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By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog5 commentsI recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
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By carmcapriotto
Matt Fanslow and guest Justin Morgan tackle various issues within the automotive industry during a live "Ask Us Anything" session. They discuss the struggle for industry respect, the challenges small shops face, and the crucial role of specialization. The conversation highlights the importance of training for staff development and the difficulties in motivating technicians to attend. They also explore the impact of influential figures on training, the dynamics between shop owners and technicians, and the importance of mentorship for new technicians.
Show Notes
The barrier to elevating respect in the industry (00:01:18) Discussion on the challenges and factors affecting the level of respect in the automotive industry. The importance of specialization for small shops (00:09:26) The challenges faced by smaller shops and the importance of specializing in specific car lines or services. The impact of training on staff improvement (00:14:55) The significance of training and its role in enhancing the skills and knowledge of staff members in the automotive industry. The frustration of low training attendance (00:15:17) Discussion about the disappointment of low training attendance and the struggle to motivate technicians to take advantage of available training opportunities. The lack of awareness about available training (00:17:20) Exploration of the widespread lack of knowledge about the existence of various training resources and events within the automotive industry. Challenges of implementing online training (00:19:22) Discussion about the resistance and challenges in implementing online training, including the mental block towards online training and the lack of engagement with online resources. Differentiating job from career mindset (00:21:02) Exploration of the distinction between a job mindset and a career mindset and the difficulty in converting individuals from one mindset to the other. Discussion about specialized tools and training costs (00:25:21) Conversation about the cost and necessity of specialized tools and training, particularly focusing on the cost of entry and P-WAS tools for specific car lines. Challenges Faced by Small Shops (00:32:00) Challenges faced by small shops and the struggle for improvement and recognition. Perpetuating Positive Evolution (00:38:29) Addressing the negative attitudes towards the automotive industry and encouraging perseverance and growth. Delayed Gratification in the Automotive Industry (00:42:26) Comparison with other skilled trades and the potential for growth and success in the automotive industry. Investing in New Technicians (00:43:28) Discussion on investing in new technicians, advice for newcomers, and the challenges of starting out in the automotive industry. Discovering Your True Calling (00:45:11) Exploration of finding one's true calling, the expectations on young people, and the importance of giving opportunities without bias. Developing Mechanical Aptitude (00:46:21) The impact of changing environments, the lack of mechanical aptitude in younger generations, and the need for patience in skill development. Dealing with Frustrations in the Trade (00:50:01) Addressing the difference between frustration with vehicles and feeling stuck in the trade, and the importance of managing toxic work environments.
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech napaautotech.com
Email Matt: [email protected]
Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel HERE
Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/
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By Transmission Repair
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By carmcapriotto
Thank you to RepairPal for sponsoring The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast. Learn more about RepairPal at https://repairpal.com/shops
How To Get In Touch
Group - Auto Repair Marketing Mastermind
Website - shopmarketingpros.com
Facebook - facebook.com/shopmarketingpros
Get the Book - shopmarketingpros.com/book
Instagram - @shopmarketingpros
Questions/Ideas - [email protected]
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By carmcapriotto
The Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops.
Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo:https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/
Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
If you would like to join their private facebook group go here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermind
In this episode of "The Weekly Blitz," Coach Chris Cotton uses football analogies to provide strategies for success in the auto repair business. He compares marketing and managing margins to offense and defense in football, and emphasizes the importance of managing setbacks, like penalties in a game. He also discusses the crucial role of employees and stakeholders, likening them to special teams and spectators. The episode ends with Coach Chris encouraging listeners to keep learning and growing in their business. The podcast is sponsored by Shop Marketing Pros, represented by Brian and Kimberly Walker.
Running an auto shop is like winning in football [00:03:15] Drawing parallels between running an auto repair shop and winning a football game, discussing offense, defense, and the importance of teamwork.
Offense: Your marketing strategy [00:05:33] Exploring the role of marketing in driving the business forward, emphasizing the need for an online presence and customer engagement.
Defense: Managing margins and operational efficiency [00:06:36] Highlighting the importance of managing costs, setting the right pricing, and ensuring an efficient operational workflow to ensure the long-term sustainability of the business.
Don't forget to subscribe and share [00:10:51] Encouragement to subscribe, share, leave a review, and provide input for future episodes.
Get in touch for questions or topics [00:10:51] Invitation to contact Chris at Auto Fix for questions or suggestions for upcoming episodes.
Time to rise and grind [00:10:51] Motivational message to keep learning, growing, and striving for success in the business.
Connect with Chris:
[email protected]
Phone: 940.400.1008
www.autoshopcoaching.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
AutoFixAutoShopCoachingYoutube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae
#autofixautoshopcoaching #autofixbeautofixing #autoshopprofits #autoshopprofit #autoshopprofitsfirst #autoshopleadership #autoshopmanagement #autorepairshopcoaching #autorepairshopconsulting #autorepairshoptraining #autorepairshop #autorepair #autoops #onlinebooking #serviceadvisor #serviceadvisorefficiency #autorepairshopmarketing #theweeklyblitz #autofix #boomersooner #oklahomasooners
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By carmcapriotto
What does the future look like for the automotive industry? Listen to the perspectives of Jennifer Maher, Executive Director of the TechForce Foundation, Derek Kaufman, Managing Partner at Schwartz Advisors, Matt Fanslow, Lead Diagnostician and Shop Manager at Riverside Automotive, and Dustin Brown, Shop Owner of Brown Auto Experts with 3 locations. We have an open discussion about future trends, aftermarket challenges, and electric vehicles.
Jennifer Maher, Executive Director, TechForce Foundation, Jennifer's previous episodes HERE Derek Kaufman, Managing Partner, Schwartz Advisors, President of C3 Network. Listen to Derek’s previous episodes HERE. Matt Fanslow, lead diagnostician and shop manager, Riverside Automotive, Red Wing, MN. Matt’s previous episodes HERE Dustin Brown, Brown Auto Experts, 3 Locations in New Mexico, Albuquerque, Village of Los Ranchos and Rio Rancho. Listen to Dustin’s other episodes HERE
Show Notes:
Today's BEV headlines may be "over the top" in terms of the pace of BEV adoption, but the VIO will definitively change over time – we are forecasting the VIO at 7.3% BEV in 2030, 26.5% in 2040 and 51.2% in 2050 We know that people are talking about 60 and even 70% reductions in BEV maintenance versus ICE cars, and that may be true – but the true lifetime service of BEVs has more to do with major part failures than it does maintenance. Motors, power modules and other BEV components will fail and the aftermarket will be ready to service them. BEVs will generate new under-car and cooling system service opportunities – they are heavier and have higher torque, so suspensions, half shafts, and steering gear will see more wear than ICE cars. Cooling systems will be much more sophisticated with multi-directional and intelligent valves, PTC and Heat Pump heaters, multiple radiators, and many more fluid connectors. Multi Shop Owner- consistency of service Technology not only makes things more complex, in many cases, but that complexity is usually in the background. Technology also makes things easier. Not just vehicle technology itself, but tools and equipment technology. The technology is here for a 100% automated tire changing system, but it is cost prohibitive for many/most. It won't remain so, and if it isn't 100% automated, you'll just need someone to take the wheel off and roll it to the machine, the machine will replace the tire, maybe test the TPMS sensor, and then mount the new tire and balance it. The human will be little more than an assistant. Technology may make vehicles, as it has already done, even more reliable, but also change how we service them. The following are already expected by most but will soon be expected by all due to the cost of repairs. Top Notch Facilities, clean and professional appearance inside and out. Top customer service experience. Professionalism from all areas of the business. Tools, equipment, digital inspections, customer education materials Diversity in the workforce- including more women and the younger generation, puzzle solving Variety of vehicles in the next 30 years New jobs- power stations, power grids, safety on repairs Investors- real estate game (pit stop), autonomous trucks in ‘service center.’ Be malleable and willing to adapt
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Important Books
Check out today's partners:
Shop-Ware: More Time. More Profit. Shop-Ware Shop Management getshopware.com
Delphi Technologies: Keeping current on the latest vehicle systems and how to repair them is a must for today’s technicians. DelphiAftermarket.com
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