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Trade shows / conferences


Junior

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What trade shows or conferences do you attend if any? ASO is a great way to interact with other shop owners but nothing beats a handshake and a conversation. The opportunity to meet vendors, tool manufacturers ect is great.

 

There is a thread on Automechanika http://www.autoshopowner.com/topic/9664-automechanika-show-in-chicago-april-2015/

Is it worth the trip to Chicago?

 

There is also SEMA and AAPEX in Vegas, I've never been to either. What about smaller regional shows, specifically in the Northeast?

 

 

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Hi Junior,

 

We attended the Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo and ATI's SuperConference earlier this month. Last weekend some of my staff attended the Automotive Training Expo in Washington. We'll be attending the NAPA expo in Las Vegas May 5-8 and AAPEX (highly recommended) in November. We'll also be attending the Automotive Service Association expo in Arizona in June.

 

For smaller shows in the Northeast, you may want to look into what the Automotive Service Association has to offer. We're located in the Philadelphia area and we occasionally attend chapter meetings in Pennsylvania. There may be similar offerings in New York. Good luck!

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  • 2 months later...

Bringing this topic back up.

 

Currently researching trade shows as well. I'm looking for one geared more towards training and education. Found one called NACE/CARS that looks about right up my alley. Thoughts?

 

Went to AAPEX a couple years ago but the seminars they look to offer this year seems more suited to specialty equipment and collision repair. Maybe more seminars will be added closer to the show?

 

Mainly looking to get my wife up to speed on the industry as she will be leaving her day job and joining me in the business.

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

AJ

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest 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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