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Attracting Fleet Clients - Effective Strategies for to Your Auto Repair Business [E102] - Chris Cotton Weekly Blitz


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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 podcast episode, Coach Chris Cotton from Auto Fix Auto Shop Coaching shares expertise on managing fleet clients for auto repair shops. He underscores the benefits of fleet clients for consistent work but warns against over-reliance, suggesting fleets should be no more than 20% of business. Cotton advises on finding suitable fleet clients through various methods and preparing for meetings with research and tailored service discussions. He emphasizes building trust, understanding client needs, and balancing fleet with retail customers to ensure a stable and growing business.

 

  • Finding and Managing Fleet Clients (00:00:07) Discussion on the importance of fleet clients and the need to maintain a balance with retail customers.
  • Guidelines for Fleet Business Percentage (00:01:08) Advice on the percentage of business that should be dedicated to fleets and the potential risks of overreliance on fleet clients.
  • Finding the Right Fleet Clients (00:02:13) Strategies for identifying fleet clients that align with the shop's capabilities and values, and the importance of networking.
  • Negotiating with Fleet Clients (00:04:27) Tips for contract negotiation, avoiding underselling, and the potential issues with servicing used car lots.
  • Marketing and Referrals for Fleet Clients (00:06:29) Discussion on leveraging fleet clients as marketers and the importance of referrals and employee programs.
  • Strategies for Finding Fleet Clients (00:07:39) Insights on using local business research, networking events, referrals, online platforms, direct outreach, and partnerships to find fleet clients.
  • Initial Meetings with Fleet Clients (00:10:55) Steps for preparation, presentation, customized solutions, building trust, listening, follow-up, flexibility, negotiation, and reliability assurance.
  • Billing, Pricing, and Business Model (00:16:21) Advice on billing, pricing, and ensuring the business model fits the shop's needs and financial stability.
  • Summary and Closing (00:18:19) Final thoughts on the importance of strategic decisions, effective management, and continuous learning for success in the auto repair business.

 

 

 

Connect with Chris:

chris@autofixsos.com

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

Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest 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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