The NOLN Podcast

This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on Sep 28, 2026.

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Brent Kilmer, owner and operator of Velocity Tire & Auto in Michigan and a business coach for Repair Shop of Tomorrow, explains why creating videos to market your quick lube shop is easier than you might think. Kilmer offers tips for getting started, including how often to post, whether operators should enlist the help of an outside marketing firm, and what kinds of content resonate best with customers.

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This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on Aug 17, 2026.

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Shawn Gilfillan, owner of Automotive Magic and Magic Lube & Rubber, recently sat down with NOLN after presenting on the topic of leadership at the Mastermind: Repair Shop of Tomorrow training event in Cleveland. In this interview, Gilfillan, who is also a NOLN editorial board member, explains how “a technician who owns a shop” can become “a CEO who used to be a technician” by delegating tasks, building infrastructure, and trusting employees. Gilfillan also breaks down three types of employees—players, vacations, and prisoners—and the impact they have on each other in the shop.

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The straightforward, tiered compensation structure for Toxaway Automotive Group, an Atlanta-based Take 5 franchisee, creates a clear road map for employee advancement, says company president Preston Willard.

This article was originally published on NOLN.net on Aug. 18, 2026.

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Bill Snow, vice president of marketing and franchise development for Rad Air, explains why even though shop owners might have the best of intentions when they tell managers to “run it like you own it,” what they are actually doing in many instances is creating a recipe for confusion, stress, and burnout.

In this interview conducted by Christine Schaffran, editor-in-chief of Ratchet+Wrench, Snow explains that promoting top technicians into management roles without testing their leadership abilities can be costly. He also discusses the benefits of using trial runs, coaching, and proper onboarding before making promotions permanent.

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This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on July 27, 2026.

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With Valvoline Inc. set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in October, Linne Fulcher, the company’s chief operating officer, joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss how Valvoline grew from 42 service centers in 1986 to more than 2,500 Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations today. Fulcher also explains how Valvoline has continued to adapt its business model to meet the needs of modern vehicles while maintaining its core customer experience, and he also dives into the company’s continued expansion plans with a goal of growing to 3,500 locations nationwide.

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This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on July 28, 2026.

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Earlier this summer, Stephen Spinelli, president of Babson College and the co-founder of Jiffy Lube International, spoke with NOLN for its “NOLN at 40” series about the journey he and his colleagues took from launching Jiffy Lube International in 1979 and building it into the nation’s first quick lube chain, growing to more than 1,000 locations. In this episode, Spinelli discusses how the industry has continued to grow after he transitioned to the academic world, and he also shares some advice for today’s quick lube operators.

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