Randy

Yes, Please keep us posted, I know we can all benefit

well i will say this is going great.This is the best thing i ever done for my automotive repair shop.

I was really looking in to getting this in my shop.Has any tech or shop owners been using this.If so please leave all comments.+ & -

In an effort to compete with the dealers we are considering loaner cars. We already sell used cars, so converting one or two of our cars into loaners would not be any great cost. I would like to know if there are any experiences and tips from those shop owners who have a loaner program or just if anyone has an opinion, I would greatly appreciate it.

I think this is a great tool and not very expensive.I was really thinking about this as well.Do you think it would bring in more clients.And has any one been offering this service.

Great post by you. Thank you for sharing the information. Please keep sharing more and more.

 

Have a great day

With regards

Charles

We use all the BG products and have every flush machine. We are sold on BG! Great product with great support.

 

Plus, they have the BG Lifetime protection and Saftrack Road Side Assistance program. All good stuff.

Joe i wonted to know were you got your flush machines.From BG.?

While I do agree that all businesses must track key numbers and recognize certain trends, I do not take that as the only criteria. I have been to many management training seminars and clinics and have taken countless home study courses.

 

Numbers are great, but real world is better. My philosophy is to look at each shop and find out what works for them. I really don’t think you can use a benchmark number in California and say it holds true in Rocky Mountain N.C .

 

Every business is different with different fixed expenses, goals, employee wages, labor rates, rents, etc. A shop owner needs to sit down with his/her accountant and find out that they need to turn a profit.

 

So, while we need to understand the numbers of the business, it’s our numbers that really count.

That is right every shop is different but they all have a break even and some shop owners do not have the business training.Nor do they have the advertising experience it takes to book a shop like it should. To run a business or does the shop run you????

In what way?

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They are strictly manage by statics. This is the key to the whole program.They also were talking about the percentages on parts, labor, office, overhead, and what percentage your are really need to make (20%profit) This is a lot things you have be talking about all over this site.

Also make sure that you have added yourself to the google business directory. If people search for auto repair in your area in google, do you come up? Its easy and free to add your business.

I was at a seminar last weekend and they said how is may web site.(he said the most important thing is the search optimization).I do have a web site for my glass shop and my automotive shop.www.automotivea2z.com I am building a really awesome site for automotive repair.So i am asking my web designer about search optimization.And i am going to put and referral program in a box of its own> What is your most powerful type of advertising.

Yes phone book and I do need to get out and see the people.

Thats great advice.I went to google and I did not see were I get listed?Any help would be great.

Are you doing any advertising or marketing in your local area?

Yes phone book and I do need to get out and see the people.

Doing state inspections is a good idea. What type of emission program do you have in your state?

Here in Mo. we have GVIP ran by sys.My car count is low beings this is my first year in the automotive repair side.I will do a maintenance inspection as well and give a report on the condition of there car.And of course i will try to sell the repairs to the clients.The way I see it is we will do as many inspections as we can.This will bring up the car count and give us the chance to get much more repairs.

I think your most important move right now is to get those other bays in operation. Maybe another helper in you shop might help productivity. This will increase car counts. You can't turn away work. With the added 4 bays, you will have the ability to do more service work.

I have not turned any work away.I am in the process of getting state inspection and emmissions.This will bring more clients. I need more cars to get this off the ground.

It has it's advantages. I can pick up a phone and call corporate or I can call another owner and seek advice or help. It can be about management, sales, marketing, advertising, yellow pages, computer software, shop equipment, parts purchasing, etc. There are new programs and services offered. The business model is discussed and expanded, etc. Sometimes it is real helpful other times maybe not so much. The question now is is it worth 5% of gross sales. Our franchise agreement expires in 4 1/2 years.

Joe this is Randy this sounds like management success agian!!

Wow, I will take that as a compliment

Joe I am going to go through the program.I got on this site looking for something just like management susses.I have got a lot of really great ideas from all of you.I will keep you all ap to date.(I start the program 1-11-10 it is a 6 month program).Wish me luck!!!

Tough situation. I guess you need to find your unique competitve advantage.

 

We all wear too many hats. I would like to compare collections.

Joe all of the advice you give sounds like that simanar I went to.(management success)

I have heard this from others. Many shop owners find it very difficult to commit to a long term program. You need to have the right mind-set to continue. I do believe in continued training, but I enjoy having control over what seminars and clinics I attend. Plus I like variety.

 

Going thru AMI classes, including home study classes, is something that I would encourage every shop owner to participate in.

Thanks for the input.I really was looking for some type of a business coach.This i think will do a great deal for my company.I will keep everyone up to date on the program.

I attended one of their seminars about 10 years ago. It was exciting to listen to and will get your managerial juices flowing. I signed on for their 6 month training program. I was dissapointed with them. After the 6 months, they have many more services for those who want to continue with them, I did not. They are heavily into the church of scientology. I'm not knocking the church of scientology, I just didn't see what that had to do with automotive management. I am currently a client of the automotive training institute and while it has only been a few short months, I am much more satisfied.

Thanks for the input.I went to the seminar and it really seemed to be the answer to all of your business needs.It sounds like the program is going to fit my shop.I will kept you all informed about this program.I will keep a close eye on the trailers.

This is to ask anyone if they have attended this seminar.Or know anything about them.Looks like it really benefit my company.ANY COMMENTS??

Hay thanks for the advice.My sign out front has big reverse lettering (AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR) it is bigger than anything else.I will post a pic soon.I will put a sing over the other bay soon thanks.Any more comments would be great.

Thanks yes i do have a glass program.(the best on the market called mainstreet)I think i will get a post card mailing to all of my clients.I have got 80% of my auto repair from the glass clients and I tell everyone what we have to offer. do you have a program for auto repair ?

I have 1 tech and 2 bays.I have 1 auto repair tech and 1 glass tech and Iam the glass tech.The other 4 bays are going out back of my shop.I did all the work excavating,grade work,and I poured the 40 foot bey 60 foot foundation.It is ready for the slab.Just waiting for more money to come in (out of pocket).So I have 1 csr (Customer service rep).1 auto repair tech and me the auto glass tech.

So, you have a total of 6 bays? How many repair/service techs?

I have 1 tech and 2 bays.I have 1 auto repair tech and 1 glass tech and Iam the glass tech.The other 4 bays are going out back of my shop.I did all the work excavating,grade work,and I poured the 40 foot bey 60 foot foundation.It is ready for the slab.Just waiting for more money to come in (out of pocket).So I have 1 csr (Customer service rep).1 auto repair tech and me the auto glass tech.

I have 1 tech and 1 csr and I do all the glass installation.Plus all the other bs.I am training csr to get more auto repair.At this time I am in the process of getting state inspection and emissions.I think it will really get alot of clients in the door.And I really need to get all the repairs I can.But we really need the advice of a seasoned biz repair owner to make it profitable.Thanks Randy

I did not answer all of your question.Two bays and four more going on back of building.

Let's start with a few questions. How many bays to you have and how many techs?

I have 1 tech and 1 csr and I do all the glass installation.Plus all the other bs.I am training csr to get more auto repair.At this time I am in the process of getting state inspection and emissions.I think it will really get alot of clients in the door.And I really need to get all the repairs I can.But we really need the advice of a seasoned biz repair owner to make it profitable.Thanks Randy

The first thing I think of when I look at your shop is auto glass, because of the sign....maybe an "Auto Repair" sign in addition?

Hay thanks for the advice.My sign out front has big reverse lettering (AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR) it is bigger than anything else.I will post a pic soon.I will put a sing over the other bay soon thanks.Any more comments would be great.

Randy welcome to the forum. The first thing that comes to mind is how are you advertising for your glass business and how can you include the auto repair in with it. Are you able to put any signage on the street such as an A-frame with changeable offers? How about a banners? Come up with an attractive offer to get people to try you. Print up some type of offer and go around to the surrounding businesses and pass them out. You do not say how fast the traffic moves on the highway that you are on. Just keep in mind that people have to have a reason to notice you and to know that you are there.

Thanks for advise.The traffic is moving 55 or so.I will need to buy or make a aframe sign.The letters need to be 12 inches or more.Have a led sign and it is hard to see going bey so fast you maybe got 2 to 3 seconds to see it but it does grab them at night is the best.