April 16, 2024

Road to NAPA Auto Care Gold Certified: From Technician to Owner of 6 Locations [RR 946]

41 minutes

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care

Brad Updegraff's transition from a general service technician to a visionary business owner of 6 NAPA Gold Certified locations is a story of dedication and strategic planning. Discover the milestones and the speed bumps he encountered along the way.

Brad Updegraff, Dave's Ultimate Automotive, 6 locations, Austin, TX.

Show Notes

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Learn more about NAPA Auto Care Gold Certified and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care

Transition to the automotive field (00:01:55) Brad's transition from managing a pizza delivery company to becoming a general service technician in a small gas station repair shop.

Seizing the opportunity (00:05:06) The unexpected opportunity that led Brad to become a partner in 2012 and the risks and steps involved in his journey.

Building a successful partnership (00:06:15) The partnership with a former homebuilding executive and the successful merging of their expertise for store growth and development.

Learning the business side (00:07:25) Brad's learning curve in understanding the business side, seeking help, and investing in personal and business development.

Challenges in growth and expansion (00:10:52) The challenges in advertising, customer base, and geographical analysis that impacted the decision to halt further expansion.

Recruitment and training strategies (00:12:29) Brad's recruitment strategies, including internal referrals and partnerships with local vocational schools for technician training.

Promoting the industry to youth (00:14:32) The need for industry professionals to promote the technical nature of the automotive industry to young people and engage with vocational schools.

Advisory Board Representation (00:17:10) Importance of representation on advisory boards for independent dealers and community colleges.

Community Involvement and Giving Back (00:18:13) Support for charitable foundations, including Make-A-Wish and suicide prevention organizations.

NAPA Gold Certification (00:21:28) Benefits and significance of achieving NAPA Gold certification for automotive businesses.

Engagement in Training (00:23:18) Strategies for encouraging staff to participate in training and the value of owner involvement.

Perpetual Learning and Magic Makers (00:27:16) The importance of perpetual learning, the concept of "magic makers," and the impact on the organization.

Employee Retention and Team Building (00:29:55) Strategies for retaining employees, team building, and celebrating milestones within the organization.

Work-Life Balance and Store Visits (00:32:02) Balancing work and personal life, commitment to family, and the importance of store visits for management.

Intuition and Common Sense (00:33:14) The importance of intuition and common sense in business decisions and management.

Succession Planning (00:34:12) Discussing internal succession planning and opportunities for employees to grow within the company.

Industry Challenges and Opportunities (00:34:53) Cyclical nature of the industry, market correction, and fighting for market share.

Market Trends and Customer Conversion (00:36:12) Impact of market trends, potential for customer conversion, and the impact of economic factors.

Financing Repair (00:38:00) The increasing use of financing options for vehicle repairs and its impact on the industry.

Work-Life Balance and Reflection (00:38:54) The importance of work-life balance and reflecting on career choices and experiences.

Overcoming Struggles and Mistakes (00:40:49) The journey to success, overcoming struggles, and learning from mistakes.

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care

Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care

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By Carm Capriotto, AAP

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