George Kingman is Founder and CEO of both Advanced Shop Leadership and BlueSky Tire and Auto Service, a burgeoning chain of stores with five locations in under five years. After beginning his journey in the tire and automotive industry as a teenage tire tech, George took a 17-year hiatus where he managed two businesses and held a senior analyst role focused on enhancing operational processes for one of America's largest banks. His passion for the automotive industry eventually drew him back, leading to a successful run in various roles from stores and districts to corporate positions. After briefly overseeing the original 20 Group, George established ASL with a mission to enhance the quality of life for independent tire and automotive service retailers, emphasizing efficient operations, teammate satisfaction, and financial growth.

In this episode…

In an era where independent automotive businesses are easily overlooked, one person has realized the need for a more personal and passionate approach to serving independent automotive businesses — and has acted.

George Kingman founded Automotive Shop Leadership out of a desire to provide a continuously-evolving support system for independent automotive professionals, catering to their unique needs. ASL offers a variety of services including bookkeeping and workshops for store managers, entry-level individuals, and experienced leaders. Its focus is on fostering growth, leadership, and a positive culture within each group. George says ASL’s success lies in the sense of community it fosters, where members become like family, sharing their experiences and understanding the challenges of the automotive industry.

On this episode of Gain Traction, George joins Mike Edge for a conversation about recognizing gaps and common weaknesses for independent businesses in the tire and auto repair industry and creating a service that addresses those. He talks about the areas where consultation and assistance are most often needed, and how his company can help. George also discusses his other business, BlueSky Tire & Auto Service, and shares its origin story.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• Why it was urgent for George Kingman to start working at a tire store as a teenager
• Why George is not a believer in implementing a standard system across multiple independent stores
• George explains why he prefers working in the tire and auto repair industry over banking
• BlueSky Tire & Auto Service’s origin story
• Where George first conceived the idea for Advanced Shop Leadership
• The multiple areas of focus and coaching provided by ASL
• Why bookkeeping is often an area in which tire and auto shops need coaching

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• George Kingman on LinkedIn
• Advanced Shop Leadership
• BlueSky Tire & Auto Service
• Bridgestone Tire
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn
• Tread Partners

Sponsor for this episode...

This episode is brought to you by Tread Partners. 

At Tread Partners, we provide digital marketing for multi-location tire dealers and auto repair shops. 

By using our strategy, branding, and marketing services, we help shops sell more tires and put more cars in bays.

We’ve helped companies like Action Gator Tire, Colony Tire and Service, and Ulmer’s Auto Care Center bring extreme growth in paid leads, ROI, and searches. 

So, what are you waiting for?

Visit www.treadpartners.com or email [email protected] to learn more.