Embracing Diversity
With each passing generation, our population landscape gets more diverse. The majority of communities throughout the U.S. and Canada have a makeup that is very different from a few decades ago. With these ever-shifting demographics, business owners are faced with the challenge of constantly reinventing their marketing and customer service efforts if they want to cater to all potential customers.
Casey’s Independent Automotive Repair Shares Vision With Employees
The mark of a long-lasting business isn’t just profitability during times of economic prosperity, but also adjusting when things take a turn for the worse. Vancouver, WA, Shop Owner Casey McGowan has seen hard times — and taken the steps necessary to ensure his business not only stayed afloat but flourished as well.
Dan Freeman, Industry Veteran Of 50 Years, Takes A Look Back And A Look Ahead
Dan Freeman, who’s been at the helm of Automotive Parts Associates (APA) for 25 years, looks back on his storied and successful career, and looks forward to giving back to the industry in his well-deserved retirement that begins later this month.
Shop Management: Ethical Sales And Full Disclosure
In our industry, there are unwritten rules that shop owners have followed for decades. They know that they have to hire gifted technicians, stay at the forefront of vehicle technology, and can never jeopardize their relationships with their customers; just to name a few. Unfortunately, there is another rule that far too many shop owners have believed in for decades. The one that says that whenever you have first-time customers in your shop, and you discover that their vehicles need a lot of work, you are better off holding back on some of the recommendations.
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.
Top Shop Automotive: Three Talented Guys And A Successful Automotive Repair Shop
What do you get when three guys who also happen to be technicians become friends? A highly successful Santa Barbara, CA-based repair shop.
Marketing To Women: It’s More About What You Do Than What You Say
Let’s be honest: our industry has a less-than-stellar reputation, especially among women. It’s understandable, considering that less than 1% of ASE-certified technicians and only 7% of service advisors are female. This is still predominantly a man’s world; and let’s be real, most men just don’t get women.
Time Stealers: Identifying And Averting Barriers To Productive Use Of Your Precious Time
Whether it’s silver, gold, platinum, diamonds, rubies or even cold, hard cash, we take numerous measures each day to protect our valuable items, some more drastic than others. We use locks, banks, safes and alarms to ensure their safe protection. We lock our homes, cars and businesses in order to safeguard our personal possessions and the things that are important to us.
Bring In More First-Time Callers
With vehicles being built better than ever before, and with service intervals continually being extended, you are going to see your customers less often. This means that your service advisors have to be razor sharp when that phone rings. Although there is no silver bullet that will allow you to bring in every first-time caller, there are a number of things you can do to get more appointments. In this article, I would like to share some of the best practices your advisors can use that will bring immediate results.
Francis Automotive: Unique Marketing Efforts Help Build Shop Brand
While some shop owners may rely on traditional forms of marketing – direct mail, print and on-line advertising, and word of mouth – to bring customers through the doors, John Francis Jr. says his marketing efforts are unique, but also quite successful.