Make National Car Care Month Your Business Resolution
Looking for a way to bolster your business in the new year? By making a resolution to conduct a community car care event during National Car Care Month, your business will reap the benefits, according to the Car Care Council.
The Real Art of Advertising: More Than Pretty Pictures and Catchy Phrases, Part 2
In the September/October issue of Shop Owner, we introduced the “new” art of advertising in a modern market, and presented strategies automotive repair shop owners can use to corner their market, maintain loyal customers, and expand their shops’ value and customer base.
The Buck Stops Here
Some business owners and managers continue to be stuck in the past. They fail to realize by squeezing out the last drop of productivity, cutting their overhead to the bare bones, trying to cut costs, working harder, and continuing to do business the same way with the same old customers and the same projects won’t cut it today.
Positive Service Implications from a Sophisticated Aftermarket
We’ve all been hearing for years how vehicles are becoming more sophisticated, with electronic content on the rise each model year. Sensors and on-board computers are communicating with each other to make constant adjustments allowing the vehicle to operate as fuel efficient and environmentally clean as possible.
iATN Knowledge Base Exceeds Three Million Records
The International Automotive Technicians’ Network (iATN) recently exceeded three million records in its Knowledge Base, a collection of automotive repair databases that contains real world technical information generated by iATN members.
Using Games and Play to Boost Productivity
As more Gen Y and Millennials enter the workforce, using gaming, social networking tools and advanced communication techniques are more effective for engaging employees. These 21st Century inventions provide opportunities to leverage tech-savvy talent that might otherwise go untapped or under-utilized.
Executive Interview: Jim Graninger, Vice President, Regional Business Unit, Bosch Diagnostics
Bosch’s Jim Graninger brings to automotive service more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, including over 20 years in the aftermarket arena. Before joining Bosch, he was Vice President and General Manager of Rexnord Industries, LLC, and prior to that, served in several vice president level roles with Snap-on, Inc., including their diagnostics business. Jim’s successful career includes international assignments in Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands as well as international responsibilities for Asia, Australia and Latin America.
Things To Consider Before Opening Your Second Shop, Part I
You have thought about it long and hard and decided it may be time to open a second shop. Here are some things to consider: 97% of all new businesses fail within the first five years. There are two primary reasons that these businesses fail: Under Capitalization and Poor Management.
Herman Trend Alert: Engaged Employees Increase Bottom Line Performance
Gallup psychologist James Harter, a researcher in Omaha, NE, examined 10 companies’ employee satisfaction surveys, employee retention rates, customer loyalty and financial performance. He found a direct relationship between employee satisfaction and overall company performance.
Discrimination in the Workplace: Prevention Starts at the Top
The U.S. Justice Department tells us that lawsuits alleging discrimination in the workplace more than tripled in the 1990s. These stories can be found online, in the newspaper and on the evening news almost daily, and most commonly involve race, gender, disability, religion or age. The uncertainty of today’s business climate, the downturn in the economy, and most importantly, layoffs, increases the likelihood of legal action.