THA 035: Supplier Loyalty- The Service Professional Perspective
The Strength of Supplier Loyalty is Based in Relationships and Providing the Needs of the Service Professional.
This team of service professionals shared their views on supplier loyalty and how their first call supplier has earned that position. Bill Nalu, John Bridgwater and John Eppstein bring their insights as shop owners to the discussion.
Having a strong first call relationship is earned by the supplier. The panel discusses trust, part quality, service, warranty, and training as all incumbent reasons they support their supplier.
THA 034: Nine Tips For a Better Work Life Balance
If you want Work Life Balance, first, you must BELIEVE that it’s possible. Once you believe that it’s possible, you must DECIDE that is what you want and set your INTENTION to make it so.
Become an expert at work-life balance by making it a habit, planning for it. You’ve heard many of the principles in this episode but you may have never heard them in an unfiltered way from your industry peers.
Make the choice what you are going to be. Be the master of your business. Be the master of your family when you are with them.
THA 033: The Competition You Don’t See Coming – ASA-CARS @ AAPEX 2017
Learn about ‘The Competition You Don’t See Coming: What Will It Take To Own Your Own Customers”. There are big changes happening … are you prepared?
What’s ahead in the ever-changing aftermarket will have a big impact on your business if you are not prepared. If you have a strong network, are well read and keep your finger on the pulse of the industry; you may have an inkling what your business will look like in the next 5 to 10 years. To affirm this or to hear from our industries leadership Listen hard to this discussion.
This Academy has a special impact as we talk about the ASA-CARS event at AAPEX2017 in November 2017.
THA 032: Aftermarket Brakes For Breasts Program – Can One Repair Shop Make a Difference in the Fight Against Breast Cancer? You Bet!!
Is it time to get involved in an industry wide fundraiser where 100% of the monies raised go to research on a breast cancer vaccine?
Yes you have many philanthropic commitments in your community and you are so very proud of your efforts, but consider this is an industry program started as a total grass roots program by aftermarket service professionals and as a total volunteer effort with 100% of funds the raised going to breast cancer vaccine research.
THA 031: Twelve Tips on Holding GREAT Team Meetings
Communications is the driving foundation of what meetings are about.
Many superior take-a-ways in this Academy lesson. If you are contemplating holding meetings or are holding them and you want to check in on other strategies, this is the perfect seminar.
Your team must know how important their presence is in a meeting. Meetings can help you innovate and stay in touch with the needs of your people and you can share the needs of the company.
Also, innovation requires you need to stick stuff up on the wall and meetings is a great place to make that happen. Always remember to never hog the meeting. Share the wealth. Everyone talks. Many different styles from a casual to formal agendas. Always remember the meeting is for your people.
THA 030: Nine Reasons Why Labor Rates Need To Increase
Is Your Labor Rate Keeping Up with Inflation and Your Cost Doing Business?
A tough subject to discuss, however many great ideas shared on the mechanics of setting a labor rate, but most importantly being valued and getting paid for all that you know and do for your customer.
The correct labor is a big factor in profitability among other critical measures in a service business. Learn from the discussion.
THA 029: Are We Too Dependent on Being Independent?
Individuality and entrepreneurialism is commanding but being inter-dependency can become a powerful positive force.
Independence is a strength, however being Interdependent on each other can benefit the entire industry.
Being independent seems to breed us not working together to lift our image, improve labor rates, access to information, grow our people, share knowledge, tools and equipment.
THA 028: Twenty-One TIPS to Get an Edge on the Competition – Part 1
Do you need a quick new idea that will give you an edge on your competition?
In this Academy lesson get 21 TIPS that have been implemented before to help give you an edge over the competition. These are some very simple ideas that have been collected from successful service professionals in the industry.
Implementation will be the big payoff. If you listen to learn just one thing and do not implement you will not benefit from this listen.
THA 022: Hiring for Team Dynamics
What would you do differently if you knew you could never fire anyone?
Hiring the right team member continues the culture and team dynamic in your business. Hiring the wrong person can crash your culture and create friction in your team.
You need to hire slow and fire fast and hire for attitude, not aptitude; because we usually fire for attitude.
This team of aftermarket professionals brings their experience along with great advice on how to hire smart and for the long term.
THA 027: Performance Reviews – Best Practices
Are your Performance Reviews Creating the Best Behaviors from Your Team?
Performance reviews for many business owners never get done. There are many reasons why not and this episode tackles them head on and the best way to get them done.
There is great wisdom from the Academy panel like the review starts at the interview, that reviews need to be used to create personal performance goals, reviews is a formal way to be sure accountability sticks, and your core values are the key points to apply all behavior against.
There are over 20 key talking points that will help you in your process or get you started on the right path. The panel agrees that becoming a better leader will be key to using performance reviews to grow your business culture with performance reviews
THA 021: Getting Things Done: A Discussion on the Challenges of Time Management
Are You Getting Things Done? Do You Find it a Challenge to Finish Tasks?
Listen to three of your industry peers as they discuss their perspective on what it takes to accomplish their tasks and goals. You’ll hear about creating a theme day, tactics to get more done, time wasters, and a suggestion that if you try to do too many things you don’t do any of them well.
We all struggle with this in this time challenged, too much to do world. This episode will help you find methods and ideas to make you more productive.
THA 026: Succession Planning – The Next Generation Entrepreneurs
Are Your Succession Plans Solid? Are You Ready To Leave Your Business To The Next Generation?
Bob Ward from Wardden LLC and former shop owner Russel Andrew bring a few building blocks of succession to the Academy. The message is strong: you need to start NOW to plan on getting your business to succeed without you.
Seventy percent of business owners in the next 20 years will depart their business in many different ways if there is no planning. They must nurture and retain their key leaders and motivate them.
Owners struggle emotionally about leaving their business; because they started with nothing and there is a big attachment to their successes over the years. Owners must think about the joy of leaving their business and seeing their legacy to continue.
THA 020: How To Sell 250K Mile Maintenance & Save Your Customers Thousands
Customers need to see and understand the data on how they can save enormous money if they kept their car for 12 years.
We keep our largest investment for many years so why not our cars. This panel had a great discussion on the pros of helping your customer extend the life of their vehicles. The numbers are key and when you can show the ROI or savings to your customer they start to understand.
We know the benefits so it is your job to engage and show the customer how you can help extend the life of their vehicle and engage them in a disciplined maintenance program at your shop.
THA 025: Disaster Planning and Preparedness
Are you prepared for a disaster?
Business interrupters come in many forms. Natural, environment, death of owner, spouse or partner, surgery, accident, illness or even loss of a key employee.
This Academy lesson discusses: why you should plan, do you need a formalized approach, do you have plans for a normal business operation that can be followed and who makes the decisions.
It is said that business interrupters will happen (Not if but when). Will you be prepared?
THA 019: Where Will We Find Our Future Automotive Instructors?
Where Will We Find Our Future Automotive Instructors?
This all-star panel tackled this problem head on. Where will the experience at the educator level come from when you need certain certifications. Will working technicians consider this as a career move and invest in the time and money to meet the teaching certification standards.
We may drive experienced and knowledgeable people away because of the needed certifications, pay and admin requirements. This topic is as important to discuss as the technician shortage.
Please have this discussion, with administrators, at the local college and high school level.
THA 024: Quality Controls – Why it Matters for Retention & Reputation
Why Great Quality Controls Matters for Customer Retention and Shop Reputation.
A top lesson from three aftermarket colleagues who understand the value and need for a great quality control process. They leave no doubt why you need to adopt and improve your quality controls.
Tough love discussion that covers the importance of measuring your QC to help reduce mistakes (we are human we all make them) and how QC brings accountability to your overall processes. Investing in your QC program is as good as getting a five start on-line review. If you don’t you may be wiping up a two-star review.
Most shops do a great job fixing cars. That is not good enough anymore. Many more great take-a-ways that will fill up a yellow pad.
THA 018: ASA Connected CARS Detroit May 2017
What is Your Knowledge Quotient on the Connected Car?
ASA held an important industry event in May 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Is was the ASA Connected CARS program. Presentations from Delphi, ETI, GM, Mahle, and Bosch highlighted the event as the future of ADAS and Autonomous Vehicles (AV) was discussed.
The Academy panel includes event organizer Donny Seyfer, shop owners Peter Rudloff, Craig O’Neill and technician Dave Wagner. Listen to your colleagues perspective on their take-a-ways from Connected CARS Detroit and how they see the opportunities shaping up the future of the aftermarket.
THA 017: What Happens When The Phone Rings
What Happens When The Phone Rings?
Are you prepared with a clear mind and a clear and confident message? A big moment of truth with your customers is that interaction with the phone call.
Set yourself up to make a strong impact with every phone call. Focus, don’t multi-task, and practice your script and prepare to solve your customers’ problem.
THA 023: Social Media – How To Strategies
This Academy Panel says Social Media is the Most Important Marketing Tools at your Disposal.
Carrie-Lynn Rodenberg, Greg Buckley and Ron Haugen discuss their views on the power of social media. They talk about the value of posting, how they do it, the frequency, and where they get content. The panel discusses the long term viability of websites and the growth and power of Facebook and Google into the future.
Greg Buckley shares his five “E’s”: Educate, Engage, Entertain, Entice and Elevate as it relates to Social Media. Ron Haugen shares his inspirations for posts and a sure method to grow your likes.
THA 016: Lean Processes – Relentlessly Work On Eliminating Waste
A commitment to Lean Process Improvement will yield a better customer experience.
Lean processes minimize technician activity outside of their work bay, creates uniformity in all communication pieces between service writers and technicians, can benefit the shop by hiring alternative staff for cleaning needs throughout the shop.
Lean also help you realize the value in the placement of equipment throughout the shop space and why it makes for a more efficient operation. Be sure to match the correct technician to every job when possible, play to their strengths … and so much more.
THA 015: How to Improve Employee Loyalty
How to Improve Employee Loyalty and create engaged team members.
Listen to Ryan Clo, Dwayne Myers and Jude Larson talk about the power of gratitude, the importance of sharing your vision, creating a powerful work environment, the value of training for personal improvement, pay and bonus programs, mentoring and why you need to share your numbers.
THA 014: Customer Retention Strategies
Do you have a customer avatar, a profile of your ideal customer?
Listen to this great lesson on customer retention and marketing from Gene Morrill, Ron Haugen and Maylan Newton as they bring to the forefront, customer marketing budgets and a yearlong plan, social media, special events, car care clinics and digital service reminder.
Many great ideas to jump start or re-invent your customer retention strategy.
THA 013: Expense Control – Best Practices
THA 012: What Keeps You Up at Night?
What Keeps You Up At Night? Is a metaphor on what we are concerned with as the world changes at unprecedented speeds.
You need to get out ahead of change and set the vision for your company. Paying attention to every business opportunity and challenge along with technology, business culture and finding and keeping good people helps you sleep well. The occasional 2 AM get up ‘thought’ just may signal an important strategy to pay attention to.
THA 011: Your Website – Tactics To Improve
Your Website – Tactics to improve Traffic and other Tech Talk as discussed by two industry experts, Danny Sanchez from Auto Shop Solutions and Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. Along with shop owners Ryan Clo from Dubwerx in Cincinnati, OH and Doug Grills from Autostream in the Greater Baltimore/Washington, DC area.
Great talk on being mobile, Google Analytics, SEO, review marketing being sure your site converts customers, website design, analytics and call tracking, and working with Google Premier Partners.