Nine differentiators to make your customers say WOWW!

Southwest is different and continues to be. What other airline has copied or mimicked what they do that makes them a stand out? In general the answer is no one. They are known for a different boarding process, a great baggage fee program and no cost flight change program. Ever thought about your business? What makes it…

RR 040: Roger Lanctot from Strategy Analytics

Roger Lanctot, Associate Director Global Automotive Practice from Strategy Analytics, Inc., a global research and consulting firm that provides insights and strategic business solutions to companies operating at the convergence of information, communications and entertainment technologies. Roger Lanctot has a powerful voice in the definition of future trends in automotive safety, powertrain, and infotainment systems.…

RR 039: Bill Nalu from Interstate Auto Care

Bill Nalu form Interstate Auto Care in Madison Heights, MI has a very interesting story … he tells it well so I won’t spoil much of it. He has 30 years in the business to include some time as a Shell dealer. He and his brother are partners in the business. Let me say that…

RR 038: Kathleen Schmatz from the Auto Care Association

Kathleen Schmatz, President and CEO of the Auto Care Association shares her views and thoughts on the industry and the association she has led for the last 11 years. Before becoming President and CEO Kathleen served as executive vice president. She joined the Auto Care Association after 30 years with Babcox, a leader in aftermarket…

Six Month Evaluation!

What have I learned, so far, this year … or my half year checkup. You can do something you are passionate about if you commit and go all in. No half-way, no fringing. It takes a plan and a focus and belief. It’s the road you choose and the forks in the road that defines your trip and your…

RR 037: Bill Moss from EuroService Automotive

Bill Moss, Owner and Certified Master technician of EuroService Automotive in Warrenton, VA.  Bill has been fixing cars since before he was old enough to drive them. Such a strong desire to be around cars led to his first job at an Arlington service station when he was 16 years old. While home from college,…

RR 036: Peter Meier from Motor Age

Pete Meier the Director of Training for the UBM Advanstar Automotive Group of publications goes ON-POINT here in episode 36. I’m sure you’ve read Pete in either Motor Age, ABRN, Aftermarket Business World or Dealer News. His primary goal is to bring working technicians the information they need to succeed. Pete is an ASE certified…

Five Reasons to Love Podcasts

Podcasting is on fire. Guess who just started a podcast? Jack Welch, former chairman of GE has launched. Mark Maron’s WTF podcast had the president on in July 2015. Podcasting was birthed in 2004 through the merge of the words iPod and Broadcasting. Podcasting is growing at great clip and listeners are locked and loyal.…

RR 035: Jerry Kezhaya from The Auto Shop

Jerry Kezhaya from The Auto Shop in Plano Texas has been in business since 1981. Plano is a northern suburb of Dallas with a population on 280,000. According to Jerry it is the top growing county in the US.  His shop is large 35,000 sq ft. He has 21 lifts and has two flats per…

RR 034: NACE-CARS 2015

Enjoy a narrative from Carm Capriotto as he recounts the four days spent in Detroit at the NACE/CARS 2015 Expo and Conference in July 2015. Listen to his observations and actual quotes from speakers along with specific ‘hot’ subjects having an impact on the aftermarket right now! Get out your pen and paper and get…

RR 033: Donny Seyfer from Seyfer Automotive

Co-Owner of Seyfer Automotive, in Wheat Ridge, CO. Donny Seyfer, a 3rd generation owner, has over 30 years of automotive experience as a technician, manager and service consultant. His Dad started in 1961 and his grandfather was building race cars before that. Seyfer Automotive provides general repair, and maintenance with a special focus on diagnostic…

RR 032: Malcolm Sissmore on Telematics

Malcolm Sissmore is a wealth of knowledge on telematics and provides great insight on the subject.  Malcolm is with Delphi Product and Service Solutions. He is the North American Sales Director: Traditional Markets & Telematics and the Country Director Canada. Many of our guests have discussed telematics technology as a potential disruptor or opportunity. Besides…

Explaining Social Media to your Chamber of Commerce

You got a phone call from the local chamber because you are a very active member of your community and are the center hub of knowledge and expertise when it comes to vehicle service and repair. You are actually in a very techy industry. Vehicles run on computers, you create a ticket or order parts…

RR 031: Todd Holiday from Winchester Tire

Meet Tod Holiday the second generation owner of the 43 years young Winchester Tire and Alignment in Memphis, TN. Like so many of our podcast entrepreneurs this is a great story on growing up in a family business when before school and after-school were all about being at the business helping out. (I’m sure you…

RR 030: Donny Seyfer Chairman ASA

In May 2015 Donny Seyfer was named Chairman of ASA. He says it is a ‘NEW’ organization that is changing in many positive ways. Donny shares his inside view on the Automotive Service Association and discusses the biggest benefits to the membership. He also talks about their big expo and conference NACE/CARS, in July 2015,…

RR 029: Andy Massoll from Curt’s Service

Curt’s Service started out as so many shops did back in the day as a Sunoco Station. That was 34 years ago that Curt Massoll got the bug. Andy Massoll, second generation owner of Curt’s Service in Oak Park Michigan. Guest Andy Massoll is second generation owner and has a top shop designation from Motor…

RR 028: Leigh Anne Best from Brakes For Breasts

(NOTE: This episode was recorded and released in July 2015. The picture above is the presentation for the 2015 fundraising efforts. $141,868 was collected.) In 2011, Leigh Anne Best and fellow shop owner Laura Frank began the “Brakes for Breasts” fundraiser with 5 local auto shops in Ohio. In 2012, they expanded “Brakes for Breasts” to 27 shops across 17…

RR 027: Bogi Lateiner from 180º Automotive

Meet Bogi Lateiner from 180º Automotive in Phoenix, AZ.  She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Oberlin College in just three years with a double major in Womens’ Studies and Pre-Law. Listen to her story on how she got where she is today. Her nine year old shop has an all-female tech team, working eight bays…

Hungry? Where’s the Food Truck?

The quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach (That also applies to women). Growing up I heard that many times. I know it to be true. We are all pushovers for a good meal. Breaking bread with family and good friends provides a great feeling of love and togetherness. In business whenever…

RR 026: Craig Clark from Alfred State College

Where are we getting our future technicians? Without one doubt this is a big aftermarket concern. There are many great post-secondary training institutes or colleges in the US. One that I happen to know a lot about is in Wellsville, NY. It’s Alfred State College part of the State University of NY system. Craig Clark,…

RR 025: Frank Butkus-Leutz from Desert Car Care

Frank Butkus-Leutz of Desert Car Care in Chandler, AZ, is clearly a vibrant, excitable and passionate shop owner. He is enthusiastic about unity in the industry and helping his fellow shop owner. This outspoken jazz trombonist tells his story from growing up in Harlem to serving in the Persian Gulf as a signalman.  An interesting…

How Frank Lloyd Wright got me going for Broke!

It was a rainy weekend with close friends visiting from Florida. This summer has been very rainy so far; our payoff for a very long hard Buffalo winter (tongue planted firmly in cheek). But I digress. For Florida residents heading up north for a summer retreat is a smart idea to escape the ninety degree…

RR 024: Jill Trotta from Repair Pal

Jill Trotta, Director Automotive Group at RepairPal provides an in-depth discussion on the benefits and value of this shop referral site. A few of our previous podcast guests are RepairPal members and that got me curious and prompted a call to Jill for an interview. According to Jill there are 1200 participant shops in their…

RR 023: Maryann Croce from Croce’s Transmissions

Maryann Croce of Croce Transmissions in Norwalk, CT and her husband Tony combined her banking career and his automotive technical skills and bought a transmission business 15 years ago. They have 4 bays, 4 techs and one service adviser As so many in the aftermarket know when husband and wife’s and families, for that matter,…

RR 022: Amy Mattinat from CCC Women’s Board

Amy Mattinat, the current president of the Car Care Council Women’s Board discusses the organization she leads. When you think about the number of woman who make up the majority of customers and decision maker at service counters, the role the Women’s Board is very important to the industry.  Amy outlines the council’s value and…