) from the Specialty Test Series.

Use Data To Analyze Your Business, Improve Bottom Line

With the increasing ability to collect data electronically, shop owners are sitting on huge piles of data relating to various facets of shop operation. What are the best ways to comb through the data and determine the metrics that describe the productivity and efficiency of your business and allow you to impact it?

Executive Q&A: Max Dull, MAHLE Tool & Equipment Division

Max Dull joined MAHLE Clevite, Inc. in 2013 and serves as the general manager of the company’s newly formed division to address the tool and equipment industry. Through its RTI brand, the division develops and distributes automotive maintenance equipment including air conditioning service, fluid exchange and nitrogen tire inflation systems into the repair shop equipment sector of the automotive aftermarket.

Guide Your Actions With Reflection; The Past Can Be A Springboard For The Future

At the end of every year, I reflect on the events that transpired over the past 12 months that pertain to my business and personal life. Reflection can have a powerful impact on how you act in a similar situation you may encounter in the future.

Mark’s Auto Service: Staying Modern While Remembering The Past

In a society that is increasingly becoming accustomed to instant gratification (you can find just about any information with a quick Google search), it should come as no surprise that the motto at Mark’s Auto Service in Rockford, IL, is, “We fix it all, right here, right now!”

Set Your Shop’s 2014 Goals – And Ensure You Accomplish Them

Most shop owners understand the importance of setting goals, but are lost when it comes to the rationale for setting their goals, how challenging the goals need to be, and the types of goals that need to be set. This article will address each of these considerations to help you get your shop on the right track for 2014 and beyond.

Executive Q&A Part 2: Art Blumenthal, Nationwide Automotive Aftermarket Business Broker

In the second of a two-part series, we delve deep into the process of selling a business by interviewing Art Blumenthal, nationwide automotive aftermarket business broker, who provides business valuations, exit planning and buying and selling adviser services. Part one of the executive interview appeared in the November/December issue of Shop Owner.

Avoid Customer Disservice At Your Shop

There’s a lot of talk about the importance of providing quality customer service and superior customer experiences to improve customer loyalty and sales. In fact, these topics are the primary elements of my training and consulting practice for the tire and auto service industry. On the flip side, there’s relatively little dialogue about the aspects that turn customers off, harm customer relationships and can ultimately have customers not only leave your business for a competitor, but do so while complaining about your business to everyone with whom they come into contact.

Embrace E-Communications: A Lesson In Customer Satisfaction, Engagement

The way customers prefer to communicate is changing, and there are great opportunities for every business owner to reach them more efficiently through E-communications. Email, social media (Facebook/Twitter) and texting are just a few of the electronic communication channels we use that benefit both our customers and our shop.

The Six Essential Success Traits Of Top-Performing Service Salespeople

Having spent 25+ years in the sales industry myself, I have seen a wide variety of salespeople, from dreadful to truly great with most somewhere in between. Of course, top-performing salespeople are invaluable to any business as they typically represent the 20% of the team that generates 80% of the revenue or thereabouts.