It's Feb, Business is slow, but that's ok

[Joe Marconi]

When I ran my shop, there was one month I hated...and that was February.  No matter what I did, Feb sales were off.  BUT, I never gave up testing a new strategy to bump up sales.  I called it "Operation February." 

Each year we would increase service reminder's for Feb, launch different promotions, and make a lot pf phone calls to customers that we recommended work for. Did it help, Yes....but only to a certain degree. 

The problem with Feb is that it's a short month, the snow storms kill work days, and cabin fever hurt consumer mindset.  The key thing is not to give up, because the rewards of marketing are slow and steady, and pay off down the road.  So, in the big picture, it's all ok. 

How's your Feb in your part of the country, good? Bad? Normal?  

 

[xrac]

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.

[Joe Marconi]

1 minute ago, xrac said:

The biggest month we ever had was a February but that’s when people were getting early tax refunds. This February is terrible. Lost 4 man days to snow, lost 2 man days to a death, lost 3 man days to a new baby and 2 to an employee concision plus fired a guy. Lots of business absolutely buried but no sales due to all the time lost and parts delays. 

Wow, I feel for you.  Sometimes those curve balls that life throws at you are tough to hit. Remain positive my friend. It will work out. 

[xrac]

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.

[Joe Marconi]

1 minute ago, xrac said:

Your right just got to keep working but it’s hard on an old fart. 

Ha! Join the club! 

[Jerrys Auto Center]

And I thought my February was bad!…

I HAD 2 1/2 technicians ( 1 was really, really short!😂)

My part time man works nights for the City of New York and worked for me M-Th 8-12… He got transferred to days 2 weeks ago… So I lost him. 
One techs cat had puppies for the last time on my watch… He’s gone!

The last tech unfortunately lost his mom in El Salvador and needed the week off to fly home. 
I literally went to work with ZERO employees this past week!!

I made appointments for next week, did end of year stuff, caught up on planning and changes for this year. 
After being in business since 1979… You learn to accept what you can’t change, You change what you can and with QUALITY customers it all works out. Every customer scheduled for this week got rescheduled for next week.
The comment from EVERY customer… “Is everything OK?”

I love my customers!

[xrac]

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.

[Joe Marconi]

3 hours ago, Jerrys Auto Center said:

And I thought my February was bad!…

I HAD 2 1/2 technicians ( 1 was really, really short!😂)

My part time man works nights for the City of New York and worked for me M-Th 8-12… He got transferred to days 2 weeks ago… So I lost him. 
One techs cat had puppies for the last time on my watch… He’s gone!

The last tech unfortunately lost his mom in El Salvador and needed the week off to fly home. 
I literally went to work with ZERO employees this past week!!

I made appointments for next week, did end of year stuff, caught up on planning and changes for this year. 
After being in business since 1979… You learn to accept what you can’t change, You change what you can and with QUALITY customers it all works out. Every customer scheduled for this week got rescheduled for next week.
The comment from EVERY customer… “Is everything OK?”

I love my customers!

It sounds like you need an emotional hug.  I just sold my business after 41 years, and  I can certainly empathize with you.  And I don't' have an easy solution. You will have to make difficult decisions soon, and I hope an pray that you find quality people. You cannot do it alone, and I know you know that. 

It sounds like you are in the NYC area, or near NYC, my shop was in Putnam County and I'm originally from the Bronx, and grew up in the gas station business.  I too have learned that your employees are your most important asset, but can also be a big disappointment. 

Perhaps, ask a few questions and maybe we can brainstorm on the forum and help? 

[Jerrys Auto Center]

I’m in Long Island and grew up in Brooklyn/ Queens, I also grew up in the gas station (Esso) and race car (Island Porting Service) sector of this industry. I’m just waiting on my son to determine where he’s going to settle down, he graduates The Ohio State U this year and then I’ll work on getting out. I would love to find a medical tenant for my property and do a land lease. We’ll see, all in the works, all in time. 

[Joe Marconi]

31 minutes ago, Jerrys Auto Center said:

I’m in Long Island and grew up in Brooklyn/ Queens, I also grew up in the gas station (Esso) and race car (Island Porting Service) sector of this industry. I’m just waiting on my son to determine where he’s going to settle down, he graduates The Ohio State U this year and then I’ll work on getting out. I would love to find a medical tenant for my property and do a land lease. We’ll see, all in the works, all in time. 

A fellow New Yorker! Nice!  My advice, create a exit plan and work on it every day, starting now. Time goes by very fast my friend. You have put in a lifetime of work, and being in the auto business is like three business lifetimes!

Take of yourself and enjoy the fruits of your hard labor.  Family first. Always. 

 

[xrac]

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.

[Joe Marconi]

Yes, I do go in about once a week to pick up mail and I am still cleaning out old files and personal items. But, for the most part, I am out.

Emotionally, it was and is hard.  I grew up in this business and in my own business for 41 years. I do miss the employees the most, and strangely, when I look back, it was the toughest times that brought the team together. For example, during a bad winter with many snow falls, when we spent hours in the cold and snow cleaning up. We would take a break from the cold and would huddle in the shop over coffee and egg sandwiches, and shoot the breeze.  That's what I miss the most.

[Obsidian Motors]

3 hours ago, Joe Marconi said:

Yes, I do go in about once a week to pick up mail and I am still cleaning out old files and personal items. But, for the most part, I am out.

Emotionally, it was and is hard.  I grew up in this business and in my own business for 41 years. I do miss the employees the most, and strangely, when I look back, it was the toughest times that brought the team together. For example, during a bad winter with many snow falls, when we spent hours in the cold and snow cleaning up. We would take a break from the cold and would huddle in the shop over coffee and egg sandwiches, and shoot the breeze.  That's what I miss the most.

Sounds like you've practically seen it all Joe. So I have a question; the landlord owns a small shop in front of mine that primarily does oil changes and smaller maintenance jobs. But he just recently added brakes. There is language in my lease that stipulates a clause that prevents me from advertising oil changes and I adhere to it. So I recently started advertising brake specials. So the landlord comes to me and says that I can't mention price. I believe he is way out of line here. I left the sidewalk sign up but wondering if going to "war" with him over this issue is worth it in the long run....although truthfully I want to since he appears to be a bit of a bully and the only way to beat a bully is to stand up to him.

[Joe Marconi]

4 hours ago, Obsidian Motors said:

Sounds like you've practically seen it all Joe. So I have a question; the landlord owns a small shop in front of mine that primarily does oil changes and smaller maintenance jobs. But he just recently added brakes. There is language in my lease that stipulates a clause that prevents me from advertising oil changes and I adhere to it. So I recently started advertising brake specials. So the landlord comes to me and says that I can't mention price. I believe he is way out of line here. I left the sidewalk sign up but wondering if going to "war" with him over this issue is worth it in the long run....although truthfully I want to since he appears to be a bit of a bully and the only way to beat a bully is to stand up to him.

While I do agree that a bully must be stood up to, you need t be careful. It appears that you may have two competing businesses right next to each other, and what complicates matters is the fact that he is the landlord. 

Before you engage in anything, you need to re-read you lease, and perhaps, have your attorney read it.  You do not want to start a war in your own backyard.  Short of moving to another location, which may be the ultimate option, try to work it out.  If he is truly a bully, all the more reason to seek professional advice.

I really hope things work out for you. Businesss is tough enough without something like this. 

By the way, I have seen a lot, not all, but a lot.