There is more to building, operating and growing an automotive business than most new business owners realize. When a technician becomes a shop owner, many find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Their skillsets and experience lie in the doing or production.…
Decisions, decisions, decisions… We all make them. Sometimes I don’t want to admit it if I made a bad decision. My first decision every day? What socks to wear. Thank goodness I wear a company work uniform, so I just…
Do you know what the #1 complaint is from people looking for a service from a trade business? When I speak to potential customers, people in local networking groups (people who are searching for trade business services), they all have…
There are lots of reasons a customer would like to pay cash for a repair. Maybe it’s a minor collision repair that they don’t want to turn into their insurance company. Or perhaps it’s an individual who always wanted a…
I’ve been a member of ASA since 2002. Before joining, I hadn’t been to any meetings. I hadn’t been approached by any salesman. I didn’t even know any other members. I only knew that…
It’s easy to look at business and life from your own vantage point and get frustrated or feel stuck because you aren’t getting your desired results.
The Automotive Service Association has been a staunch defender of Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) programs. The reason is simple: ASA believes PMVI programs save lives.
Like it or not, as a shop owner, you deal with this subject on a daily basis whether you have employees or not.
Business success comes from focusing on the priorities at each stage. It’s about sequencing. Taking the steps needed to do the right activities at the right time. In the end we are all measured and held accountable to RESULTS.
The customer complaint was one of the usual.
How do you select the best and brightest? Introduce a process that taps the resources of your current team members? Successfully integrate your new hire into your organization? Blogger Bruce Howes shares his thoughts.
Through the years I’ve bought a lot of equipment. Some I’ve used a lot, others not so much. Let me try to help you sort this out from some of my challenges.
My question about growing is not referring to your business. It’s about you. Are you going to be the best you that you can be in 2019?
Check out these Facebook Live events that other facilities held to get ideas for your shop. As you’ll see, you are giving them a peek into the day-to-day happenings of your shop to highlight certain events, people and other happenings:…
Back in April 2016, Facebook launched its Facebook Live feature, allowing individuals and companies to broadcast to their friends and followers live. Since then, some of the biggest to smallest brands jumped in to take advantage of this opportunity. So…
Rachael Wacha's "Finding My 'Why'" blog is being written as we speak.
In 1964 America, the threat of father finding out you did something bad had all the weight of a nuclear explosion along with the extended fallout.
The competition for quality technicians is very keen right now, and sadly the numbers entering the automotive service profession, especially in the role of technician, seems sadly slim.
When speaking to students at career day events, I often use my own career path as an example of how technical knowledge and ongoing training can open up many new working worlds most people might never have considered.
Mike Rowe has it right: Job growth in STEM careers looks strong into the foreseeable future. That’s particularly true in the automotive service and repair industry. The U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that the automotive repair…
Parents, if becoming an automotive technician is not high on your list of career choices for your child, perhaps it’s time to look again. Automotive service and repair has changed dramatically in just the…
Every day we face dilemmas and choices, or the all-important question from our wives, “What do you want for dinner?” Let’s be honest, the answer “I don’t know” is not going to lead to the successful outcome of getting dinner…
I recently spent an interesting weekend in Austin, Texas. It was interesting for two major reasons: 1) It was Austin and 2) It showed just how close we are to a revolution in the way we move, live and think.…
Editor’s Note: The labor rates mentioned in this article are theoretical and should not be considered industry standards. Are you ready to face the most serious threat to your business? That is, the threat of your shop not having the necessary…
The automotive service and repair business is all about solving problems. In the case of vehicle maintenance, it’s about preventing problems. Shop owners have created a business around their ability to solve vehicle problems and their expertise in maintaining vehicles. When vehicles no…
Making the phone ring at your shop takes tremendous effort. It’s called marketing, advertising and brand awareness. Your business depends on people to respond to these efforts and reach out to you for help with their vehicle maintenance and repair needs .…
When asked why they answer the phone, most service advisers respond: “Because it’s my job.” I submit that many of the calls coming into shops are the result of service advisers failing to do their job. Let me share how service advisers…
Continuing our journey toward better processes, I recently spoke with a frustrated shop owner about a point of pain in his business. His concern was the time he spent dealing with upset customers. His example was the day he had…
