Quantcast
Jump to content


Rebound in New York


Joe Marconi

Recommended Posts

A ride to the Mall with my wife today (yes, I went to the Mall, got a problem?) gave me assurance that things are really getting back to normal. The stores were full, the roads were packed and expect for the masks people are wearing, you would think it's just another ordinary summer weekend! 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have been trailing NY by 1-2 weeks with everything concerning the pandemic and our indoor malls still remain closed at this time. Stores that are accessible from the street have recently reopened which does make me feel like we are getting back to normal as Joe indicated. My location is surrounded by corporate offices which also remain closed. I have been told that when they do get a green light to open that most will only allow 10% of employees to return per month. Most or all have also announced that it is ok to not return to the office and continue working from home. We may not see 50% occupancy at the corporate offices until December or later which is a concern. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 6/21/2020 at 7:52 PM, JimO said:

indoor malls still remain closed at this time

In NY malls are staying closed from what it sounds like and they'll have to put in HEPA filtration systems. Most of these malls have anchor stores and they can open though if they have an outdoor entrance. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder what the long term effects will be wtih some businesses.  Many resturants are still not operating at full customer capacity and many other businesses are taking a hit. While there are many positive economic signs, will those businesses that are still impacted by the virus have an effect on the entire economy?

I suggest a very conserative strategy at this point, build a cash reserve, pay down debt as best you can and do not incurr new debt.  If nothing bad happens, you will still be in a better economic position. 

Your thoughts? 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Joe Marconi said:

I wonder what the long term effects will be wtih some businesses.  Many resturants are still not operating at full customer capacity and many other businesses are taking a hit. While there are many positive economic signs, will those businesses that are still impacted by the virus have an effect on the entire economy?

I suggest a very conserative strategy at this point, build a cash reserve, pay down debt as best you can and do not incurr new debt.  If nothing bad happens, you will still be in a better economic position. 

Your thoughts? 

 

I share Joe’s concern and believe that we will still continue to feel the economic turmoil that Covid has caused. To many variables in play right now with so many marginalized businesses that have tried to hang on but seem to be slowly dropping off and closing. I accept the fact that in many cases Covid did not directly cause the failure but in most cases it was the tipping point. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

As of the end of July, we are busy, and hitting the numbers we did last year. In fact, we ended June and July better than last year. I don't think we can make up for the losses we had in Feb, Mar and April for 2020, but all that really matters is realigning our goals and moving forward. 

From what I hear from on the streets, most repair shops are doing fine, collision shops are doing better and it's mixed with new car dealers.  

Traffic also seems to be almost back to normal.  

If we can ahead of this virus, we will be ok. As I stated before, my only fear is that many main street businesses such as restaurants, are still struggling along with some major industries, such as hotels and airlines.  

I would continue to be cautious, keep building up your reserve cash and be very careful how you spend your money in the near future.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

Business is steady for us, but not like it should be.  Customers are understanding about their car care needs, but many are reluctant to spend. Probably due to the uncertainty of COVID and the impact is had on the local economy and life in general. I am cautiously optimistic about 2021, but we will need to work hard to do all we can to maintain and improve business.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are still down about 20% from normal for this time of the year. It's not that we have lost customers, they are just not putting on the miles that they used to.  2021 will be a better year. I think we will see a surge by late spring and it will carry through the end of the year. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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
  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         1 comment
      Have I got your attention? Great.
      Let me start by saying that I believe in giving praise when deserved and letting employees know when they dropped the ball. However, the truth is that no one enjoys being reprimanded or told they messed up.  
      The question is, what is the appropriate balance between the right amount of praise and the right amount of critical feedback? According to studies done by Harvard Business School, the ratio of praise to critical feedback should be about 6:1 – Six praises for every critical feedback. I am not sure if I agree with that.
      From personal experience, I would recommend a lot more praise. The exact ratio doesn’t matter. What’s important is that before you consider giving critical feedback, ensure you have given that employee a lot of recent praise. If not, whatever you are trying to get through to an employee, will fall on deaf ears.
      When you do have to give critical feedback, remember a few things:
      Focus on the issue or behavior; never attack the person, and remain calm in your actions and words Ask the employee for feedback, their side of the story Speak to the employee in private Address the issue soon after it happens; never wait Don’t rely on second-hand information; it’s always better if you have experienced the situation yourself that you want to correct Have an open discussion and find things that both of you can agree upon Have an action plan moving forward that the employee can take ownership of Use the experience as a learning tool Make sure you bring up positive attributes about them Remember, you don’t want the employee to be angry or upset with you; you want them to reflect on the situation and what can be improved. One last thing. Everyone makes mistakes. We need to be mindful of this.
  • Similar Topics

    • By carmcapriotto
      Recorded Live at Vision 2023, Dave Hobbs, Scot Manna, and Eric Ziegler have an open discussion on the importance of training, leading to the question, "Does the public really know what we do?" Dave Hobbs, senior technical trainer and curriculum developer for Delphi Technologies. Dave’s previous episodes HERE. Scot Manna, Trainer, ACDelco Technician of the Millennium. Scot’s previous episodes HERE. Eric Ziegler, EZ Diagnostic Solutions.  Eric’s previous episodes HERE. Show Notes
      “What scan tool should you buy?” Class at Vision 2023 with 6 trainers They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care The outside of class experience is just as important or maybe more important. You're going to create connections that are going to serve you for almost your entire career As long as you continue learning, your mind stays young You must read the service information! The people that need the training, aren't in the training classes. Some people don't go to updated training, struggle to get out of their shop, and don’t network with other shops. How many vehicles are on the road that needs ADAS calibration? 70%? Critical thinking is root problem solving. The public does not know what it takes and the tireless amount of dedication to do this career. We're all in this industry together. If you raise the lake, everybody's boat floats higher.  Do the job. Do the job right. Everything else will take care of itself.
      Thanks to our Partners, AAPEX and NAPA TRACS. Set your sights on Las Vegas in 2023. Mark your calendar now … October 31 - Nov 2, 2023, AAPEX - Now more than ever. And don’t miss the next free AAPEX webinar. Register now at AAPEXSHOW.COM 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 NAPATRACS.com Connect with the Podcast: -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
    • By Joe Marconi
      Employees today will disengage if they don’t feel valued.
      by Joe Marconi: Quiet Quitting: New Phrase, Old Problem - Featured in Ratchet and Wrench Magazine 
      Some people go to work each day with great enthusiasm and believe they can change the world. But then, others anticipate each workday with feelings of despair. These employees do the bare minimum; just enough to keep their jobs and go unnoticed. They are called quiet quitters. 
      While quiet quitting may be the latest catchphrase, it's not a new workplace disorder. We've called them disgruntled, disengaged and even toxic in the past. But who's responsible for this behavior? Is it the employee? Or is there a deeper problem brewing in the workplace?  
      Work has Evolved 
      As a young technician in the mid-1970s, the shop owner was typically at the top of the pinnacle. It was common back then for a boss to run his company with the mindset, "my way or the highway." Was it wrong? Perhaps. Thinking back, I don't think we clearly understood or appreciated the role we played in the workplace or how we fit into the company's structure. We accepted things the way they were, unlike employees today. I also believe we felt we couldn't change how things were.  
      Today, it's a lot different. There has been a shift in the workplace. Societal changes, the internet and social media have changed our exposure and heightened our awareness of the world and the issues that confront us daily. Today, employees of every generation believe they should have a voice in the company's decisions and direction. It's important that their opinions count and that their job role has a purpose. Of course, earning a decent living is top of mind, but as always, not the prime motivator. At the top of what's most important is the workplace environment and the employee experience. When employees lack the experience they crave, they become disengaged, leading to what we call quiet quitting.   Employees Want Accountable Leaders 
      Lack of trust in leadership is another factor in quiet quitting. Shop owners and managers must communicate what their employees can expect from management and not only what management expects from them. Consistency in the message and following through on promises contribute to workplace morale. After all, if you can't trust the message, you will not trust the messenger.  
      Some people will excel in any work environment. However, they are the exception, not the rule. If you want a team of employees where everyone is pulling in the right direction, you should consider the needs and opinions of your employees.     
      If you are concerned that understanding your employee's point of view and acting on it is giving up control of your company, don't be. Earlier, I referred to shop owners from years back. Most of them had a good business but not a great business. The reason was that they were the business. Growth was difficult because it was dependent mainly on their abilities and talents. This one fact alone causes a business to plateau. However, when a business combines different points of view and strategies from the team, greater growth is possible.  
      Start Within 
      Lastly, there will always be employees who won't be happy no matter what you do. If you are confident that you have done all you can to help a quiet quitter, the only hope at that point is for the employee to look within themselves, which may be difficult for most people. Instead, focus more on what you can do. Look within yourself to ensure you are doing everything possible to create an amazing employee experience. Your goal must be to create happy employees. We've all heard the expression, "happy employees create happy customers." Well, they create happy employers, too.  

      View full article
    • By ASOG Podcast
      Episode 105 - Learning To Fire People with Andrew Knudsen and Robert Morton
    • By carmcapriotto
      Recorded Live at Vision 2023, the wives tell all! Find out what it's like being a wife, mom, and business partner with their husbands.
      Shelly Fleischman, Automotive Alley, Arcade, NY. Listen to Jim’s previous episodes HERE.
      Liz Perkins, L1 Automotive Diagnostics and Program, L1 Automotive Training.
      Nicole Barrett, Barrett Automotive, Cornelia, Georgia.
      Show Notes
      How did you get involved in the business? What is your role? How do you re-energize?  What is your awesome news? Are you a rule maker or rule breaker? Implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Implementing systems and procedures Work-life balance, how do you juggle the business and your family?  
      Additional links about EOS
       
      Implementing EOS with Barry Barrett: Four Shop Owners Share Their Success [RR 686] The Power of EOS: 2 Day Leadership Meeting [RR 719] Barry Barrett's 7 Part Series on EOS
      Thanks to our Partners, AAPEX and NAPA TRACS. Set your sights on Las Vegas in 2023. Mark your calendar now … October 31 - Nov 2, 2023, AAPEX - Now more than ever. And don’t miss the next free AAPEX webinar. Register now at AAPEXSHOW.COM 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 NAPATRACS.com Connect with the Podcast: -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
    • By Joe Marconi
      Joe Marconi will be speaking at the upcoming virtual conference Amplify 2023, hosted by AutoLeap, with an exciting session to help shop owners be prepared with their business!   Joe's session is titled "You Can & Will Survive an Economic Downturn". For most repair shops, the recent years have been smooth sailing for business. Although it's impossible to predict our economic future, does that mean you shouldn't always be prepared for what's next? The COVID pandemic brought a variety of challenges, and while it didn't bring significant negative impact to the repair industry, it does offer the opportunity to reflect and properly prepare for a time when an economic event could.   Join Joe in this live session to dive deeper into this topic, happening at Amplify 2023 on March 24th, 1:00pm ET!   Book your complimentary, virtual ticket today. https://bit.ly/3XSdY8b  


  • Similar Tagged Content

  • Our Sponsors



×
×
  • Create New...