Maryann Croce's Coach's Corner: Gain control - assess your resources regularly
As a business owner and leader, you have a lot of responsibility. You’re responsible for your business success.
AutoInc. Blogs
Bruce Howes’ View from the Helm: The value of peer-to-peer coaching groups
Over the last 30 some years I’ve been involved with and a member of a number of shop 20 Groups, coaching groups, mastermind groups. You name it, we’ve done it. Nothing wrong with that,…
Maryann Croce’s Coach’s Corner: Work-life balance solution
What is work-life balance and is it worth striving for? Baby Boomers grew up during difficult times (World War II) and as a result many workers stayed with their place of employment for decades…
Bruce Howes' View from the Helm: Average tech quote & personal goals
"You can't always get what you want," so goes the old song by the Rolling Stones.
Maryann Croce's Coach's Corner: Modern auto shop owner
Today’s shop owner has an amazing opportunity. The way business was done years ago has changed due to technology advances and consumer buying shifts. Yet some businesses are being operated within an outdated model.
Maryann Croce’s Coach’s Corner: Mental toughness as owners & leaders
Over the past few months, I have watched everyone look to leaders. Whether related to their job, business, health, family, or government. They are looking for answers and inspiration. Feeling a loss of control in any…
Bruce Howes’ View from the Helm: Some Saturday Sharin' - On Mindset
The smartest and most skilled people I know are the ones who ask questions, who wonder if there is a better way to do something, a more efficient paradigm to operate from. They never hesitate to reach out to someone if they need advice, input, or seek to grow.
Tom Piippo's One Eye in the Mirror: Dealing with COVID-19
We have all been through it before: SARS, MERS, N1H1.
Bruce Howes’ View from the Helm: Shop coaching - reflections on a journey
Maximum performance in sports, as in business, almost always occurs with sound coaching. Realize that you are never beholden to anyone or anything that is not contributing to or bettering your life. In life,…
Maryann Croce's Coach's Corner: Business needs to survive, to thrive during crisis
Just as babies need to crawl before they walk, businesses need to survive before they thrive.
Blog (Maryann Croce): The Secret to a Better Team is No Secret
The number one challenge shop owners tell me they face today is finding good help. I hear it from all areas of the country.
Blog (Tom Piippo): Data access & privacy
The big topic lately is data access and privacy.
Blog (Maryann Croce): Leadership & your word
Each year I choose a word that represents what I will focus on that year. This year it’s “Self-Care.”
Bruce Howes' View from the Helm: Why we don't fix cars
I teach our people that at Atlantic Motorcar we don’t fix cars, we provide transportation solutions, be it a loaner car, valet service, shuttle, alternative financing, etc.
Blog (Maryann Croce): How does working with family work?
This is a topic I often have with shop owners. This is a controversial topic.
Blog (Maryann Croce): 10 business lessons I've learned
Whether you're a new shop owner or have been a shop owner for decades there are lessons to be learned at each of the 5 stages of business. The key word being learned.
View From The Helm: Let's talk loaner cars...
I often remind our team, that we are not so much in the car service business, as we are in the "transportation solution business."
Blog (Maryann Croce): It’s not your fault. Until it is.
The fact is you can’t grow your business alone without sacrificing another part of your life.
Blog (Maryann Croce): Is your business a resource or a hero?
I had a conversation with a client recently and they realized that they had positioned their company has a hero.
Blog (Bruce Howes): A Tale Of Two Customers
Noontime, I'm manning my desk, the SAs are at lunch, and Julie, aka "Our Awesome CRM Julie" brings an elderly woman into my office.
Blog (Maryann Croce): Solution to the auto industry 'silo'
I’ve been in the auto industry for over 20 years. As a shop owner and a coach, I’ve spoken with hundreds of people in the industry who are frustrated over the following. Technician shortage/wages…
Blog (Maryann Croce): Coach, consultant or trainer. How do you choose?
There is more to building, operating and growing an automotive business than most new business owners realize.
Blog (Tom Piippo): Decisions, decisions, decisions...
My first decision every day? What socks to wear.
Blog: Is your business receiving the rewards of customer service?
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…
Blog: Cash or Crime?
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…
Blog: ASA members are 'willing to help to change this industry'
I’ve been a member of ASA since 2002.
Blog: How do you define success?
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.
Tony Molla: Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) programs 'save lives'
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.
Blog: Everyone has a story, take time to listen to your employees
Like it or not, as a shop owner, you deal with this subject on a daily basis whether you have employees or not.
Blog: Your GPS for Business Success: 5 Stages of Business
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.
Tom Piippo: Case of 'the needle in the haystack'
The customer complaint was one of the usual.
Repair Shop Success: Mapping out hiring process & establishing goals crucial
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.
Blog: 'How to buy new equipment & justify the price' ... or ROI
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.
Wacha: 'Being the best you that you can be'
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?
'Facebook Live' ideas from other shops
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:…
Is it time for you to dive into your first 'Facebook Live?'
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. If…
'Finding My Why'
Rachael Wacha's "Finding My 'Why'" blog is being written as we speak.
'You better put that thing back together before your father gets home!'
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.
Recruiting, hiring, development & retention of quality employees
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.
A gateway to a wider working world
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.
Automotive service industry career paths that may surprise you
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…
Don’t overlook automotive technology as a high-tech career path
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…
How ‘meaningful’ work can motivate your millennial employees
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…
SXSW in Austin probes how automotive technology will change our culture
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.…
Technician pay – working the numbers to win the war for talent
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…
How excuses can identify opportunities to improve business
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…
Know what to say with customer price-shopping inquiries
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 .…
Two good reasons to answer the phone. Otherwise, don’t?
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…
How Promise Times Help Improve Your Processes
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…
