AutoShopOwner Articles

Sara Fraser is a millennial who has a love for life, travel, and connecting with other humans! She has over 15 years of retail management experience, the last 6 of them as an office manager for a used car sales and service center. To bring her customer service, marketing, and business knowledge to the automotive industry she has recently joined the team at Haas Performance Consulting. Sara loves helping others grow and succeed and is excited to share her expertise on management and social media, her views on how and why the younger generations think and act, and how to work and manage a business within a multi-generational workforce. When she isn’t working Sara spends her time traveling, attending theatrical productions, music festivals, concerts, advocating for human and animal rights, celebrating life in general and connecting with other people from all over the world. Look for Sara’s previous episodes HERE. Key Talking Points: Why aren’t millennials applying to my shop? Millennials don’t buy products without looking at reviews- they won’t apply/accept offer without researching shop thoroughly first  Have current employees leave google reviews- show off and share your business culture . Shop should look clean and inviting- millennials want walk through interviews to evaluate their potential work space   Flexibility in work hours- millennials grew up with parents that were away from the home or working extended hours. Life after work is more important than work.  Social media/linkedin/indeed- the more you advertise you’re hiring on different platforms, the bigger net you’re casting and the more feedback you’ll have Advertise your culture- be inviting into your team, millennials are looking for that workplace “home”   “Ideal boss”- approachable, comfortable to talk to, honest, trustworthy, positive attitude, personable. Millennials like to share information about their life outside of work and want the same reflected back. You are more than a boss, you are a mentor/role model. Embrace change and adapt to your employees needs - create a space for employees to flourish and succeed   Show millennials the auto industry is a viable career- they did not grow up with the knowledge they could be a technician as a career Resources: Thanks to Sara Fraser for her contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast. Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers. Find every podcast episode HERE. Every episode segmented by Series HERE. Key Word Search HERE. Be socially involved and in touch with the show: Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser and many more. Mobile Listening APP's HERE Join the Ecosystem - Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE. Buy me a coffee This episode is brought to you by AAPEX, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and has everything you need to stay ahead of the curve.  The Virtual AAPEX Experience 2020 is in the record books. Virtual AAPEX lived up to presenting leading-technical and business management training from some of the industry’s best and brightest. Now set your sights on the homecoming in Las Vegas in 2021. Mark your calendar now … November 2-4, 2021, AAPEX // Now more than ever. This episode is brought to you by Shop-Ware Shop Management. It’s time to run your business at its fullest potential with the industry’s leading technology. Shop-Ware Shop Management will increase your efficiency with lightning-fast workflows, help your staff capture more sales every day, and create very happy customers who promote your business. Shops running Shop-Ware have More Time and generate More Profit—join them! Schedule a free live demonstration and find out how 30 minutes can transform your shop at getshopware.com/carm Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio

This week David and I had a chance to sit down with a legitimate celebrity.  CEO, Shop Owner, Technician, and YouTube Extraordinaire Carolyn Coquillette. We talked about technician training and whether or not EVs will spell the end of our industry as we currently know it.  Want to get a glimpse into the mindset of a CEO? One that started as a tech and became a shop owner before leading a successful software company?  Then don't miss this episode! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1182755/8041803-asog-podcast-ep-23-thinking-like-a-ceo-with-carolyn-coquillette You can also find us on YouTube here:    

Please login or register to view this content.

https://youtu.be/Ct0OwU5gxik Clint White has been passionately immersed in the Automotive Industry for over 25 years. He is an Owner / Service Advisor Coach / Shop Consultant with ShopVision and currently still holds his ASE Master Tech, Under Car Specialist, & Service Writer Certifications. He started wrenching full time at a small independent shop in 1995 and over the course of the next two and a half decades he has managed & teched at Midas, a Chevrolet/Cadillac dealership and a handful of independent repair facilities in Washington & S.E. Idaho. During his journey he has never stopped learning and has been blessed to work for and with those who value education, training and coaching. He has been through various facets of automotive training including GM, ATI & RLO and even took it upon himself to attend Northwest University for 2 years to complete his Ministry Leadership degree to become a licensed Pastor all while successfully & profitably running a shop full time…(talk about being stretched!!!). Needless to say, his fire is lit !!! In everything he does, Clint is focused on people and focused on excellence! Whether it be coaching & training Service Advisors to sell with passion & integrity or working directly with Shop Owners to improve team accountability and streamline process implementation, Clint’s passion is to elevate the Automotive Industry across the nation to ensure every customer consistently receives the highest level of service possible – every phone call, every visit, every repair, every time ! Dan McWilliams started his journey in the Automotive Service Industry on October 1998 when starting his education at Automotive Training Center in Exton, Pa during which he developed his passion for Automotive Service Excellence. Started working in the field as a technician January 1999. Graduated in May 2000 from Automotive Training Center with a degree in Specialized Automotive Service Technology. Has always strived for excellence and providing the best service by constantly attending training. After 17 years as an Automotive Technician during which becoming the lead technician He expanded his career into the Service Manager position in 2016. Dan has continued his passion to offer the best Automotive Service and is continuously training to learn to offer the best Client experiences for Automotive Repair with the goal of Owning and Managing his own Automotive Repair shop. Benjamin R. Lesueur is the General Manager of Oxford Automotive. Ben is a young, driven individual who is motivated to learn and overcome obstacles unlike most of his peers. He has a vision for business growth and employee development to succeed in unison with his team and applies unconventional solutions to create remarkable results. Ben started his journey pushing a broom for the shop owner at Oxford Automotive back in 2018 when he graduated high school and has taken on every opportunity to grow the operation. James Church, the owner of Oxford, and Ben have taken a team-like mentality to both grow personally and professionally. Ben was promoted from pushing a broom to Service Manager within 2 years of service at Oxford and became the company's first General Manager then a year later. This team's success has allowed them to venture onto a second location and expand their operations beyond expectation. Through proper delegation, accepting feedback, and creating a very positive family like atmosphere Ben and his team have been able to create a winning operation for all members involved. Scenario #1 (contains 2 parts) SA: Clint, Customer: Dan, Observer: Ben The goal of this 2-part role-play is to demonstrate the importance of  closing the expectation gap on the inbound (appointment setting) call and how vital it is to make the sale by building anticipation in the results of the DVI) (Focus – Making the Sale) PT-1: A first-time customer calls in to the shop to schedule a drop-off appointment on their 2012 Toyota Camry (4cyl / 118k miles) for a state-mandated safety inspection & emissions test. PT-2: The SA calls the customer to discuss the results of the DVI as well as the findings on the state-mandated safety inspection and emissions test.        Scenario #2 The goal of this roll-play is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SA in how they calm the customer and build value in their services while retaining the sale SA: Ben,  Customer: Clint,  Observer: Dan (Focus – Saving the Sale) A repeat customer with a 2014 Chevy Cruze (4cyl / 86k miles) has already authorized the replacement of the coolant outlet housing, the thermostat assembly, and a cooling system exchange for $650 and the work is already in progress. However, after calling a cheaper shop down the road to compare prices, they have called to stop repairs and come pick up their vehicle.  Scenario #3 The goal of this roll-play is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SA in scheduling deferred services at the cash-out SA: Dan,  Customer: Ben,  Observer: Clint (Focus – Setting up a Future Sale) A new customer with a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 (5.3L, 4WD, 121K miles) is at the counter picking up and cashing out after having had an oil change, tire rotation, and air filter replacement. They were previously presented with a DVI and they elected to decline the following repairs. Front Brakes (less than 1mm & rotors deeply scored).  Resources: A special thanks to Clint White, Dan McWilliams, and Ben Lesueur for his contribution to the aftermarket. Books Page HERE Listen to all Remarkable Results Radio, For The Record and Town Hall Academy episodes. Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email Mobile Listening APP's HERE Join the Ecosystem - Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE. Buy Carm a Cup of Coffee  This episode is brought to you by Shop-Ware Shop Management. It’s time to run your business at its fullest potential with the industry’s leading technology. Shop-Ware Shop Management will increase your efficiency with lightning-fast workflows, help your staff capture more sales every day, and create very happy customers who promote your business. Shops running Shop-Ware have More Time and generate More Profit—join them! Schedule a free live demonstration and find out how 30 minutes can transform your shop at getshopware.com This episode is brought to you buy Shop Marketing Pros. Your guides are Kim and Brian Walker with a rich history as shop owners and industry veterans. When someone searches for a shop, who are they finding? Your competitors? It should be you! The good people over at Shop Marketing Pros know how to drive website traffic and make Google work for you! www.shopmarketingpros.com Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio

Trish Serratore is the Senior Vice President of Communication at ASE She works closely with all of the organizations within the ASE Industry/Education initiative, which also includes ASE and the Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC), to help provide the qualified automotive professionals the industry needs today and tomorrow. Links to Trish’s episodes HERE. Key Talking Points: ASE update from 2020-2021Test centers were initially closed- extended certifications. IT-enabled 40 people to be able to work remotely- most important was customer service employees.  Test centers opened with COVID regulations and restrictions in June  New website launch My ASE account on the homepage  Test prep for free Remote proctoring for future- take recertification test at home  All auto tests are now translated to Spanish  New certification program for army tactical wheeled vehicles3 levels of testing You don’t have to be in armed service to take the test Gives the army its own credential for internal use  ASE will be 50 years old next year- oldest occupational credential programs in-country, and one of the first  Studies show technicians who are ASE certified are more productive.  Developed task list and created ADAS composite vehicle- 2022 launch   ASE renewal appSoft launch early 2020 with 1000 subscribers, now has over 8,500  ASE certifications within businessHang signs, put a patch on, display ASE certificates to your customer- share you have invested in your employees, so your customers have the best possible service.  Differentiate yourself from other businesses Resources: Thanks to Trish Serratore for her contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast. Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page, highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers. Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser, and many more. Mobile Listening APP's HERE Find every podcast episode HERE. Every episode is segmented by Series HERE. Key Word Search HERE. Be socially involved and in touch with the show: Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email Join the Ecosystem - Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE. Buy me a coffee NAPA AutoCare’s PROimage program makes it easy for you to make the most of the NAPA brand. A PROimage upgrade lets you maintain your shop’s identity as a reliable, locally-owned business while letting your customers and potential customers know you’re partnering with NAPA, the most recognized and trusted name in the automotive aftermarket. AutoCare Centers that have completed a PROimage exterior upgrade enjoy an average 23 percent sales increase during the first year. You can also choose to go PROimage on the interior and transform your customer waiting area from merely utilitarian to warm and welcoming. You can even get a free look by visting www.NAPAAutoCare.com and clicking on the NAPA PROimage link under the NAPA PROimage tab. Of course, the AutoCare site is also the place to go to find out about all the advantages being part of the NAPA family has to offer. Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio

Please login or register to view this content.

When I look back at my 40-years as a shop owner, there is one thing that stands out among everything else: It’s the people we surround ourselves with that will have the biggest influence in determining our success. Think about it, even the greatest NFL coach will never win a Super Bowl without great players.  I have worked with a lot of employees through the years, including technicians at all skill levels, bookkeepers, service advisors, managers, and support staff. I can tell you with 100 percent conviction that the years that were the most successful were the ones that I had assembled the best teams. Now, I am not just defining success by profit alone. These were also the years that were the most fun, with less stress and the years that we made the biggest positive impact with our customers and the community.   Let’s talk about production first. Highly motivated, skilled technicians with the right attitude produce more.  They also get paid more, and they should. The right team of techs will average higher labor hours. I learned many years ago, it’s not the hourly rate you pay a tech that matters, as much as the hourly labor dollars produced by that tech.  Next up are your service advisors. Here is where you can make or break your company. The service advisor is the face of the company. They represent you, your company and everything you do. The best brake job in the world means nothing if the service advisor doesn’t deliver a world-class experience that gives your customers a compelling reason to return.   The long-term damage from an incompetent service advisor is hard to recover from. For the most part, you don’t run a transactional business. Your company relies on strong relationships and a strong culture.  There isn’t a big-box brand name over your bays. It’s your name. And that means service advisors need to go above and beyond to exceed your customer’s expectations. If not, you lose.  For the success of any repair shop, I put great emphasis and responsibility on the owner when it comes to employee management. All too often, a poorly run, failing shop is the fault of bad leadership. The shop owner’s ability to lead and motivate is crucial with building a winning team and successful business.  However, I have also learned that sometimes we have the wrong people. And no matter what you do or how you try to motivate and lead, there are some people that just don’t “get it.” If it’s not in someone to begin with, nothing you do will change that person.  In today’s business world, you need a team of great players.  You need to hire people that can produce quality jobs, with minimal comebacks, have the right attitude, self-motivated, willing to attend training and have the willingness to work in a united, team environment.  You need to hire people that “get it.”  With regard to your customers, your business hinges more on the customer experience than it does on the equipment you have or the brand of parts you use. Of course, the parts you purchase matter. Of course, your alignment machine matters. But none of that is as important as what the customer sees.  The customer sees and judges you on her overall experience. Which is how she was greeted at the service counter, how she was spoken to during the sales process, the car delivery, and the experience driving away with a smudge-free steering wheel.   Lastly, here’s something you need to accept as a business owner. There isn’t a process anyone can create that will make up for mishaps caused by employing the wrong people. You do need to have processes and policies in place. It’s how you build a smooth-running and efficient business. However, we don’t run a McDonalds or a Dunkin Donuts. We can’t make up for poor customer service with a process or with a point-of-sale computer terminal. The processes and policies you create will only work the way they were intended to when you have employees fully aligned with your culture and have the right attitude. You need to have the right people.  There are many components of business. The financials, choosing the right vendors, training, equipment, and advertising are among them. The two most important components of your business are your employees and your customers. However, you have great control over who you hire. And we all know, great employees create great customers.  Assemble the right people around you and the rest will fall into place.  This story was originally published by Joe Marconi in Ratchet+Wrench on August 5th, 2020 View full article

Travis Guy co-owner of Yourba Linda Auto Service in Placentia, CA. Key Talking Points: Both Travis and his brother Tim worked in hospitality business before joining family business- their dad never pressured them to come work for himStarted as bellman/front door at hotel at age 16, at 18 was valet Went to job fair and started working for Disney- learned valuable customer service skills (using whole hand when gesturing or directing customers instead of 1 finger, answering phone within 3 rings, smiling at customers and while using phone and behind mask) Travis, brother, mother and father all have ownership of business- grew up with very close family, family always comes first  Dad- overseer, behind the scenes bookkeeping tasks  Travis and brother run day to day operations of shop- Travis is “face” of company in front of shop, Tim is expert at the parts and directs back of shop Hired new technician from CraigslistPut money into ads on Indeed and Facebook- had same applications come through that weren’t the right fit for the business  ASCCA membershipTravis has become more involved in industry- more to industry than just his shop Camaraderie- more comfortable in business and in association  “Don’t need to have gray hair to be in ASCCA” Self inflicting wounds industry wideDeserve to get paid for your knowledge and the services you offer Technicians deserve to get paid what they’re worth  Be the change- top technician at Travis’ shop earns 6 figure income. Labor rate increased $50 when he came on board Handling price shoppers- “We’re not the cheapest. We will never be the cheapest. We are the best value.” Instead of being in competition with other shops consider supporting each other- joining networks and associations, share information, learn from each other and all be successful   Family employees and customers- what drives Travis to get up every morningFamily- helping family, working toward goals Employees- proud to keep them employed so they can support themselves and their family  Customers- they rely on shop and most importantly, they trust them Resources: Thanks to Travis Guy for his contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast. Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers. Find every podcast episode HERE. Every episode segmented by Series HERE. Key Word Search HERE. Be socially involved and in touch with the show: Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser and many more. Mobile Listening APP's HERE Join the Ecosystem - Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE. Buy me a coffee This episode is brought to you by AAPEX, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and has everything you need to stay ahead of the curve.  The Virtual AAPEX Experience 2020 is in the record books. Virtual AAPEX lived up to presenting leading-technical and business management training from some of the industry’s best and brightest. Now set your sights on the homecoming in Las Vegas in 2021. Mark your calendar now … November 2-4, 2021, AAPEX // Now more than ever. This episode is brought to you by Shop-Ware Shop Management. It’s time to run your business at its fullest potential with the industry’s leading technology. Shop-Ware Shop Management will increase your efficiency with lightning-fast workflows, help your staff capture more sales every day, and create very happy customers who promote your business. Shops running Shop-Ware have More Time and generate More Profit—join them! Schedule a free live demonstration and find out how 30 minutes can transform your shop at getshopware.com/carm Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio