Talking Shop with ShopOwner

As a fan, the drama and excitement of sports are a great distraction from real life - something amazing might be right around the next corner, the next pitch or the next pass. Yet, as a coach or player, you know you need a great game plan to get to the next level.

It's no different with your business. When you've done all you can do to help your team be successful, it's up to them to execute your X's and O's. Sometimes, a timeout will be required to get things back on track.

In this episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner, Doug Kaufman talks with Vic Tarasik about the efforts a good coach puts in before the game starts so that mid-course corrections aren't devastating to your business.

This episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner is sponsored by AAPEX, the premier automotive industry networking and educational event. To get more information about the 2023 AAPEX Show, to be held this year in Las Vegas, October 31st through November 2nd, visit aapexshow.com.

Hopefully we all do vehicle inspections – and hopefully, most of those are digital inspections. And, with constantly evolving advances in technology, those inspections are producing amazing images. Those pictures are telling the story your customer needs to hear in ways that words alone can’t begin to explain.

Whether it's between technicians, or the service advisor and customers, or technicians and the shop owner, communication is key to a successful day and a successful shop. But with increased communication hurdles is what you are saying really what's being understood? According to Rod Stewart, "every picture tells a story, don't it?"

A DVI is like a three step support mechanism for, one, connecting with customers and showing them the importance of the repairs you recommend with. Two, visual proof of why it should be done. And three, showing the quality of the pair once it's done. Offering customers a log of pictures also helps them to see for themselves how the parts wear over time. This both educates your customer and also builds their trust in your shop. Likely they'll be more open to the repairs you recommend following those photos. But just having the pictures isn't the end of the story.

In this episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner, editor Doug Kaufman has a conversation with Vic Tarasik from Shop Owner Coach and Greg Buckley, from Buckley's Autocare in Wilmington, DE.

The trio discuss not only why a DVI is the best way to inspect every car, but what tools are required, how they should be conducted and what you can do with the information once you've captured it.

This episode of Talking Shop with Shop Owner is sponsored by AAPEX. AAPEX is the premier automotive industry networking and educational event. To get more information about the 2023 AAPEX show, to be held this year in Las Vegas, October 31 through November 2, visit AAPEXshow.com.

There is justified concern about the future of this industry, and specifically, who's going to be around to fix vehicles when that trusted local mechanic retires his wrenches. Some fear that no one is interested or able to step into the gap.

In this episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner, Doug Kaufman talks with Mike Wiant from the Ohio Tech Group. Mike has an innovative way of creating excitement about this industry and is on a mission to inspire the next generation of technician.

This episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner is sponsored by AAPEX, the premier automotive industry networking and educational event. To get more information about the 2023 AAPEX Show, to be held this year in Las Vegas, October 31st through November 2nd, visit aapexshow.com.

Think your job is challenging enough just working with your friends and employees? Try working with your family. Multi-generational shops are looked at in awe because a lot of times we just can't picture ourselves working with our parents or siblings or children. Family businesses can offer significant opportunities and even greater challenges.

You know, far too often family businesses are looked at as nothing more than a dysfunctional dictatorship – we all do what dad says – but family businesses can be much more dynamic.

Working together with your family every day can be challenging. Consider the possibility of potentially buying a shop from mom and dad or even selling it to your kids. Think about those transitional challenges on top of the challenges of running an automotive shop in general. And you have the family dynamic on top of the day-to-day challenges. Is this an easy or difficult transition?

This episode of Talking Shop With ShopOwner features a conversation between third-generation shop owners Kevin and Renee Oswald, from Oswald Service in Rexburg and Idaho Falls, Idaho; veteran shop owner and mentor Vic Tarasik from Shop Owner Coach; and Doug Kaufman, editor of ShopOwner magazine.

Talking Shop with Shop Owner is sponsored by AAPEX, the premier automotive industry networking and educational event. AAPEX 2023 is coming faster than you think – it’ll be held in Las Vegas, October 31st through November 2nd. You can get more information by visiting AAPEXshow.com.

Do you ever have that 3 am feeling, when you suddenly wake up out of a deep sleep just knowing something is wrong? Most of the time of course, it’s the little things that cause the most stress and anxiety.

Oh, but don’t forget the big things. We’ve all heard the gallows humor “What’s the worst that can happen? Wait - don't respond...we all know the answer to that seemingly simple question.

In this episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner, Vic Tarasik from Shop Owner Coach and Matt Allen from Virginia Automotive in Phoenix, AZ, tell horror stories around the campfire – they say they’ve learned that Murphy’s Law is real and they have real world experience in recognizing what can go wrong will go wrong – but they’ve also dealt with the nightmares and have learned how to sleep soundly at night. This interview should give you some solid business recommendations to be sure you’re ready to deal with whatever horror story you face.

Talking Shop with Shop Owner is sponsored by AAPEX, the premier automotive industry networking and educational event. With AAPEX 2022 in our rearview mirror, AAPEX 2023 will be coming up fast. You can get a recap of last year’s show and start making plans for AAPEX 2023, being held in Las Vegas, October 31st through November 2nd by visiting AAPEXshow.com.

Have you ever had a feeling that there is a huge party going on somewhere and you haven't been invited? You're happy for everyone who got to go and you know that you'll hear all about what happened, but boy, what did you miss!?

To many thousands of people, AAPEX was the biggest party of the year - call it a festival, a homecoming, a reunion - if you weren't there, you're a little bummed because of, well, FOMO.
Shop Owner Editor Doug Kaufman (who wasn't there) talks with Shop Owner Coach president Vic Tarasik (who was) about the 2022 AAPEX Show. From hosting teachers on the show floor to learning about the latest software enhancements to installing lifts in Joe's Garage to eating tapas at Firefly, Vic reminds Doug that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless you learn something and take it back to the shop to help your business.

This episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner is presented by AAPEX 2022, the premier educational and networking event in the industry, held November 1st through the 3rd in Las Vegas. For information about the incredible training and informational experiences YOU missed, visit AAPEXshow.com.

Here’s an all-too realistic scenario – A technician is elbow deep into a repair when he suddenly needs to access an online repair manual. Because the shop’s computer is in the main office, he stops work, sets down his tools, washes his hands, walks to the office, starts to look for the TSB he needs but realizes he doesn’t remember the trim level on the vehicle. He finally inputs all the right information, hits PRINT – and is met with a flashing NO PAPER message.

Sound like a story you’ve heard before? In this episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner, we’re talking with Bryan Levenson, co founder and CEO of CTYK. He's passionate about harnessing the power of the internet – and the human voice – to make repairs faster, easier and more accurate.

CYTK, the first mobile app for automotive repair, is the next leap forward in AI-powered mobile applications, CYTK’s touch and voice search technology provides quick access to vehicle service and repair information to help automotive technicians do their work faster and with greater accuracy. Visit CYTK.io to learn more

When you start a new job as an employee, you’re usually given time to acclimate to your new situation. You’re given time to learn how to do a job the right way, how to build your skills, how to master your craft. Expectations are tempered somewhat, at least until you know your way around the shop.
Counter that with being the boss. You don’t have time to LEARN the job – you have to DO the job, handling every pressure imaginable at 7 am on Day One. How can you prepare for success when you’re simply trying to survive as a business owner? Luckily, resources are out there to help you maintain your focus and maximize your efforts.
In this episode of Talking Shop With ShopOwner, Vic Tarasik and Murray Voth , president of RPM Training, explain what a 20 Group is, why you should care and how you can "test drive" a group with no commitment during AAPEX.

To learn more about or to register for the seminar, visit AAPEXShow.com.
Contact Vic Tarasik at [email protected] or shopownercoach.com.
Contact Murray Voth at [email protected] or RPMTraining.net.
Contact Doug Kaufman at [email protected].
Review the webinar (Navigating the Rapids Ahead) mentioned in the podcast at ShopOwnerMag.com.

This episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner is being presented by AAPEX 2022, the premier educational and networking event in the industry held November 1st through the 3rd in Las Vegas. AAPEX will provide incredible training and informational experiences. Visit AAPEXshow.com to learn more.

No one should be surprised by the news that there's a shortage of technicians coming into or staying in this industry, but the revelation for many people is that this isn't just a dead-end career.

In this episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner, Mike Pressendo explains that TechForce Foundation's mission is to help the public and future technicians understand this is a high tech career path now. "It's not just wrenching. It's aviation, it's automotive, it's motorcycle, it's marine, it's heavy equipment. If it moves, we're looking to support them. And it's a lucrative career path," he says.

This episode of Talking Shop with Shop Owner is sponsored by AAPEX 2022. AAPEX is the premier automotive industry networking and educational event. It will be held this year in Las Vegas, November 1st through the 3rd. Get more information by visiting AAPEXshow.com.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over hoping for a different result. In today's economy, that's also a recipe for disaster.

In this episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner, David Rogers tells Doug Kaufman that every instinct he had when he was a new shop operator would have led him down that path to insanity by relying on his habits and the patterns he was comfortable with. Realizing that wasn’t going to cut the mustard for his family or his shop’s owner, he knew that change was necessary.

David Rogers, COO of Keller Brothers in Littleton, Colorado, has consistently set sales and profit records for 25 years since he took over management of the shop. And for over 20 years, as founder and president of Auto Profit Masters and Shop4D, he’s been helping thousands of other shop owners to do the same.

"Sitting still in today's business, economic and cultural environment will only benefit competitors who want to take you market," Rogers explains. "Change is the new normal."

Rogers talks about how to make your shop the first choice for customers and employees, and references an article he wrote in the August 2022 issue of ShopOwner magazine. Visit
https://www.shopownermag.com/reprogramming-your-internal-computer
For more information, contact David Rogers at [email protected].

This episode of Talking Shop with Shop Owner is brought to you by AAPEX, the premier business educational and networking event in the automotive industry. For information about this year’s show, to be held November 1st through 3rd in Las Vegas, visit AAPEX Show.com.