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The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart

By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog
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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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How Will the 2024 Presidential Election Impact Auto Repair Shop Owners? [E189] - Chris Cotton Weekly Blitz
By carmcapriotto

The Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops.
Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo:https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/
Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/

If you would like to join their private Facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermind

In this episode of "The Weekly Blitz," Coach Chris Cotton delves into the potential impact of the 2024 presidential election on auto repair shop owners, offering a comprehensive analysis of the key issues that could shape the industry's future. He begins by examining the implications of small business support policies, highlighting how different candidates' approaches could influence access to funding, tax incentives, and overall business growth opportunities.

Coach Chris then shifts focus to workforce development, emphasizing the importance of training programs and educational initiatives that could be introduced or expanded depending on the election results. He stresses that a skilled workforce is crucial for shop owners to remain competitive and meet the evolving demands of the automotive industry.

Infrastructure spending is another critical topic discussed, as Coach Chris outlines how increased investment in roads, bridges, and transportation networks could lead to more business for repair shops due to higher vehicle usage. He also touches on the potential for regulatory changes, noting that shifts in environmental and safety regulations could affect shop operations and compliance requirements.

The discussion moves to minimum wage and labor laws, where Coach Chris analyzes how potential changes could impact labor costs and staffing strategies. He advises shop owners to stay informed about legislative developments and consider proactive measures to manage payroll expenses effectively.

Supply chain challenges are also on the agenda, with Coach Chris exploring how global economic policies and trade agreements resulting from the election could affect parts availability and pricing. He encourages shop owners to build strong relationships with suppliers and consider diversifying their sourcing strategies to mitigate risks.

Throughout the episode, Coach Chris emphasizes the importance of adaptability, urging shop owners to prepare for potential changes by reviewing their operations, budgeting for increased costs, and focusing on marketing efforts to attract and retain customers. He reassures listeners that maintaining strong customer relationships and operational efficiency will be key to navigating the evolving economic landscape, regardless of the election outcome. By staying informed and proactive, auto repair shop owners can position themselves for success in a dynamic and uncertain future.

Election Discussion Begins (00:01:11)
Chris highlights the importance of the upcoming 2024 presidential election for auto repair shop owners.
Pros and Cons of the Election (00:02:13)
A breakdown of potential advantages and disadvantages for auto repair businesses due to the election.
Support for Small Businesses (00:03:17)
Discussion on potential small business tax credits and health insurance reforms from candidates.
Workforce Development Challenges (00:03:17)
Focus on addressing the tech shortage through vocational training initiatives for the auto repair industry.
Infrastructure Spending Impact (00:03:17)
How increased infrastructure spending can lead to more vehicle repairs due to wear and tear.
Potential Regulatory Changes (00:04:26)
Concerns about new environmental regulations affecting business operations post-election.
Minimum Wage and Labor Laws (00:04:26)
The impact of potential minimum wage increases and labor law changes on shop budgets.
Supply Chain Issues (00:05:28)
Discussion on how international trade policies could affect parts pricing and availability.
Adaptability of Shop Owners (00:07:34)
Emphasizing the importance of adaptability in business operations amidst changing political landscapes.
Preparing for Future Changes (00:08:31)
Advice on budgeting and marketing strategies to navigate potential upcoming changes.
Customer Loyalty and Community Focus (00:08:31)
The significance of building strong community ties and customer relationships during uncertain times.
Conclusion and Encouragement (00:09:38)
Chris reassures listeners that challenges can be managed and encourages steady focus on business operations.

Connect with Chris:
[email protected]
Phone: 940.400.1008
www.autoshopcoaching.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
AutoFixAutoShopCoachingYoutube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae

#autofixautoshopcoaching #autofixbeautofixing #autoshopprofits #autoshopprofit #autoshopprofitsfirst #autoshopleadership #autoshopmanagement #autorepairshopcoaching #autorepairshopconsulting #autorepairshoptraining #autorepairshop #autorepair #serviceadvisor #serviceadvisorefficiency #autorepairshopmarketing #theweeklyblitz #autofix #shopmarketingpros #autofixautoshopcoachingbook
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
Business is Slowing Up, but my Car Counts are still high!
By Joe Marconi

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Value of the Ratchet and Wrench Management Conference
By bantar

I attended my first ever industry management conference. What a great experience.   If you've never gone, I would encourage you to add it to your do-now bucket list. There was a lot of open and detailed sharing.   For example, in a work session talking about bay efficiency analysis, they used real numbers from the audience.    Monthly Overhead, Gross Profit Percentage, desired bottom line profit.   It showed multiple paths to success that were immediately relatable.
None of the presentations were about perfection. As a matter of fact, most presenters shared information about how they did things stating that this may or may not apply to your situation. No one told you what to do, but rather offer tools for analyzing your own situation.   None of the presenters were making sales pitches.
In other sessions, real shop owners share tips and techniques on a number of topics that we see here.    Being a live event, these were more dynamic conversations.
I've returned from the conference with a renewed sense of urgency analyzing my numbers to see where we had success and where we need to improve.   I do expect to make real changes, but don't yet know exactly what changes I'm going to make.   Got to crunch some numbers first.
I signed up for the conference when it was first published, but sat on the CC screen for a while debating the value of this conference. Should I go, or should I stay?   I reluctantly pushed the GO button.   However, looking back, I should have enthusiastically smashed that GO button!
The next one is in Denver.   I recommend that you consider attending.

A side benefit is that I got to meet Joe Marconi and in a session that we jointly attended, I overheard Joe say that he was mentored by Jerry Holcom. Later in the conference, I had the pleasure of talking with Jerry as well. In the many networking sessions, we met many different shop owners and had great conversations.

--brian
The Impact of Industry Consolidation In Automotive #podcast #autorepairbusiness #automotivebusiness
By Changing The Industry

The Impact of Industry Consolidation In Automotive #podcast #autorepairbusiness #automotivebusiness
From Daily Training to Daily Wins: Motivating Your Team [THA 404]
By carmcapriotto

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Auto-Fix Auto Shop Coaching, and Today's Class Recorded at the 2024 ASTA Expo, Dewain DeGarmo from Black's Tire & Auto Service and David Boyes from Today's Class discuss the evolving landscape of training and education in the automotive repair industry. Dewain, overseeing training across 60 stores, shares the challenges of managing a large team while introducing innovative strategies to improve knowledge retention and performance. He also talks about his role as a "puzzle master," tackling complex technical problems and spearheading training programs, including a creative prize system to motivate teams. The discussion highlights how technology is driving improvements in training within the industry. Dewain DeGarmo from Black's Tire & Auto Service David Boyes, President of ‘Today’s Class” An online learning organization that has been supporting the automotive industry for more than 20 years. David’s previous episodes HERE Show Notes Watch Full Video Episode ASTA EXPO: https://astaexpo.com/ Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today's Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/ Managing a Large Team (00:02:37) Challenges of Change (00:03:28) Joy in Team Development (00:04:14) Dwayne's Journey in the Industry (00:04:31) Becoming the Puzzle Master (00:06:05) Training Evolution (00:08:14) Competitive Training Environment (00:09:29) Unique Prizes in Training (00:11:05) Wrestling Belt as a Prize (00:11:21) Measuring Team Performance (00:12:05) Daily Training Consistency (00:14:06) Dashboard Insights (00:15:10) Building a Training Portal (00:16:02) Aggregating Training Resources (00:16:48) Challenges of Local Training Attendance (00:19:12) Balancing Work and Training (00:20:23) TPMS Training Insights (00:21:06) Generational Work Ethic Discussion (00:22:05) Microlearning for Team Training (00:22:21) Identifying Training Gaps (00:23:01) Investment in Training (00:24:25) Balancing Training Opportunities (00:26:15) Cultural Integration of Training (00:29:00) Importance of Communication Tools (00:32:45) Team Engagement Challenges (00:35:01) Culture of Continuous Learning (00:35:08) Incremental Improvement (00:36:14) Personal Ownership of Knowledge (00:36:29) User Motivation for Training (00:36:47) Boosting Training Scores (00:37:11) Conferences and Learning Retention (00:37:35) Custom Training Requests (00:39:58)
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Auto-Fix Auto Shop Coaching Proven Auto Shop Coaching with Results. Over 61 Million in ROI with an Average ROI of 9x. Find Coach Chris Cotton at AutoFix Auto Shop Coaching on the Web at https://autoshopcoaching.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Today's Class Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today's Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/ Connect with the Podcast: -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on X: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio