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Posted (edited)

Hello everyone. My name is Matt. I am 27 years old. I have a diploma in Automotive Technology and an AAS Degree in Business Management. I have worked as a service advisor, as an auto technician under the billable hours system, as a tech doing fleet servicing, at a small service station and various other things like aerial photography, building websites, and helping my wife in her small business. I am ASE Certified in 6 of 8 areas.

 

In high school it was my goal to own my own shop someday. The list above was the plan that I stuck with. (for the most part). Throughout my experiences working as an auto tech, I have also had thoughts like "why am I doing this" and " I hate this" from time to time. Now I find myself with a potential opportunity to start my own shop. There is an 2 or 3 stall radiator shop right on the main US hwy though my hometown of 1300 where I move back to 3 years ago. It is sitting empty. I know the owner pretty well. He is just using it for storage right now. He also owns the Napa store in town. I have not talked to him yet about my idea. There are 2 or 3 other small repair shops in town and a few home-based garages out in the country. The niche I think there is in this market is for a repair shop that is female and professional friendly. Currently there are none! I ran that thought by the Napa owner and he concurred with my assesment with excitement!

 

My biggest passion has alway been Quality Customer Service. My biggest irritation is Poor customer service! So I know what my main focus would be in my business venture! I am currently trying to come up with more details for a business model in my market. The other shops do not emplyoy ASE Techs. I would try to use that to brand myself as "The Professional" in town. I would have a nice, clean waiting area and a nice, clean bathroom! The other shops are more than lacking in those departments! I would offer free shuttle for people and/or a free loaner car. I think I would offer moderately priced oil changes ($30-$40). They would include a free "safety inspection" and a tire rotation if neccesary. I could sell the oil change packages at a discount or a refferal system discount. I would also consider selling tires. (I'm not sure about that but there is only one other place in town that does!) I would also be sure that I have a good system for doing follow up calls/emails/texts to my customers.

 

Does anyone have any advise for me? What would a good strategy be in my situation?

 

Thank you ALL for your time that you put into this forum to make it a great resource for people like me!

 

Matt

Edited by NoBull
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Good luck with your venture. Sometimes the best thing to know is ... not everything. You'll find that a lot of ideas will come to you once you get started but... your plans sound good. Go for it...!!!

 

Keep ASO in mind for any help or more ideas. Gonzo

Posted

Welcome to the site. I like you did the same basic thing. Would love to be able to give some advice. Look forward to getting to hear from you. The "older" shop owners on this site have a lot of excellent advice. Make sure you search this site as there are a lot of posts that I am sure will answer your questions.

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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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