Latest Blog

A Brainiac Celebration

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Mar 30, 2026

Working in the professional automotive repair industry requires intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving. Every day in our shops there are “smart” or even brainiac moments that deserve to be recognized — or at least talked about. Here’s the rub: if you’re a smart shop, great ideas happen all the time. You…

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All Articles and Blog Posts

6 Excuses Why Shops Have Not Embraced an Apprentice Program

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/28/2021

Agree or not with these reasons why only a small percentage of shops have not implemented an apprentice program.…

VP of Fun

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/23/2021

Building a strong belonging culture in any business requires a sense of purpose that all believe in. It is…

Does Your Customer Know That You Know How to Fix Cars?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/07/2021

Does your customer know that you ‘Know How’ to fix their car? Do they really know? Do you make…

I Got an Ear Full

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 10/06/2021

If you follow the podcast, on a recent Town Hall Academy on the Supply Chain from a Manufacturers’s perspective,…

Great Place to Work

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/22/2021

Do you have a great place to work? Do your people believe you have a great place to work?…

Everyone’s Recruiting. Everyone.

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/01/2021

What to pay. How to recruit. I was filling up the car with petro. Hanging from the hose was…

AAPEX Awards

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/25/2021

Each year AAPEX, rightfully so, honors many in the distribution and supplier segment of our industry. Two years ago,…

Summer Car Shows – Good for the Soul

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/16/2021

Two car shows this week. It’s summer, and the classic cars are eye candy.  I’m on the hunt to…

Perfect Timing

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/09/2021

August is a great month to start setting your sights on Fall. Conferences, marketing, training, strategies for new business,…

Call Us – It’s OK

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/31/2021

Reaching the pinnacle in customer relationships is when they drop their keys and say I’ll be back at the…

I Need Your Help, Again!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/26/2021

A few years ago when AAPEX announced Repair Shop HQ as a stand-alone entity at AAPEX, I got all…

We Should be Rivaled

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/19/2021

We have amazingly smart people in our industry. If anyone would ever say that the independent automotive aftermarket is…

Ask Your Customers

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/12/2021

Ever ask your customer why they come to your shop? Why they are loyal to your shop? What is…

A Dream Has No Limits

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/07/2021

I heard a quote from Barry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. “A Dream Has No Limits.” My mind…

Dinner Talk – Everyone’s An Expert

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/16/2021

When I go to dinner with friends, I enjoy listening, just like I do on my podcasts. I hear…

Latest Episodic Education

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: How to Master Your Shop Management System [RR 1085]

03/31/2026

Smart Glasses in the Shop: Inside NAPA Autotech’s XcceleratoR Training [THA 478]

03/27/2026

Is Your Shop the Problem? Hard Truths from the Voice of the Technician Survey Results [RR 1084]

03/24/2026

General Service Technician Academy: Building Educational Foundation For Tomorrow’s Careers [THA 477]

03/20/2026

Own the Technician Shortage: How One Shop Owner is Transforming Industry Recruitment [RR 1083]

03/17/2026

The Affordability Myth in Auto Repair: Rethinking How Service Advisors Present Repairs [THA 476]

03/13/2026

Stop Winging Human Resources in Your Auto Repair Shop [RR 1082]

03/10/2026

The 250K Mile Maintenance Mindset: Mastering the Art of Vehicle Delivery [THA 475]

03/06/2026

Why Employee Reviews Are Broken and What to Do Instead [RR 1081]

03/03/2026

Why Women are the Secret Weapon in Auto Repair Shop Hospitality [THA 474]

02/27/2026

The New Economics of Auto Repair: Rising Rates, Fewer Cars, Higher Profits [RR 1080]

02/24/2026

The Superhighway to Estimating: Canned Jobs and Categories For Shop Efficiency [THA 473]

02/20/2026

Beyond Service Advisors: Embracing the ‘Repairathist’ Mindset [RR 1079]

02/17/2026

Looking Rich VS Living Free: The Hidden Truth About Success and Money [THA 472]

02/13/2026

Executing a 25 Year Plan: Retired at 47 [RR 1078]

02/10/2026

The Digital Front Door For Auto Repair: SEO, Google, and Website Marketing [THA 471]

02/06/2026

Beyond the Repair Order: The Strategy of Customer Loyalty [RR 1077]

02/03/2026

The 250K Mile Mindset: Selling Maintenance Without Selling Fear [THA 470]

01/30/2026

Beyond Babysitters: Developing Strong Managers and Financial Transparency [RR 1076]

01/27/2026

Streamlining the Mundane: How Automation Buys Back Time [THA 469]

01/23/2026

The Capacity Crisis: What If It Didn’t Have To Be So Hard? [RR 1075]

01/20/2026

Mastering Your Shop Finance: The Power of Specialized Automotive Accounting [THA 468]

01/16/2026

Do You Own a Business or a Job? [RR 1074]

01/13/2026

Future-Proofing the Automotive Industry: Consolidation, AI, and Career Evolution [THA 467]

01/09/2026

The Four Defining Roles in Your Business Story: Victim, Villain, Hero, and Guide [RR 1073]

01/06/2026