Donna M. Wagner: Pivoting for success in an auto repair shop
By Donna M. Wagner It is easy to get caught in the day-to-day activity of running a repair shop. Between customers, employees and keeping the shop ticking, it can be hard to step…
Lessons Learned
Jody DeVere: Text your way to higher customer satisfaction
This morning, I dropped off my 145-pound Newfoundland, Tess, to be groomed. I scheduled and paid over the phone, and then I received reminders via text. When I arrived and texted PetSmart, an employee met me at the front door…
Andy Bizub: ‘You can’t please everyone… and that’s okay!’
This article initially started out as something completely different.
Lessons Learned: Run your own race; comfortable calculated growth is key
I’m sure many out there can relate to my story. Me, like many others who’ve ventured into shop ownership, jumped in with both feet... not knowing what I didn’t know. I made the progression from…
Larson: Networking a key to success
At one of the darkest times of my life, after just losing my business partner, who was also my beloved husband and best friend, I chose to take my first solo trip to an industry convention. …
Being 'extremely literal' important when writing repair orders
I’ve been experimenting with specials to be used in direct mail, boosted Facebook posts and other such advertising mediums. One such special is a summer kickoff special, which is an air conditioning inspection and service for only $139. The wording…
Climbing the Hill
Recently, I was leading a trail run in Moab, Utah, and came to the first difficult part of the 4x4 rail. The Jeep I was driving had been set up with the best equipment that money could buy, complete with…
Kelley: How’s It Going?
If you answered, ‘Good,’ but it’s not, here’s why you should reach out to others. By asking for advice, you might help them even more than yourself. Most of us, as business owners, have “driver” personalities. We will work countless…
Troy: An Inconvenient Truth
In the seven years that I’ve been in the automotive repair business, I’ve learned many lessons. One that really hit home concerns inspections. When I opened my shop in 2011, our inspections were not…
The Boss’s Kids
In a perfect world, as owners, we all dream of running a successful business. We strive to work hard, hire great employees, provide the best benefits possible, have great customers, make a profit, give back to the community, enjoy family…
Oakes: Expect the unexpected
There are many “horror stories” that take place in the automotive industry. I mean, those that are fanned by media sensationalism. Just take your pick and run with a topic: “Woman accuses shop of stripping oil pan drain plug and…
The Need to Refocus: Business owners need different set of skills
Being part of a family business offers some comfortable expectations, not least of which is the ability to be married and support a family at a young age. I owe this to the opportunities afforded by my family’s transmission shop.…
Holcom: Are your customers ‘family’?
I’ve been in this business for a few years, and whether I heard it during a training event, picked it up while networking or just figured it out, I’ve learned that to retain or to acquire new clients you have…
Keller: Sync up for success
In 43 years of shop management and ownership, I’ve made every mistake possible. There was a year when my accountant had to prepare 102 W2s. Imagine how broken my systems and procedures were to go through that many employees in…
Turning the ‘Job’ Around
What’s the best tool for helping you work ‘on’ your business instead of ‘in’ your business? After selling my business in Buffalo, N.Y., in 2000, I moved to Maine seeking another business to acquire. I brought numerous businesses to the…
The Fine Print
What’s the worst that could happen if you don’t read it? I think we’re all guilty of checking the “I agree” button at the end of a full-page disclaimer, just to get an app on your phone or sign up…
Cheerleaders Welcome
As more Millennials enter the auto repair workforce, managers need to adopt a different leadership style. As a leader, I know a great leader’s traits must be learned. While there are many traits associated with effective leadership, I find that…
Great Day in the Morning
How one shop eliminated the hassles of ‘getting in the door’ by setting up their jobs in advance. One of the biggest dilemmas I’ve faced, and solved, as a busy small-shop owner was the stress of getting in the door.…
