Alex

Our normally scheduled chat led by Gonzo on Sunday evenings has been canceled for this Easter Sunday. Happy Easter & Passover to everyone!

Sounds like a great seminar!

Welcome to AutoShopOwner! You probably found this topic: http://www.autoshopowner.com/topic/4232-management-success/ Feel free to reply to that topic and maybe the members in that thread would be able to give you some feedback..

Has anyone heard of or using Autotraker?

I'm not sure, maybe something on your browser end? Have you tried it again from the menu link?

That's odd..try this link: http://www.autoshopowner.com/chat/?_popup=1

That should be working now.

ASO is back online today, we ran into some issues with a hard drive on our server. We needed to copy all the data to a new drive. Now that all the data has been copied, the site is live again. Sorry for the inconvenience.

AutoShopOwner.com will be offline periodically on Friday 2/17, for scheduled server maintenance. We do not anticipate any issues past Friday and will work to get ASO back online as soon as posible.

Joe Marconi and his shop Osceola Garage have been featured in the January/February issue of www.ShopOwnerMag.com! Check out the write up, attached! 38-44Profile,OsceolaGarage.pdf

Very important as more and more people use search engines as their means for contact and location info. Results have tagged reviews. reputation.com models their business in helping with this if you do not have the time to monitor your online reputation.

Changed this thread title to 700...we're at 701!

CTI is the second largest aftermarket automotive trainer in the US, I believe behind the military: http://ctionline.com/ That's Napa who has the "Good Stuff"...lol. All jokes aside, I would agree, you would think they would allow you to sit in on the classses, being an employee of Advance.

This is an older topic but it's interesting to follow these programs and see where they are. The Tech-Net program has realy evolved...http://www.techauto.com/

Welcome to AutoShopOwner!

Welcome to AutoShopOwner! I agree with xrac, get as much training as you can. There are too many shops these days that fail because they can turn a wrench, but don't run their businesses to be profitable. Good luck to you, we'd love to follow your new shop story if you decide to open it! Keep us all posted.

I like the steak analogy... I think that when it comes to retailers like Autozone and Advance, their business models are just more retail oriented than wholesale/commercial. In some markets they try to grow their comercial business but in most cases never fully succeed because of the push of lower cost/inferior product, lack of product knowledge by their staff, higher focus on retail, etc. They know this and it is why a company like Advance has Autopart International, who on the other hand does well in wholesale/commercial like your Napas, Carquests, and other wholesale parts jobbers..etc. You usually get knowledge and more focus towards the wholesale/independent shop. The other important factor to remember about retailers like Advance or Autozone, they just will never understand your business like you need them to. They don't have the warranties or programs available for independent repair shops. They are retailers who have a business models built for the "DIY" market. I think the easiest way to see it is ... Autozone & Advance sell retail and dabble in wholesale. Napa, Carquest, other parts jobbers sell wholesale and dabble in retail. If you want to learn more about the major auto part companies, here you go...It's good to know about the company(s) you are buying from... AutoZone Advance Auto Parts Carquest NAPA O'Reilly Auto Parts Checker Auto Parts

Great predictions! In addition, I predict that... * European Union will have more issues and come closer to falling apart, bringing problems for the euro. * US Federal Internet "fairness" tax will come in some form to level the playing field between "brick & mortar" and online retailers, also giving states more revenue....all by requiring online merchants to collect tax by state if they don't already online. * AutoShopOwner will hit the 1000 members mark.

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a happy & healthy 2012!

Thank you for the great feedback!

Thanks! That's me and my daughter at Rockefeller center in NYC a week or so a go. Wifey took the pic.

Happy Holidays! Hope everyone has a wonderful X-Mas! Happy Hanukkah if you celebrate! All the best this holiday season to you, and your families. This is the first year my 4 year old dauhter is actually understanding and waiting for Santa! I'm gonna have to eat he cookies...shhh..don't tell her!