Latest Blog

Bring the Classroom to the Shop

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Jul 27, 2026

Carmism: The shortest distance between learning and earning is bringing education to your shop. One of the most exciting trends in the automotive repair industry is the growing commitment to on-site training. A strong option for continuing education is when the instructor comes to your shop, to your team, and to…

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All Articles and Blog Posts

Eleven Tips for Creating ‘Extreme Employee Loyalty’

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 10/19/2019

It is not important that you love to come to work and enjoy what you do? With my ear…

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…

Latest Episodic Education

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

07/28/2026

The “Kohl’s Cash” of Auto Repair: Turning Customer Rewards Into Repeat Business [THA 495]

07/24/2026

Deferred Work: The Most Overlooked Growth Opportunity in Auto Repair [RR 1101]

07/21/2026

The Truth About ADAS Calibrations Every Shop Needs to Hear [THA 494]

07/17/2026

Curing Organizational Drag: The Courage to Fire a Non-Fit Employee [RR 1100]

07/14/2026

Maximizing Profit Through Effective Labor Rate Strategy [THA 493]

07/10/2026

Selling to the Curb: How AI Turned More Calls into Customers [RR 1099]

07/07/2026

AI Search Visibility: How Customers Find Your Auto Repair Shop [THA 492]

07/03/2026

Building a Winning Scoreboard For Your Auto Repair Shop [RR 1098]

06/30/2026

How to Sell Your Auto Repair Shop for Maximum Value [THA 491]

06/26/2026

How a Purple Heart Veteran Became a 6-Shop Auto Repair Owner [RR 1097]

06/23/2026

Why Auto Repair Specialists Leave Our Industry (And How Shop Owners Can Keep Them) [THA 490]

06/19/2026

2026 Automotive Training Trends Every Professional Shop Owner Needs to Know [RR 1096]

06/16/2026

Motor Oil supply Crisis: Fact, Friction, and What Happens Next [THA 489]

06/12/2026

Anyone Can Teach, But Not Everyone Can Educate: Lessons from 30 Years in Automotive Training [RR 1095]

06/09/2026

From Data to Loyalty: How AI and Hospitality Are Redefining Shop Growth [THA 488]

06/05/2026

Stop Hiring in Panic Mode: Build a Recruiting Pipeline for Your Shop [RR 1094]

06/02/2026

When Personal Stress Walks Into the Shop: How Leaders Protect Performance [THA 487]

05/29/2026

From Guesswork to Process: Modern Diagnostic Strategies for Auto Repair Shops [RR 1093]

05/26/2026

Failing at Retirement: Building Eight Shops in Eight Years [THA 486]

05/22/2026

The AI-Driven Auto Repair Leader: Using Technology as Your Strategic Thought Partner [RR 1092]

05/19/2026

The Rise of the Specialist: Redefining Automotive Professionalism [THA 485]

05/15/2026

15 Headlines in 30 Minutes: Rapid Fire Automotive News For Shop Owners [RR 1091]

05/12/2026

Why ADAS Calibrations Are Being Ignored in Auto Repair Shops [THA 484]

05/08/2026

Auto Repair Marketing Isn’t What You Think (AI Is Changing Everything) [RR 1090]

05/05/2026