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Consider Joining Family Service Day!

Joe Marconi

By Joe Marconi
in Auto Parts Banner Programs

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Charlie Contributor

Charlie

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Posted

Thanks Joe for sharing your excitement for Family Service Day, it has been an honor to be involved with this initiative and watch it become a national movement. In business, timing is critical, a good idea today may not have worked 5 years ago. As a shop owner I have seen our industry shrink due to consolidation as well as new car dealers realizing the profits in general repair are viable, thus becoming our competitors.

 

Consumer behavior has changed driven by Google, Yelp, Open Bay, True Car, Auto MD, AAA and Repair Pal to only name a few. These distractive resources interrupt customer loyalty and if we aren't careful, erode profits. The timing is right for us shop owners to be a force within our community, the best customers respond well and loyalty is deepened. There has also been a lot of talk lately about the younger generation (Millennials) questions of how to reach them as customers and what motivates them as employees. This generation searches for meaning in what they do and where they spend, a well organized cause marketing initiative such as Family Service Day moves that needle.

 

Shop Owners naturally do good deeds every day, as shop owners we come in contact with a lot of people and we know who need our help. At Family Service Day we see our members across the country 'Doing Well by Doing Good' and I would be happy to answer any questions directly where answers are not found on the FSD website. My direct email is [email protected]

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  • 4 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Charlie Contributor

Charlie

Posted
Posted

Joe, you are so right. I was reminded of this fact on Friday when I was logged into an industry specific BWG conference call which included independent shop owners as well as franchise dealers across the nation. The call was mainly about retention, profit margins, competitive advantages etc. We as independents have a distinct competitive advantage against our direct competition (Franchise Dealers) and that is an opportunity for intentional community involvement. For my shops as well as many others across the country Family Service Day has given our retail customers something meaningful to talk about and the conversation lasts for months. 

At FSD we have found many shop owners across the country to be very giving men and women. Holding a day of service, carefully paired with a strong local non-profit and supported by area businesses rewards these top shops for doing good. While the benefits are many it all begins with a willingness to truly serve the members of our communities who could simply use a hand up. As shop owners we have a unique opportunity to create positive change in the lives of many by simply sharing our talents. 

Our sponsors over the years have been tremendous and extremely supportive - Jasper Engines and Transmissions, Advance Auto Parts, Auto Vitals to name a few. 

As always I am available to share my FSD stories from here in Virginia as well as other shop experiences in more than 20 states. We are very excited to see the magic this Mother's day at Osceola Garage.

Charlie

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  • 1 month later...
Charlie Contributor

Charlie

Posted
Posted

Joe, I will be sending you great vibes. Due to scheduling conflicts American Pride will have our day of service on May 13th to honor Mother's Day, our chosen Non-Profit partner is Child Development Resources - they're terrific. Family Service Day gives our shop an opportunity to alter our pace, adjust our attitude and re-evaluate who we are in the community. I find it to be a great 'reset'. 

Looking forward to hearing from you post event. 

Charlie

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  • 2 weeks later...
Charlie Contributor

Charlie

Posted
Posted

Joe,

The culture of your shop as well as your giving nature made Osceola Garage the perfect Family Service Day partner. Suzanne and I have heard from many of the families in the community you serve and it is clear they see you not only as a supportive business but also as a friend. 

You hit the nail on the head when you said "As small business owners, our biggest advantage is our ability to impact our communities". As independent shop owners our direct competition is not each other, it is the new car dealerships who are seeing no profits from new car sales and are currently growing their service departments to work on all makes and models. As small independents we have the ability to connect with our communities and enter the hearts of our everyday customers on a level the dealers never will, it just takes a little creativity.

Hearing success stories from shops across the country has been very rewarding, we are excited by the future. Thanks for all your support!

Charlie

  • Like 2
Suzanne Hawley Newbie

Suzanne Hawley

Posted
Posted

Congratulations Joe on your first event! And thank you for sharing your insights with us.

For shops that are interested in hosting events in their own communities, please visit http://www.familyserviceday.org/get-involved or call 844.359.1105. It would be our honor to work with you.

Suzanne Hawley
Executive Director
Family Service Day Ltd.
603.487.2038 (direct line)

 

  • Like 1
  • 2 weeks later...
Suzanne Hawley Newbie

Suzanne Hawley

Posted
Posted
30 minutes ago, xrac said:

Joe, thank you for the information.  I also have a couple of other questions that I would like to ask:

First, how are the people who have their cars worked on during this day selected? How many hours was the event?

Second, I have inquired about Family Services Day and had an initial telephone conversation with a lady who represented the organization who was suppose to have followed up with a call with more information since I couldn't talk very long at the time.  However, that never took place.  However, I have to say that I was somewhat shocked at what it cost to join the Family Services Day and wondered about your take on that fee. 

 

I wanted to jump in here to welcome your phone call to learn more about Family Service Day. Every event is unique based on the shop itself (# of employees, # lifts, hours of operation, time of year, # of families you want to help, etc.). We have worked with a wide range of shops including small, family run shops with no marketing experience to larger shops with multiple shops and a dedicated marketing person. Positive results are not based on quantity but the quality of the event. Shops that hold a small event and service 5 families can make the same impact as a larger event that services 22. We are here to help you create an event that's exactly right for you. The annual membership fee includes a Blueprint© that offers a step-by-step guide to help plan and execute a great event. The Blueprint includes templates for media advisories, press releases, scripts for Facebook posts so that even the least experienced marketers have all the right tools.  In addition to that, you are assigned a coach to answer questions, offer event ideas and marketing support throughout the entire planning process.  After you hold your first event, you'll receive a Member Rewards Package valued at 125% of the membership fee. The Rewards Package is a way for our industry partners to thank the shops for joining a movement of shops that is creating positive changes in businesses and communities across America. For a list of rewards, visit http://www.familyserviceday.org/get-involved. I welcome a call at any time to learn more about your shop, and how we can help.  My direct line is 603.487.2038.  Suzanne Hawley, Executive Director, Family Service Day

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart
      By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog
         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.

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