In my last blog, I shared the Top 5 Reasons You’re Losing the War to find (and keep) talented automotive technicians. This week we will look at how to get top talent walking in your shop doors and asking to work for you. As we discussed last week, the automotive technician shortage in the U.S….
Any auto repair shop owner who’s been in business more than 5 minutes knows – finding great automotive technicians is getting harder each year. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 76,000 mechanics are needed each year between now and 2026 to replace those retiring or leaving the industry, and to fill 46,000…
Have you ever seen a fight break out at the dentist’s office? Let’s think about your last visit. The receptionist handed you a card and said, “Your next appointment will be on May 1st.” She didn’t ask, “would you like to come in on May 1st?” or, “You don’t want to schedule your next appointment,…
In his book Essentialism, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeon tells the story of Larry Gelwix, one of the most successful high school rugby coaches in history. In thirty-five years, his Highland High School Rugby Team compiled a record of 419 wins, 10 losses, and 20 national championships! If you played for coach Gelwix,…
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is judging the success of your effort by the initial response you get. I was reminded of this as I sat through a 20 Group meeting. Mike Haley, the former hiring class instructor, was the guest speaker on the agenda. He opened his session by asking about…
Imagine that you’re a customer getting your car serviced at your shop. What are the first words that come to mind when you pull up to the curb? What’s the first impression you get as you walk up to the counter? How do you feel after interacting with your service advisor? Be brutally honest. If…
“Harry” is a shop owner in your area. One day he’s walking down the street thinking about his dreams, his dollars, and the upcoming decisions he will have to make at his shop. He’s so focused on his future that he fails to notice that there is a hole in the sidewalk. As a result, Harry falls in the hole!…
“That’s outrageous! It’s just too much!” Said “Gary,” the owner of a 2007 Toyota Camry in need of a power steering pump and fluid exchange. I overheard this conversation as I was listening to the recording of “John,” a service writer from Maryland, present the technician’s findings. It was painfully obvious that this call was not going…
I’m losing business because of the pricing matrix!” This statement was made by a shop owner named Rich, during our weekly coaching call. Both his car count and average repair order (ARO) were down from the previous year. He had two service writers named Steve and Chris. Even though they had the same invoice count, Steve held a…
Several weeks ago I took my car to a local tire retailer to resolve a slow leak. As soon as I arrived at the service counter, it became obvious that “Jeff,” the service writer, didn’t want my business. He didn’t smile, didn’t greet me, but he did say the following: “Sir, I need you to step…