Are Your Customers Unusually Cranky?
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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
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS and AutoFix Auto Shop Coaching Industry shop owners discuss the challenges and strategies of opening and managing a second location. They explore the motivations behind opening additional shops, touching on wealth building, seeking new challenges, and planning for retirement. Carl Hutchinson emphasizes the importance of providing a growth path and career opportunities to attract and train the next generation of industry professionals. The conversation highlights the complexities of scaling a business and the need for strong leadership, financial planning, and a commitment to developing talent within the industry. Carl Hutchinson, Complete Automotive, 2 locations, Springfield, MO. Listen to Carl’s previous episodes HERE Kim Auernheimer, CS Automotive, 2 locations, TN. Listen to Kim’s Episodes HERE. Jim Fleischman, Automotive Alley, 2 locations, Arcade and Marilla, NY. Listen to Jim’s previous episodes HERE.
Behind the Scenes: New Shop Retrofit/Remodel with Carl Hutchinson [CC 097]: https://remarkableresults.biz/remarkable-results-radio-podcast/cc097/ Store two considerations (00:01:01) Discussion on the importance and reasons for opening a second store, including financing and marketing efforts. Finding the second location (00:02:52) Panelists share their experiences in finding and choosing the location for their second store. Preparation and challenges (00:09:33) Challenges and preparations for operating a second location, including policies, procedures, and staffing. Systemizing and structuring (00:12:29) The importance of systemizing and structuring operations for a second location, as well as the challenges and preparations involved. Transition and training (00:15:14) Discussion on transitioning and training staff for a new location, including the use of a shop management system. Reflection and passion (00:17:32) Reflecting on the passion and effort required to start and grow a business, including the challenges of expanding to multiple locations. Store Number Two Challenges (00:17:56) Challenges of opening a second store, losing customers, ordering parts, and managing separate entities. Inventory and Supplies (00:20:14) Challenges in stocking inventory and supplies for a new store, unexpected expenses, and the importance of thorough planning. Financing and Cash Flow (00:24:43) Discussion on financing options, including seller financing, bank loans, and personal investment, and the impact of COVID-19. People Problems and Leadership (00:29:17) Dealing with turnover, hiring challenges, and the importance of finding the right people for leadership roles. Grooming and Growing Store Two (00:32:45) Balancing time and effort between store two and store one, empowering vice presidents, and the changing role of the company president. Building an MSO (00:34:48) Discussion on the motivations for building a multi-shop operation, including retirement planning, challenges, and personal growth. Creating Career Paths (00:41:26) The importance of creating a career path for the younger generation, fast-tracking growth, and training and educating employees. Valuing and Acquiring Businesses (00:47:31) Challenges in valuing and acquiring businesses, including the impact of market competition and the importance of assessing profitability. Equipment and Location Considerations (00:49:29) Discussion on starting from scratch, acquiring equipment, and the significance of location and infrastructure.
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Auto-Fix Auto Shop Coaching Proven Auto Shop Coaching with Results. Over 61 Million in ROI with an Average ROI of 9x. Find Coach Chris Cotton at AutoFix Auto Shop Coaching on the Web at https://autoshopcoaching.com/ Connect with the Podcast: -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By carmcapriotto
Welcome to this episode of "Business by the Numbers," where we dive deep into the often controversial topic of tax fairness. Join Hunt, as he explores if the wealthiest among us are really shouldering their fair share of the tax burden.
• Defining 'Rich': How income levels and perceptions of wealth vary across different regions and impact tax contributions.
• The Progressive Tax System: A closer look at how the U.S. tax system scales with income and what that means for the top 1% of earners.
• Real Figures: We break down recent statistics to understand the actual tax contributions made by high earners.
• Beyond Income Tax: Examining other significant tax obligations faced by the wealthy, including sales tax, property tax, and surtaxes.
• Debunking Myths: Addressing common misconceptions about tax evasion among the wealthy and what the data really shows.
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
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
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By carmcapriotto
At VISION 2024, Kim taught a class on customer loyalty. It was incredibly well received and we’ve decided to bring a conversation here in podcast form where she touches on a critical piece of business: creating loyal customers. Listen in for tips, strategies, and just real-talk!
Thank you to our friends at RepairPal for providing you this episode. RepairPal will help you grow your auto business and you can learn more at RepairPal.com/shops.
Show Notes with Timestamps
Loyalty: strong feeling of support or allegiance What that means to me. Companies I am loyal to: Bear Mountain Bakery, Holtz Leather, The Basketry, Smallwoods Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk “Start with Why”: Your purpose, Your cause, Your beliefs We are lonelier & more apart than ever before Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Our Core Values We have an intense desire to feel a sense of belonging - even more with digital communication. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara - Episode 89: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/episode/089 Create Loyalty by: Being thoughtful and intentional with all you do. Understanding the difference between service + hospitality. Service is black and white. Hospitality is full color. Having authentic connection: Southwest Airlines - the heart, Ciro - my Italian driver, 1st Phorm, Eleven Madison Park Restaurant’s hot dog story, Bear Mountain Bakery, The Basketry, Holtz Leather, Smallwoods. Knowing your clients, understanding them, being present, listening, and being considerate and generous (read the book: Gift*ology). Being a trusted resource. VISION’s speaker: Scott Stratten, said, “If you want to worry about the bottom line, you’ve got to focus on the front line.” (To obsess about how your customers feel, you must obsess about how your employees feel. Customer loyalty comes after employee loyalty How are you taking care of your team? Daily Stand-Up (gratitude and top priority) + a checkin/awareness for me.Team Outings. Letters/notes/recognitions. Mentoring. Schedule emails/slack messages/texts Too many companies leave the human behind. We live in a world where we have an opportunity - responsibility - to make magic in a world that is desperate for it. When you make magic you add to the layers of loyalty being created. Make this part of how you do business. A process. A time, place, a procedure/reminder.
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]
Lagniappe (Books, Links, Other Podcasts, etc)
Canva - Mood Boards
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By Changing The Industry
Chris Craig on Creating Positive Automotive Work Environments Even At A Dealership
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