Brainstorming on Shop Ownership - A Business Not a Hobby [RR 607]

Chris Cotton once again shares his experience on shop ownership. Chris warns that buying your first shop and or getting into business as a new auto repair shop is not a cakewalk. Just because you know stuff about cars and love working on them doesn’t make it easy. You don’t treat it like a hobby, you treat it like a business.

Strong words of wisdom from Chris warning those who venture into shop ownership must have strong financial goals to reach. You need to have a lot of brainstorming or planning sessions to come out successfully. You will not be an overnight success. A fun and fast-paced episode. Make listening to it your homework.

You can find Chris Cotton’s other episodes and the key talking points at remarkablersults.biz/e607

Owner, Technician, Service Advisor - Working Together - AAPEX 2020 Honors [RR 606]

This 606th episode honors the recipients of the AAPEX 2020 Awards. The first annual honors include Shop Owner of the Year, Technician of the Year, and Service Advisor of the Year.

Sure we bestowed a bunch of high-fives upon these three outstanding aftermarket professionals, but you’ll love the episode as we discussed their roles in a shop environment and why working together through trust and respect make a huge difference for the business and work environment.

Help me welcome Brian Sump of Avalon MotorSports and Urbana Auto Care as the AAPEX 2020 Shop Owner of the Year. Norm Schultz of Interstate Auto Care, Madison Heights, MI as AAPEX 2020 Technician of the Year, and Jason Sexton of Dynamic Automotive, Frederick, MD as the AAPEX 2020 Service Advisor of the Year.

The key talking points for this episode reside at remarkableresults.biz/e606

THA 206 Proof of Concept

The pandemic was the test of preparedness, fortitude, leadership, nerves, among others. Our topic “Proof of Concept” is the story behind the strong getting stronger.

The leaders who listened and implemented the strategies being served up by the industry pundits especially coaches over the last 3 to 4 years found themselves in a good place. You’ve heard them enforce on the podcast, … essential tactics like strong business culture, a commitment to training your team, firing non-productive or toxic employees, DVI, Cloud-based software, text to pay and the list goes on like strong leadership. Smart Marketing. Managing KPIs, Good financial statements, building processes, and systems, Etc, etc. In essence, the strong found their pandemic recovery easier than others. That is what we are talking about today: ‘Proof of Concept’

Joining me is Chris Cotton, AJ Nealey, and Michael Gallini. They all agree that they are in a better spot because they implemented and worked the strategies and tactics that the industry is known to create success and sustainable profits. Glad you are here, Let’s Talk About It.

The key talking points from this episode are already done for you on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a206.

How to Implement Your Own Apprentice Program [RR 605]

I want you to invest in this episode, beginning to end. It is one of the most important topics we can discuss today. You’ve heard me say that apprenticing will be an essential strategy to fill the technician ranks. We need to collectively engage a reliable apprentice program at every professional shop in North America.

This is an episode where there is a lot of ‘HOW TO’ discussed. With me is Mike Davidson, shop owner and creator of an apprentice program that has been put through all the rogers. Mike is president of Industry Essentials. Also speaking is. Pete McNeil and Jake Sorenson from McNeils in Sandy, Utah who created their own apprentice program, and it was picked up by NAPA nationally.

This episode will help you get started. There is a lot in here to understand and learn. Yes, we need to do this, but there is no super easy button that makes it happen. I challenge you to commit to an apprentice program and engage a willing ‘student’ who wants to become a journeyman technician.

The show notes page contains a link to the PowerPoint slides and links to important sites to help you start. You can find our guest’s other episodes and the key talking points for this episode at remarkablersults.biz/e605

Women in Auto Care Awards 2020 [RR 604]

This episode honors the 2020 Women in Auto Care Awards. There are 3 prestigious awards presented annually, namely; Auto Care Woman of the Year, Female Shop Owner of the Year, and Auto Care Woman of Excellence. The awards are presented to a Women in Auto Care member who has provided recent outstanding contributions to the auto care industry.

I welcome Auto Care Woman of the Year, Lauren Beaulieu, Vice President, Professional Marketing, Advance Auto Parts, The Female Shop Owner of the Year Kim Auernheimer, owner and Business Manager, Cool Springs Automotive, Brentwood, TN and the Auto Care Woman of Excellence, Danielle Sonnefeld, Vice President, Business Development, N.A. Williams

The key talking points for this episode reside at remarkablersults.biz/e604

The Women In Auto Care organization is very dedicated to the advancement, education and empowerment of women within the auto care industry, especially their commitment to educational scholarships. Please listen for details on the unrivaled nurturing they make in scholarships and continuing education.

You can find my panels previous episodes, their bios and the key talking points for this episode at remarkablersults.biz/e604

THA 205 Requirements for Adding a Branch Store

Welcome to the 205th episode of the Town Hall Academy. New Year, New Challenges. Many in the industry are contemplating growth and many are thinking of selling or succession. Keep close to the insights and wisdom from your aftermarket peers, right here, who share their growth story with you.

I’m with Greg Bunch, Austin Miller, and John Manelas. Greg is the owner of Aspen Auto Clinic, Colorado. Austin Miller opened Tire Star in2011, and John owns Auto Care Plus and Euro Care Plus. Together this team has 15 branches and growing.

How many shops are enough? Is there a sweet spot? What qualities must a shop owner possess in order to successfully add a shop? What are the challenges? No doubt this group tells their tale of their initial branch store and the huge learning curve that happened with it and subsequent stores.

The key talking points from this episode are already done for you on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a205.

Millennials in High Gear with Sara Fraser Part 1 [RR 603]

Our topic today centers around millennial customers and employees. With me is Sara Fraser. Sara has been a favorite on the show and lives what she teaches as she is a millennial. Each generation has its traits and you must adjust your business to accommodate the millennial customer and employee.

Sara is with Haas Performance Consulting and teaches the millennial story. We look at the millennial customer needs/wants and the same for the millennial employee. This is part one of a two-part millennial series with Sara

You can find Sara’s other episodes and the key talking points for this episode at remarkablersults.biz/e603

The Benefits of Brainstorming [RR 602]

Let's create ideas and let's talk about solving problems. That’s what this episode is all about. I’m with my friend Dr. John Passante, CEO of the Organizational Development Group and a Legacy Aftermarket Human Resource Professional, and Phil Moore, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Federated Auto Parts.

Both have important insight on the power of brainstorming and the discussion will prove to be relevant with tips for your own brainstorming sessions. Also learn how to apply SWOT analysis and make it your own competitive advantage.

You can find my panel’s previous episodes, their bios, and the key talking points for this episode at remarkablersults.biz/e602.

THA 204 What will 2021 Bring?

Welcome to the 204th episode of the Town Hall Academy as 2020 is ending and 2021 takes over. Covid-19 continues its wrath and still a huge part in our daily lives. Most important is to move forward with the anticipation and excitement of a new year.

So let’s talk about it. I’m with Gene Morrill owner of Certified Automotive in Glendora, CA, Greg Buckley CEO of Buckley Personalized Auto Care in Wilmington, DE and Joe Marconi from Osceola Garage, Baldwin Place, NY.

2021 will continue to be a year of transition. It won’t be easy. The panel talks about moving the couch, reviewing your fundamentals and believes it’s not over yet. If ever a time to be proactive not is it. We still have a lot of unknowns so pay attention to everything because there are many unknowns. The panel did an excellent job assessing their approach to the new year.

The key talking points from this episode are already done for you on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a204.

Become a Thermostat Instead of a Thermometer - Dave Hobbs [RR 601]

Dave Hobbs, the lead technical trainer and course developer for Delphi Product and Service Solutions, Dave Hobbs is back. Dave has graced us recently with his episode 592 talking about how to avoid comebacks with tech talks. He is now offering you his insights on ADAS training virtual classes on how to become a thermostat not a thermometer.

You can find Dave’s other episodes and the key talking points for this episode at remarkablersults.biz/e601