Latest Blog

Digital Detox

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Apr 27, 2026

On the way home from a conference, I sat in the airport thinking about all the conversations I’d just had with friends and colleagues. One topic kept surfacing: our reliance—maybe even our addiction—to the smartphone. It’s our tool, our connection, our crutch. Some say it’s practically become part of our…

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All Articles and Blog Posts

Five Excuses Not to Hire a Business Coach

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/17/2022

Excuses abound for not hiring a business coach. It is usually all about the owner who keeps making excuses…

Preventing Apathy in Your Business

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/19/2022

Apathy is a common problem in businesses because it leads to low productivity and low customer satisfaction. This can…

Seven Strategies to Retain Great Employees

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/16/2022

Employee retention is challenging for many organizations. Organizations want to keep the best employees, but it can be difficult…

Are You Sharing Your Financial Statements?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/05/2022

A business is often more successful when owners are open and honest about their finances. Many of our industry’s…

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…

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The Dealer Alternative Advantage in Today’s Auto Repair Industry [THA 482]

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Build Customer Loyalty: Branding, Event Planning, and Community [RR 1088]

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Meet Paige: The Auto Repair Industry’s First 24/7 AI Recruiter [THA 481]

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Your Shop Might Need Marriage Counseling: Fixing Communication in Auto Repair [RR 1087]

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How to Get Unstuck When Your Auto Repair Business Stops Growing [THA 480]

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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]

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

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

03/17/2026

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

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

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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]

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

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

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

02/03/2026