Garage Grit Podcast

#003 Time Management for Auto Shop Owners & Team Culture

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About the Guest(s):

  • Garrett Coulter: Owner of Auto Fitness in Gainesville, Georgia. With a background in the military and experience in the automotive industry, Garrett brings a unique perspective to his role as a shop owner. He is dedicated to providing excellent customer service and has a strong focus on online reviews and reputation management.
  • Jim Schorie: Baylor graduate and former U.S. Air Force officer, owns Schorie Auto Repair in Mesa. With a triple major in economics, finance, and international business, Jim contributed to the space program before venturing into Motorola's commercial space projects. His 17-year-old shop boasts six or seven bays, a testament to Jim's expertise and commitment.
  • Ted Ostronic: a lifelong car enthusiast, transitioned from a successful career as a Ford Master Tech in the '90s to becoming an entrepreneur. Ted's journey began with home-based auto repairs, then escalated to renting a corner in a warehouse in June 2000. Despite the challenges of starting during 9-11, Ted's shop, now occupying the entire space, has thrived for 23 years, a testament to his dedication and passion for the automotive industry.


    • Episode Summary:

    In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock leads a panel discussion on the topic of time management in auto repair shops. The panel includes Garrett Coulter, owner of Auto Fitness, Jim Schorie, owner of Schorie Auto Repair, and Ted Ostronic, owner of Unique Auto Inc. The panelists share their experiences and insights on various aspects of time management, including hiring and delegating tasks, implementing digital vehicle inspections (DVI), and maintaining a positive online reputation. They discuss the importance of creating a strong team culture, leveraging employees for hiring decisions, and utilizing technology to streamline operations. The episode provides valuable tips and strategies for shop owners looking to improve their time management skills and increase productivity.


    Key Takeaways:

    • Hiring employees from outside the industry, such as the restaurant industry, can bring fresh perspectives and valuable customer service skills to the shop.
    • Implementing digital vehicle inspections (DVI) can save time and improve communication with customers by providing visual documentation of vehicle issues.
    • Creating a strong team culture and empowering employees to make decisions can lead to increased productivity and better customer service.
    • Leveraging online reviews and reputation management can help attract new customers and build trust in the community.
    • Delegating tasks and setting clear expectations for employees can free up time for shop owners to focus on strategic planning and business growth.


      • Notable Quotes:

      • "If you know that your input matters to the business and the ideas you share and the things you care about impact how we do things here as a family, it goes to a 90 percent chance of me retaining you as an employee." - Jim Schorie
      • "The amount of things I have going on is just not realistic. My job is to work on the business, and have everybody else that works for me do right." - Ted Ostronic


        • Resources:

        • Auto Fitness
        • Schorie Auto Repair
        • Unique Auto

          • Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on the Garage Grit Podcast.

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          Garage Grit PodcastBy Brad Hurlock