Joe Marconi

Yes, I think that would be best. And give some specific examples of what issues you are referring to. Let's see what happens. Thanks!

First and most important, I hope all turns out well for your wife. A lot has to be figured out with regard to battery charging before the EV is mainstream. In the foreseeable future, if battery technology stays the same, EVs will be more practical for homeowners or those that have everyday access to an EV charging station. If you look at all the major cities, it's hard to imagine EVs having an impact for everyday use. With regard to the world order and bigger is better, there is no doubt the government push for the EV means there is money to be made by big business. Will this push the average auto repair shop into oblivion? I don't think so. Independent auto repair shops have always been resilient and always found a way to survive and thrive. With that said, it will get exponentially harder, and auto repair shop owners must do all they can to become financially strong and build a strong business model.

I don't know the finances of your business, but from what I see around the country, quality repair shops are in the $175.00 range, with EURO, Diesel, and Specialty shops above $200. So I don't think you are pushing the envelope. In my opinion. I have been saying this for years: "As an industry, we have been too cheap for too long."

As a business coach with Elite Worldwide, I speak to many shop owners around the country about their struggles and concerns. At the top of that list is driving more profit to the bottom line. Some of the questions I hear are: Should I increase my marketing budget? Should I raise prices and my labor rate? Is it a car count issue or an ARO issue? Or should I improve my procedures and policies? All of these are great questions and the right questions. However, the first step in improving your business is to ask yourself: Do I have the right people employed at my auto repair shop? Whether you are struggling in business or having a banner year, your future depends on the quality of people you assemble around you. Do all you can to take care of your employees. Listen to them, and include them in on ways and ideas to build your company. Make them feel important. When you assemble a great team of employees and take care of that team, trust me, profit will follow.

With the difficulty auto repair shops have these days finding quality techs, I thought it would be a good idea to share our ideas on what ways have worked for you. Please post what has worked for you in the past when looking to hire a technician.

The best place to have an honest and open discussion is right here on Auto Shop Owner. The members of ASO are pros and always willing to help. Post your issues. Start the discussion. You mention shop management issues. Can you name a few? By the way, I am a former shop owner (41 years), co-founder of ASO, and a business coach for Elite Worldwide. And happy to be part of this discussion.

NEW YORK GOVERNOR ACCELERATES ELIMINATION OF EMISSION-PRODUCING VEHICLES IN 2035 A goal for New York to stop selling new gas-powered vehicles in a little more than a decade took another step toward reality with an announcement Gov. Kathy Hochul made Sept. 29. Hochul spoke in White Plains, NY, at an event celebrating National Drive Electric Week. While detailing several initiatives to help boost the New York Governor Accelerates Elimination Of Emission-Producing Vehicles in 2035 l CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 sale of electric vehicles, she also called on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to establish regulations that any new passenger vehicle sold in the state starting in 2035 produce zero emissions. Hochul’s announcement comes a little more than a year after she signed a bill into law that set the 2035 deadline for new passenger cars to produce zero emissions and a similar 2045 deadline for larger-sized commercial vehicles. It also comes a month after California issued its regulations to transition to zero-emission new vehicles by 2035. New York’s governor said the transition would not be a sudden stop on gas-powered vehicle sales. The state has a plan to have 35% of new cars be electric vehicles by 2026 and 68% by 2030. “We’re really putting our foot down on the accelerator and revving up our efforts to make sure we have this transition,” she said. Hochul announced the state has added $10 million to its “Drive Clean Rebate” initiative to aid in that transition. It gives people who buy or lease a new electric vehicle a $2,000 rebate on top of the $7,500 federal rebate. In the five years since the program started, the state has issued more than $92 million in rebates to New Yorkers. “As we bring more renewable energy to our electric grid and build out EV charging infrastructure, we continue to invest in market supports that bring us closer each day to zero emission passenger vehicles by 2035,” said Doreen Harris, the president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The state is also making nearly $5.8 million available to local governments to help them add zero-emission vehicles to their fleet or install public charging centers or hydrogen fueling stations. The deadline to apply for that funding was Sept. 30. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it approved New York’s plan to install the additional charging stations needed to handle the expected increase in electric-powered vehicles. That plan includes $175 million in federal funds to create a network of charging stations to help EV drivers handle long-distance trips. Hochul said the federal funds, coupled with the $1 billion the state has invested in new charging stations, should raise EV sales. She added this year’s sales are already 30% higher than last year. The state also plans for school districts to buy only zero-emission buses starting in 2027 and to have any gas- or diesel-powered school bus off the road by 2035. “New York is a national climate leader and an economic powerhouse, and we’re using our strength to help spur innovation and implementation of zero-emission vehicles on a grand scale,” Hochul said Source: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-drives-forward-new-yorks-transition-clean-transportation

Great perspective! New York too just proposed nearly the same bill as CA, to ban ICE cars by 2035. Not sure where we are headed with this, but we do need all forms of energy. Another thing, to strip mine sides of mountains for getting the precious materials needed for the EV and hybrid batteries is controversial too. The problem is, not enough people know or will do their homework to make an informed decision. Agree too: Really enjoy these posts!

While I am not an Auto Shop Owner anymore, my work with Elite as a business coach puts me in touch with a lot of shops around the country. And while business is still good, there are signs that it may be slowing as we head into the winter season. Perhaps the effect of inflation and the cost of living. What do you see in your market? And what should we do to maintain business through a potential slowdown?

Join me on November 10 at 2 pm Eastern! See details below and to register! For more information on the webinar and to Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5116675705371/WN_mT6jAjATRlqGJN40eLUByw

Nov. 1, 2022—In his opening remarks leading into the 2022 AAPEX Opening Session, Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association (ACA), announced that Right to Repair was delayed again for the seventh time. For more information:

Interesting concepts. Are you transparent with your current employees on this plan, or is it kept private? (If that's possible)

Wow! I think your attitude is keeping it all together. You combine humor with real-world issues and problems. Thanks for sharing. I am sure all of us can relate!

In my 41-year career as a shop owner, I think that at least 80% of that time I experienced what I called, the Unexpected Wake-Up Call at 2:00 am. I would go over and over all the things that happened throughout the day, and what I needed to do tomorrow. For me, it was the uncertainty of the next day, and what fire I would need to put out that troubled me the most. I know you have those nights too, so let's share a little. What Keeps You Up at Night?

I see more and more, in every industry, employers offering sign-on bonuses to incentivize candidates. While I get the reasons why I think you need to be careful when offering a sign-on bonus. One thing to consider: What will your existing employees think? Especially those that are loyal and have been with you a long time. Another thing to think about; If the person you are hiring is basing his/her decision on money alone, is that good for the long term? I always struggled with sign-on bonuses, but I would like to hear from those that have done it, and how they handled it.

Surrounding yourself with the best people is something that is critical to all businesses. And there are many shop owners that have a difficult time getting the right people. However, it's the first step to success for any organization. After that, it's the leadership of the company. Too many leaders Demotivate their employees. But that's a topic for another post! Thanks Larry, for your comments!

The strategies outlined in this blog reflect real-world strategies I have learned and used in my 41 years as an auto shop owner. I also use these strategies when helping clients as a business development coach. While running a successful auto repair shop today has many components, the list below contains the top 9 strategies I believe every auto shop owner should consider when looking for ways to improve their bottom-line profit. Ten Ways to Improve Your Bottom Line: Hire the best people and have enough staff. You will have a much easier time achieving success when you’re surrounded by the right people. Calculate your correct labor rate and adjust that labor rate every quarter. Charge a higher labor rate for jobs that do not include any parts, such as electrical testing, check engine lights, onboard computer issues, and drivability problems. The missing part profit must be made up somewhere. Review and refine your checklists and procedures to improve overall efficiency. Make sure all your equipment is working correctly and that you have the equipment and tools needed for the vehicles you service and repair. Make sure your part margins allow for a respectable gross profit. Make sure your inventory is up to date, with up-to-date pricing, and you don’t have too much stock sitting on the shelf. Make sure you have a process to get the proper credit for part cores, returned parts, and defective parts. Invest in ongoing training for all employees. BONUS TIP: Speak to your accountant and business coach about tax planning strategies. But do not wait until tax season. Tax planning should be done throughout the year. I hope you found this information helpful.

As an auto shop business owner, it's crucial that management/business training is the primary concern. Technicians need technical training; Service advisors need sales training and auto shop owners need business management training. I learned this being part of Elite Worldwide as a client, many years back. And it's why now, that I have sold my company, I still involve myself with them.

I will name a few that I think are worthwhile attending, but there are many. Vision APEX/SEMA Super Saturday, Mid Atlantic Auto Care Alliance Fly with the Eagles- Elite Worldwide NAPA Summit ASTE- Automotive Service & Technology Expo Ratchet + Wrench conference

I see one of your clients is Brian Bowersock. He is a good friend of mine and a fellow Elite business coach. Brian knows his stuff when it comes to advertising. It's an endorsement of what you do.

I can't argue with curb appeal. While you can't judge a book by its cover, the consumer likes to look at something appealing before they consider it.

Super Saturday Sessions Flyer PROOF 6.PDF

Before you spend a dime on any advertising or marketing, you need to realize that it's the employee experience that will determine how effective your overall marketing plan is. Everyone in your repair shop and everything you do on a day-to-day basis is the foundation of your marketing plan. We have all heard, "Happy employees create happy customers." This is more important today than ever before. Remember this: Your advertising and marketing programs do one thing; it brings you, people. It's your job to make the sale, and more importantly, create a customer experience so amazing it gives your customers a compelling reason to return!