Latest Blog

Continuing the Language Shift – BTW Don’t Skip This!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Apr 6, 2026

The language shift in business isn’t coming—it’s already here. More and more, I find validation in the evolving job titles across industries. Roles are being redefined. Words are being elevated. And with that shift comes a change in how professionals see themselves—and how customers perceive them. I’ve also been receiving…

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All Articles and Blog Posts

The Power of Your Story is Effective Marketing

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/30/2019

I picked up a book recently and could not put it down. I mean it. It grabbed me and…

Do You Know the Enemy of Leadership?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/16/2019

I recall a few leadership lessons I learned in my life that continue to haunt me. I would bet…

Technician Training Strategies and Rewards

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/29/2019

Training is a top-five strategy in the automotive service business. Shop owner CEO’s must focus on culture, marketing, financial…

Succession – Planning One of Your Biggest Decisions

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/15/2019

Ready to Sell Or Succeed Your Business? Is Your Business Attractive to a Potential Buyer? Do You Have an…

The Extreme Value of Shop Tours

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/30/2019

I will never forget putting a call out to shop owners who wanted to tour of Frank European in…

Ready for your next shop?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/21/2019

I am one of the luckiest people in the industry, I get a chance to pull together smart people…

Seeding Our Future Technicians is Your Responsibility.

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/13/2018

I keep hearing about that greatest challenge in the aftermarket, a technician shortage. Recently instead of listening to the…

Concierge Service

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/18/2018

I have completed over 400 interviews with aftermarket professionals and there have been a few common threads I have…

The Dreaded Comeback: Four Keys To Prevention

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/05/2018

In an April 2018 Town Hall Academy with three shop owners, we discussed comeback prevention. They all agreed that…

Fleet Business: A Great Opportunity for Sales Growth

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/02/2018

Many service professionals have improved their businesses by documenting and honing their processes and systems. They also found that…

It’s time to do a SWOT

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/25/2018

This could be the best team exercise you’ve ever done; that is, unless you’ve done some team building exercises…

I Just Want a Simple Cup of Black Coffee!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/25/2017

How impatient are you? When you are in a coffee shop looking for a cup of black coffee, a…

What does it take to find a great work/life balance?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/22/2017

That time of the year is upon us when we reflect on the current year regarding family, self, work…

Do You Need a Quick New Idea That Will Give You a Competitive Edge?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 10/12/2017

When your business is running at top performance, you look back and realize all the hard work it took…

Where Should You Invest Your Marketing Dollars?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/15/2017

Where Should You Invest Your Marketing Dollars? Marketing for customer retention and recruitment can be a daunting task. I’ve…

Latest Episodic Education

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

04/10/2026

The “Monster” in Your Head Is Costing Your Shop Money [RR 1086]

04/07/2026

Batman Needs a Robin: Meet Your Shop’s New Sidekick Ninja App [THA 479]

04/03/2026

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]

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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