We all know that the combination of substance abuse and addiction is major issue affecting a large number of people across our country. We see the stories about it in the media every day. Many of us know of friends, relatives, or acquaintances who suffer from its effects, either directly or indirectly. As a result of its being a part...

To achieve high levels of performance in your shop, you need to have a complete staff of techs who are ready, willing and able to serve your customers’ automotive repair and maintenance needs. When a tech leaves, it makes a hole in your organization that negatively affects your work flow, your cash flow, your profitability, your techs’ morale, and your...

Once that you have your techs properly trained, working together toward the same goals, and aligned with your shop’s processes and procedures, you can move to the next level. Let’s take a look at what it takes to improve your techs’ productivity, and how to keep them happy as you work toward the achievement of this goal. Productivity: it’s a...

Now that you have hired a team of outstanding techs of various skill levels for your shop, it’s time to put them to work. This is your labor force, and you must deploy it in such a way that you achieve these goals: Efficiency Profitability Customer satisfaction Employee buy-in Let’s take a look at some of the ways to manage...

The shortage of good technicians is a fact of life in the auto repair industry. Combined with the high rate of employee turnover in the average shop, it is a virtual certainty that you will need to hire new technicians at some point in the near future. When it does come time to hire, what should you look for in...

We are not the same society that we were before the COVID-19 outbreak. This public healthcare crisis has forced us to change the way we live our lives. Many of these changes will be with us for a long time to come, so we must adapt to the needs of “the new normal.” The only certainty is that there will...

Many questions remain about how to approach the reopening of society in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. There are potential minefields that can land you and your business in a lot of trouble, if you aren’t careful. Here are seven mistakes to avoid: Don’t ignore unresolved COVID-19 liability issues What happens if someone gets COVID-19 at your shop? The...

Things have changed as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Social isolation has sent the population online for information, access to other people, and even the food they need to survive. What are people doing online while they have been stuck inside? Video calls to connect with friends, relatives, and work colleagues Online grocery shopping Restaurant food delivery and takeout...

Positive cash flow is essential. It lets you cover your rent or mortgage, pay your employees, buy parts and supplies, do the necessary marketing, and provide the technology that keeps it all running smoothly. The COVID-19 crisis has brought the economy to a standstill, throwing millions out of work and isolating them at home. How can your shop survive with...

The world has changed in the wake of COVID-19. Your customers’ lives have been powerfully impacted by the changes needed to get through the crisis this virus has created. The

We know people are nervous, and some shops are worried about getting customers through their doors. But, there are things that you can do now to strengthen your relationship with

Prepare for the future by adding services that customers want to spend money on: As we look into the near future of the independent repair shop, there are some changes

Connected cars will bring many changes As increasing numbers of new vehicles come with built-in connectivity and wi-fi hotspots, vehicle manufacturers will have 24/7 access to their vehicles. The carmakers

A new day is dawning for the automotive service industry and the stage has been set over the past few decades. Today’s vehicles are filled with electronics, with many of

As we enter the third decade of the 21st Century, we can look back on some significant changes that have been made to the huge fleet of vehicles that currently

I’m sure if you have a shop that’s been around for years, you have some amazing relationships with your customers. How many have become your dear friends? How many people have brought their children to fix their cars with you?  You must know that the best marketing is word of mouth. A angry customer tells everyone about their experiences. The...

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “content marketing” and maybe assumed that it meant good pictures for social media or great tweets. There’s a reason bloggers are so successful and why major brands have a blog that’s regularly updated. The secret is that people love learning in a low pressure way. A blog post is the perfect way to educate...

Facebook is a two-headed beast: it can be a fantastic way to reach your ideal customer within a specific location, but unfortunately it can also be a money pit for many shop owners, as they don’t always use the features to reach customers in the most cost-effective way. That’s also totally not their fault! People make entire careers from creating...

Most shop owners and service advisors never ask their customers for a review, even when the job goes smoothly. They just hope that happy people will make their opinions public.

One of my few childhood memories in a mechanic shop was actually in a quick drive-thru lube service in Milwaukee. I was probably 7 years old, and my mother needed