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Another new member - sort of!


kellyurl13

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Just wanted to introduce myself. I joined a while back just doing some research. I worked at the same shop for 16 years and the owner decided not to honor my "right of first refusal" he had presented me with some 12 years earlier. He sold out to a dealer tech who was a great guy, but clueless on running a shop. I was trying to explain why he needed to understand the front end of the business and stumbled across this site. I showed him some different articles and he just didn't want to follow through. Well, 18 months later..... I decided enough was enough, obtained some working capital, and my partner and I set out on our own. We now have a 7 bay repair shop and life could not be better. Although business is just ramping up, I continue to be encouraged by the response thus far. I have used this site countless times to research software, tools and equipment, management ideas, advertising, etc. What a wealth of information and variety of ideas! I hope to become more of a contributor as time goes on. Thanks to all of you for being willing to share you knowledge.

 

Kelly Wilson

Kelly & Stans Automotive

Roswell, GA

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Kelly,

 

Glad to hear that you understand the front end is as important or more so than the back, so many techs end up owning a shop without the business training need to make it successful. Although I was a technician 25 years ago, for the last 20 or so we have been developing products and teaching programs for shops all over he world. Please feel free to call or email me anytime, with your ideas, thoughts or questions, I enjoy talking shop and hopefully I can help you or even share your finding with others.

 

Sincerely,

Gary

 

www.GWRauto.com

1(800) 266-4497

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

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      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.
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