Shop Owners Need To Define Themselves
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By Joe Marconi in Joe's BlogI 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
Get to know Darrin Barney, the family man, Jeep Enthusiast, multi-business owner, and friend to many. Take away some helpful tips, but a ton of inspiration from the owner of Barney Brothers Off Road and Repair and Elite Worldwide.
Thank you to RepairPal for sponsoring The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast. Learn more about RepairPal at https://repairpal.com/shops
How To Get In Touch
Group - Auto Repair Marketing Mastermind
Website - shopmarketingpros.com
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Get the Book - shopmarketingpros.com/book
Instagram - @shopmarketingpros
Questions/Ideas - [email protected]
Lagniappe (Books, Links, Other Podcasts, etc)
Barney Brothers Off Road and Repair
Elite Worldwide
[email protected]
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By carmcapriotto
Through role playing exercises, our panel demonstrates different approaches to selling and communicating with customers. They emphasize the importance of understanding customer needs, building rapport, and being direct when necessary. The discussion covers the significance of tone, trust-building, technical knowledge, and authenticity in customer interactions. The episode concludes with a focus on continuous learning and the value of a supportive work environment. Rena Rennebohm, CEO and Creator of Empowered Advisor. Rena’s previous episodes HERE. Matt Bellinger, Service Plus, Watertown, NY Ali Norton, Rozema’s Car Care in Hudsonville, MI. Lee Fleming, SA Coach with Empowered Advisor Megan Dineff, Ervine’s Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrid, Grand Rapids, MI Show Notes: Previous Service Advisor Role Play Episodes Megan's role-play (00:03:31) Megan, as the "friendship advisor," interacts with a customer and presents service recommendations. Discussion on customer buying style (00:06:48) Analysis of Megan's approach as a "friendship advisor" and its relevance to customer interactions. Matt's role-play (00:09:44) Matt, as the service advisor, interacts with a direct dominant customer and presents service recommendations. Discussion and feedback on Matt's role-play (00:11:37) Feedback and analysis of Matt's role-play, focusing on adapting to the direct dominant customer's buying style. Discussion on adapting to customer style (00:13:06) Importance of reading and adapting to the customer's communication style and preferences. Ali's role-play (00:17:50) Ali, as the service advisor, interacts with a technical customer and engages in initial conversation. Technical training impact (00:21:48) Discussion on the impact of technical training on service advisors and its potential misuse. Adapting to customer buying style (00:25:20) Advisors discuss the importance of adapting to the customer's buying style and the need to gauge their interest in technical information. Reading customer tone and style (00:27:26) Advisors share experiences and techniques for reading and adapting to customer tone and buying style. Building trust with new clients (00:33:44) Strategies for building trust and relationships with new clients, focusing on value proposition and setting expectations. Providing the Best Customer Experience (00:36:30) Tips on how to communicate to customers that they will receive the best experience at the auto repair shop. Empowering Customers to Ask Questions (00:37:23) Encouragement for customers to ask questions and for service advisors to be open to asking technicians for information. Being Authentic with Customers (00:38:19) The importance of being authentic with customers and ensuring that correct information is provided, even if it means putting them on hold. Learning from Customers (00:40:23) The value of learning from customers and the impact of technical training on the industry.
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/ 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 (X): https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -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
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By carmcapriotto
Discover how "reserving" a service advisor's time, not just the bay, can transform your client relationships and service quality. Learn about the rise of virtual service advisors and how they're reshaping the industry. Find out how a well-trained reservationist can boost your shop's efficiency and profitability. Rui Martins, Evolve AD
Show Notes
Evolve AD (00:00:26) Explanation of the company and its focus on aftermarket development. Introduction to the concept of reservations (00:02:06) Discussion about the concept of reservations and its importance in the service aftermarket. Challenges of using the term "reservation" (00:03:08) The challenges faced in using the term "reservation" and its significance in controlling client's time. Reserving the service advisor's time (00:04:54) The concept that reservations are for the service advisor's time, not the bay. Role of the reservationist (00:05:49) The role of the reservationist in handling administrative duties before the client's arrival. Virtual service advisors (00:07:01) Virtual service advisors and their potential role in the industry. Impact on productivity and profitability (00:11:11) Discussion about the impact of reservations on productivity, production volume, and overall profitability. Handling client inquiries and setting appointments (00:14:34) Explanation of how reservations handle client inquiries and set appointments, potentially involving the service advisor. Importance of reservations in client servicing process (00:11:50) Importance of accurate and well-developed reservations in the client servicing process. The importance of getting the primary concern (00:18:10) Discussion on the significance of accurately capturing the client's primary concern on the work order. Deferred work and timing conversations (00:19:23) Exploration of how deferred work and timing conversations can be handled during the reservation process. Challenges of managing remote workers (00:20:34) Discussion on the challenges and fears associated with managing remote workers and strategies to overcome them. Skill set and training for reservations (00:24:21) Consideration of the required skill set and training for individuals in the role of reservations. Reservations' role in administrative functions (00:27:25) Explanation of how reservations can handle administrative functions, such as managing switches and follow-ups in customer relationship management. Estimators in large shops (00:31:49) Exploration of the concept of having a dedicated estimator in large shops and its impact on efficiency and productivity. Delivering white glove service (00:33:57) Discussion on how reservations can be an essential tool in delivering exceptional customer service, known as "white glove service." Thanks to our Partners, AAPEX and NAPA TRACS Set your sights on Las Vegas in 2024. Mark your calendar now … November 5th-7th, 2024. AAPEX - Now more than ever. And don’t miss the next free AAPEX webinar. Register now at http://AAPEXSHOW.COM/WEBINAR 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/ 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
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By Joe Marconi
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