Consumer Assistance Program -(California smog check)
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Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?
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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
In the latest episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Mellis & Associates, tackles your top questions on taxes, accounting, and navigating government policies for small businesses. This episode explores how recent government actions like the budget deal affect your business, alongside evergreen topics like:
• Paying Yourself: What's the best way to balance salary and dividends, especially considering different business structures like S corporations and sole proprietorships?
• Succession Planning: How can you smoothly transfer your business to a family member, weighing the pros and cons of stock vs. asset sales?
• Accounting Methods: The real impact of choosing between accrual and cash accounting for your business's financial health.
• Overtime Calculations: Navigating the complexities of overtime pay, focusing on the nuances of bonuses in your payroll.
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
The Value Paradox: We all want top-notch service without the hefty price tag. However, quality comes at a cost. Andy Bizub explores this conundrum and how it mirrors the choices we make. Consumers often face a choice between the cheapest and the luxurious with little interest in the middle ground. This observation sparked a conversation about how the automotive industry can apply this pricing strategy to their businesses. Remember, it's not just about the price; it's about the value and experience you provide. Andy Bizub, Midwest Performance Cars, Chicago and Northbrook, IL. Andy’s previous episodes HERE.
Show Notes
Watch Full Video Episode Consumer choices in the airline industry (00:02:05) Discussion on consumer choices, pricing, and quality in the airline industry and its parallels to the automotive service industry. Charging fair prices (00:05:07) Exploration of the challenges and mindset of shop owners regarding charging fair prices and the impact of consumer behavior. Creating exceptional customer experiences (00:07:45) The importance of providing exceptional customer experiences and the impact on customer loyalty and satisfaction. Transition to becoming a high-end shop (00:12:21) The journey of transforming a failing shop into a high-quality, exceptional customer experience establishment. Retail examples and business strategies (00:14:08) Comparison of retail examples (Nordstrom, Target, and Walmart) and the importance of offering a superior customer experience. Consumer mindset and experiences (00:17:38) The impact of consumer mindset on the value of a bargain versus an extravagance, as observed in the airline industry. The year of the customer and the client experience officer (00:18:05) Discussion on the importance of prioritizing customer experience in businesses and the challenges of adapting to pre-COVID business operations. Managing labor rates and shop supplies fees (00:19:30) Exploring the impact of customer experience on labor rates, decision-making regarding shop supplies fees, and the comparison with dealership invoices. Pricing strategies and customer experience in the automotive industry (00:20:52) Examining the impact of pricing strategies on customer experience, including the frustration caused by hidden fees and the parallels with the airline industry. Adapting labor rates and dealership comparisons (00:22:23) Discussion on adjusting labor rates, the impact of dealership labor rates, and the importance of providing a better customer experience. Challenges of being in the middle in the automotive industry (00:26:06) Exploring the challenges of being in the middle of the pricing spectrum and the impact on talent acquisition and business sustainability. Building an effective team and book recommendation (00:28:08) Insights into building a motivated team, the significance of maintaining a clean and professional image, and a book recommendation for business and life lessons. Leadership, self-improvement, and the value of asking questions (00:32:24) Discussion on the importance of self-improvement, effective leadership, and the value of asking questions to enhance understanding and decision-making in business. Family Business Challenges (00:34:32) Discussion on the challenges of working in a family business and the expectations placed on family members. Navigating Family Business (00:35:03) The difficulties of navigating a family business and the expectations placed on younger generations. 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
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By carmcapriotto
"40 plus years in business and we had zero money in the bank." Bret shares his journey from struggling to successful business owner, emphasizing the importance of seeking outside help and continuous learning. He discusses the transformation of his business into a profitable venture with the help of a coaching company and the implementation of key profit indicators. Brett also highlights the significance of team training and understanding generational differences in the workplace. Bret Fadley, Fadley's Auto Masters & Tires, York, PA. Show Notes:
The rule of holes (00:03:00) Bret discusses the rule of holes and knowing when to stop digging. Struggling to save the business (00:03:29) Bret talks about the challenges his family's business faced after his mom passed away and left zero money in the bank. Turning the business around (00:06:08) Bret shares his resolve to turn the business around, pay off debts, and seek outside help through coaching to achieve profitability. Learning to run a business (00:12:04) The importance of getting outside help to learn how to run a business. The importance of team building through training events (00:16:48) Discussing the investment and decision to take the whole team to major training events for team building and a happier work environment. Understanding and adapting to the younger generation (00:17:52) Sharing the experience of attending a seminar with Sara Fraser on getting to know Gen Z and millennials and the importance of adapting to their work style and slang. The need to attract and encourage younger people in the automotive industry (00:20:28) Highlighting the importance of changing and adapting the industry to attract the next generation and addressing the tech shortage. Thanks to our Partner, Dorman Training. Training technicians today for the challenges of tomorrow! https://www.dormantraininglive.com/
Connect with the Podcast:
-Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Follow 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
-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 Transmission Repair
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