Quantcast
Jump to content


How busy are you guys?

Framingham Auto Service
 Share

Recommended Posts

air filtration
Wheelingauto Collaborator

Wheelingauto

Posted
Posted

Sorry, I can be a smart a$$ at times. I guess I'm a little tired of hearing about cheap oil changes.

Not that is should make you feel better but I have heard from my account rep at world pac the slow start to 2017 is not regional. My trans guy says everyone in the area is slow as heck. It has felt slow around here and we have not had any winter to speak of but the numbers show differently.  Although not setting the word on fire we are up 4% Feb/march this year over last.

Having been doing this for so many years I dont really sweat the slow times anymore. Give us time to maintain the loaner fleet and spruce the shop up a bit. It'll pop....

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
tyrguy Collaborator

tyrguy

Posted
Posted (edited)

Slow here in the Akron/ Cleveland area. Overall, 1st quarter was down 12-13 % from last year. But most of that is in tire sales. Service GP is only down about 5%. But by not hiring a tech last May when my long time [37 year] tech retired we are saving close to a grand a week in wages. That helps.

Edited by tyrguy
Link to comment
Share on other sites
HarrytheCarGeek Experienced

HarrytheCarGeek

Posted
Posted

Last year we had a very ebb and flow kind of business, then around September we changed marketing strategy for the coming year. We exceed our best year quarterly sales by 12% this first quarter. Pulled a lot of new customer from the dealers that are having scheduling issues.

We have been very proactive in getting this new business, if we had not actively targeted our prospects I am sure our sales would have suffered. 

It is a very much more complicated business atmosphere, but I think if things slow down for new car dealers we should fare much better soon. http://www.zerohedge.com/print/592110

Morgan Stanley: Used Car Prices May Crash 50%

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
carbtech72 Contributor

carbtech72

Posted
Posted

Im in SC and its hit or miss. Luckily we've managed to stay busy every day, there's always something to do. Ive been busy and seen a lot of other shops slow and ive been slow when others are swamped. Its just the nature of this business sometimes

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AndersonAuto Community Regular

AndersonAuto

Posted
Posted

I had a soft January. I was 30K down from January '16, but January '16 was an exceptional January. Since then we've recovered and we're up 26K over last year, and my GP% is up 6% as well. Overall car count is up 7% YTD.

This month feels soft, but the first part of April always does. We're up 16% month to date over last year, but I need more to continue making up for January and hit my 11% increase over last year by the end of the year.

On cheap oil change marketing I might add. 😀

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wheelingauto Collaborator

Wheelingauto

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, xrac said:

I think the effect of Obama Care is slowing business down.  Premiums are up across the board. Mine are personally up over 20% from last year. Some people are having to pay back subsidies that they claim earlier but didn't deserve. Some are paying penalties.  All of this affects discretionary income and they have to cut somewhere.  These affects along with tax time definitely drags business down. 

Auto repair is not discretionary income. It is necessary if we are to have our freedom to move about.

That being said I hate to create excuses when we are slow. I have been in business for 30 years and there have always been ebbs and flows in this business. That being said my business has very rarely gone backwards ( maybe 4 years out of 30) and has always grown. I no longer freak out when it is slow I usually find a project for us to do while we wait for things to pick up. When starting a project it almost always picks up before we finish.

I have also learned when we are busy to not get caught up in the moment and keep my owners duties at hand and have plans in place to keep that next slow period as brief as possible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AndersonAuto Community Regular

AndersonAuto

Posted
Posted

Best way I've found to jump start business?

Bring your own car into the shop, and tear it apart so it's stranded on the rack and tying up a bay. The shop will instantly fill and you'll be in desperate need of that rack. Every friggin' time.

  • Like 12
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wheelingauto Collaborator

Wheelingauto

Posted
Posted

One last thing. When its slow, it just means each one of us has less cars to fix. There are still cars in each shop so you just have to figure out how to get the cars from your competitors shops into yours :) and then you'll be busy and they'll be making excuses!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
tyrguy Collaborator

tyrguy

Posted
Posted
26 minutes ago, xrac said:

That is very true or send someone home!

There are times when I would love to send someone home but I have resisted the temptation. I can honestly say that in 38 years I have never laid someone off for any amount of time. Now, have I let someone who wanted to take the rest of the day off go home....you bet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 years later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Available Subscriptions

    See all Subscription Plans

  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart
      By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog
         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.

  • Similar Topics

    • carmcapriotto
      What Is/Was Going on with GME (Gamestop) Stock? [E120] - Business By The Numbers
      By carmcapriotto
      This week, Hunt unravels the mystery behind the AMC and GameStop stock phenomena that has captivated the financial world.
      Institutional Investors: Who they are and their impact on the stock market. Private Equity Dynamics: How firms like Bain Capital manipulate markets. Short Selling: A simple explanation of this complex strategy. Public Power: How individual investors can influence stock prices.  
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
       
      Now show notes!
      Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
      It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it.  After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
      Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business.  Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
      It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Great news, you don’t have to go it alone. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
      Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
      Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
      Email Hunt: [email protected]
      Get a copy of my Book: Download Here
      Aftermarket Radio Network
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • Changing The Industry
      Can You Have Heart In A Business? #podcast #automotivebusiness #carrepair #autorepairbusiness
      By Changing The Industry
      Can You Have Heart In A Business? #podcast #automotivebusiness #carrepair #autorepairbusiness
    • Joe Marconi
      Can Companies Like Repair Pal & Open Bay help a New Repair Shop?
      By Joe Marconi

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.

    • carmcapriotto
      Should I Pay My Spouse? Should We File Separate? [E119] - Business By The Numbers
      By carmcapriotto
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
      This week, Hunt talks about a $40 million tax bill that teaches critical lessons on spousal tax liabilities and business strategies.
      Explore the "Innocent Spouse" provision and its complexities: Learn how this provision can shield a spouse from tax liabilities and why proving innocence can be challenging. Understand the tax implications of exercising stock options: Learn the complexities of stock options, including the potential for significant tax liabilities when exercising these options. Learn strategies to protect personal and business assets: Get practical advice on structuring business ownership to manage liability and safeguard your personal assets effectively.  
      Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
       
      It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it.  After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
      Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business.  Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
      It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Great news, you don’t have to go it alone. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
       
      Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
      Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
      Email Hunt: [email protected]
      Get a copy of my Book: Download Here
      Aftermarket Radio Network
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • nptrb
      Do your current business finances align with your long-term financial vision?
      By nptrb

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.



  • nptrb

    Understanding S-Corp Distributions and Draws | Are They Taxable?

    By nptrb, in Automotive Industry,

    1 comment 1,079 views
    nptrb

    Tax Season Preparation: A Comprehensive Guide

    By nptrb, in Automotive Industry,

    1 comment 928 views
    nptrb

    Spring Clean Your Finances: 5 Steps Every Business Should Take

    By nptrb, in Automotive Industry,

    1 comment 780 views

  • Our Sponsors



Main Sections

More Sections

Discussion Forums

×
×
  • Create New...