Latest Blog

Are We Falling Behind the Future?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Oct 18, 2026

That’s a big question. And one that deserves some serious reflection. We cannot expect tomorrow’s specialists to succeed with yesterday’s education. Think back to 1997, when Toyota introduced the Prius in Japan. Many questioned whether hybrid technology would ever catch on. Some dismissed it as a passing trend. Others saw…

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Brining Attention To Sometimes Invisible Thoughts or Issues

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…

Imagine

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/27/2021

Imagine infecting today’s youth with a love of automobiles? Years ago so many of us learned to love cars…

Latest Episodic Education

Shop Succession Without Retirement: How Three Employees Became Owners [RR 1114]

10/20/2026

From Technician to Shop Owner: The Challenges You Never Saw Coming [THA 507]

10/16/2026

Authenticity Is Your Shop’s Best Marketing Strategy [RR 1113]

10/13/2026

The Human Side of Auto Repair: Emotional Intelligence, Mentorship, and Leadership [THA 506]

10/09/2026

AAPEX 2026: What to See, Learn, and Experience [RR 1112]

10/06/2026

How to Turn Call Recordings Into Coaching, Conversions, and Customers [THA 505]

10/02/2026

Stop Losing Price Shoppers: Give Them a Price Range [RR 1111]

09/29/2026

Work Together, Thrive Together, Build a Business You Can Sell [THA 504]

09/25/2026

Inside the Role of a Performance and Accountability Team Leader [RR 1110]

09/22/2026

How to Develop a General Manager for Your Auto Repair Shop [THA 503]

09/18/2026

From Daily Profit to Long-Term Business Value [RR 1109]

09/15/2026

The Automotive Hiring Cycle: When and How to Recruit Top Technicians [THA 502]

09/11/2026

The Power of Financing: A Growth Tool for Auto Repair Shops [RR 1108]

09/08/2026

Daily Habits That Build a Stronger Auto Repair Shop Culture [THA 501]

09/04/2026

Rapid-Fire Automotive News: AI, EVs, Autonomous Vehicles, and the $19B Trade School Boom [RR 1107]

09/01/2026

Brakes for Breasts: How Auto Repair Shops Are Fighting Breast Cancer [THA 500]

08/28/2026

Top 5 Qualities of a Genuine Service Advisor [RR 1106]

08/25/2026

Your Shop’s Toughest Competitor Is in the Mirror [THA 499]

08/21/2026

Bring the Classroom to the Shop: Raising the Bar For On-Site Training [RR 1105]

08/18/2026

Engage, Educate, Reward: How Today’s Class Is Changing Auto Repair Training [THA 498]

08/14/2026

Inside the ASTA Expo 2026: Training, Technology, and Tribal Networking [RR 1104]

08/11/2026

Mastering Shop Flow with Online Scheduling and AI Communication [THA 497]

08/07/2026

Why Employees Disengage and How Leaders Reconnect Them [RR 1103]

08/04/2026

The AI-Informed Customer Has Arrived: What It Means For Auto Repair [THA 496]

07/31/2026

Get Out of Your Own Way: Leadership Lessons for Shop Owners [RR 1102]

07/28/2026