It’s the start of a new year which naturally makes us reflect back on how the previous year went. As easy, difficult, surprisingly sane, or crazy as we may think 2022 went, let’s see what made it work and what made it fail. Hopefully, the wins outnumber the losses, but in either case, we need…
Digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) are central to providing a 21st-century experience to your customers. Just as streaming revolutionized the entertainment industry, digital communication has drastically transformed all consumer service industries. Within auto repair, DVIs enable shops to upgrade their business to the next level. While shifting from paper to digital records can seem daunting in…
Charles Schwab was the Jeff Bezos of 1918. He was one of the richest men of his day, and the president of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, one of the largest producers of Steel during that time. Yet, despite being the “top shop” of his time, he felt something was missing in his business. He scheduled…
When you realize that the results you are striving for are not manifesting in your personal and professional life, most people have tons of excuses as to why. Many will blame others and claim they are the victim—in each case, it will always be something or someone else that caused the shortfalls. Being an excuse…
You have a ton of cars in your shop, but don’t panic. Take a deep breath and proceed one step at a time. The goal is to get work—whether through walk-ins, call-ins, insurance referrals, or from those special customers who are prone to get into accidents more frequently than the national norm (7-9 years). It’s…
Charles Schwab was the Jeff Bezos of 1918. He was one of the richest men of his day, and the president of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, one of the largest producers of Steel during that time. Yet, despite being the “top shop” of his time, he felt something was missing in his business. He scheduled…
Being an ATI coach, I hear this phrase a lot from my shop owners: “I just don’t have time.” It stems from trying to maintain an ownership/life balance combined with issues that haven’t been 100% resolved. With the “Great Staffing Shortage of 2021,” the desperation is compounded with the inability to fill position vacancies that…
It’s summertime and the COVID pandemic seems to be coming to an end. States are opening up and removing restrictions, people are hitting the road and looking forward to family reunions and real vacations again. Most auto repair shops that I work with are struggling—not because they don’t have enough work—because they can’t get the…
I was all in, on-board, and “drinking the Kool-Aid!” As a new district manager of automotive service, I had just returned from a national meeting where our president clearly communicated the company direction. What he said was good for the car, the customer, and the corporation. My next step was to have a meeting with…
Struggling to get enough hours billed out each week? Your first thought might be that you have a problem with your technicians. As a shop owner, you need to be aware of how your shop is doing at all times and where the weak spots are; making sure plenty of billable hours get completed each…