Editor's Notebook: Fall Car Care Is In The Air And Central To The Northwood International Auto Show -

Editor’s Notebook: Fall Car Care Is In The Air And Central To The Northwood International Auto Show

If you've ever been involved in or hosted a Be Car Care Aware event, you know the power it can have in educating customers about how much money they can save with proper vehicle maintenance. You also know the value-added benefits of heightening your shop's image in the community, earning existing customers' lasting loyalty and prompting new referrals along the way.

If you’ve ever been involved in or hosted a Be Car Care Aware event, you know the power it can have in educating customers about how much money they can save with proper vehicle maintenance. You also know the value-added benefits of heightening your shop’s image in the community, earning existing customers’ lasting loyalty and prompting new referrals along the way.

If you’re on the car care bandwagon, this granddaddy event should really grab your attention.

The largest-ever consumer vehicle check-up event will be hosted by the Car Care Council, in conjunction with the 49th Annual Northwood University International Auto Show to be held Oct. 5-7 in Midland, MI.

The event will feature free vehicle inspections to consumers by volunteer technicians, as well as give Northwood students the opportunity to work with the many aftermarket companies that will exhibit and provide educational demonstrations about preventive maintenance.

“This unprecedented vehicle check-up event will be a huge footprint for the aftermarket, and, for the first time, add an element of vehicle service and repair to the auto show’s 500-plus new vehicle displays,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. 

In addition to the vehicle inspections at the Car Care Council vehicle check-up event, aftermarket companies will host demonstrations showing worn vs. new parts like wiper blades, hoses, belts, tires, brake pads and rotors, and dirty vs. clean engine oil and fluids.

For more information, visit www.northwood.edu/autoshow/

 

 

At A Glance: 2012 International Auto Show

• It’s the 49th annual auto show at Northwood University.

• Largest student-run, new car outdoor auto show in North America.

• Average of 50,000-plus visitors throughout the three-day event.

• More than 500 new cars, trucks, RVs, semi trucks, specialty and promotional vehicles.

• 600-plus participating Northwood students from all curriculums.

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The True Cost Of Comebacks

Comebacks are a hot topic today. You need to track all comebacks, determine the reason (tech error, part error, training issue, other) and then calculate the true cost of the comeback.

By Joe Marconi of Elite
Comebacks are a hot topic today. You need to track
all comebacks, determine the reason (tech error, part error, training issue,
other) and then calculate the true cost of the comeback.
Here are a few things to consider:
• The loss of time when performing the comeback; time that the tech can use to
perform other work and generate profit;
• The misc costs, such as overhead costs, supplies, cleaners, etc.;
• Towing costs, rental, etc.;
• Cost to morale;
• Reputation damage; and
• Reduction to your profit margin.
For every part issue, you need to
inform your supplier. Sit down with suppliers on a regular basis. Don’t return defective
parts until you have listed the parts, and maintain a report. Document
everything.
Part issues are increasing. Every shop
owner I speak to is frustrated over this.
Remember, comebacks kill your bottom
line. The more comebacks you have, the more they’re killing your profits.
This article was contributed by Joe Marconi.
Joe is one of the 1-on-1 business coaches who helps shop owners through
the Elite Coaching Program, and is the
co-founder of autoshopowner.com.

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