Update: Training/Future of Hybrids and Ev’s with Craig Van Batenburg [RR 762]

I’m sitting with Craig Van Batenburg, CEO of Automotive Career Development Center [ACDC] and a former repair shop owner, with an update on the pulse of the industry and his business. Is it possible ACDC is the last existing brick and mortar building that operates strictly for training technicians Monday-Friday? Take a seat next to me and tune into our lively discussion as it relates to everything Hybrid and EV.

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The New ADAS L4 ASE Certification – Shepanek, Haugh, and Perkins [RR 761]

Have you heard about the new ASE L4 ADAS Certification? This test has been in development since January 2020 with the help of industry experts. My guests Matt Shepanek, Matt Haugh, and Keith Perkins say the certification is going to be a major differentiating factor when hiring technicians. We all know the best technicians are the ones constantly learning and training. Stick around for an inside look into the test development and tips on how to pass the test.

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How To Build Relationships with Students and Schools [RR 760]

How many schools have you visited recently? What is your relationship like with the teachers, and school counselors? Have you hosted a shadow day at your shop for students? If your answer is no to any of these questions, answer this one: what is stopping you? Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Dont miss this opportunity to get involved with your schools and community and properly represent this industry to our younger generation.

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A Collective Think Tank – Marconi – Murphy – Morrill [RR 759]

Nothing beats live in-person industry events. There is power in the collaborative minds from around the country in one room. The podcast attended the 2022 Elite Invitational in San Diego and we recorded some incredible stories with essential aftermarket voices. At the end of the conference, I had the idea to grab Jim Murphy, Gene Morrill, and Joe Marconi for a recap of the event and their perspectives on our industry. Keep listening, you have the best seat in the house right next to these 3 aftermarket icons.

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Do You Have a 40% Close Rate For Pre Scheduled Appointments? Brett Beachler [RR 758]

How do your service advisors close their sales with a customer? Are they pre-scheduling for future maintenance appointments? Brett Beachler’s business has a 40% close rate for pre-scheduled maintenance appointments. He discusses how to make your current customers, your future customers.  Grab a pen and paper or head to the shownotes on this episode. You don’t want to miss Brett’s closing presentation that can be implemented in your business.

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4 Locations and Growing – Craig Popp [RR 757]

What are the challenges of being a successful multi-shop owner? Is there an ideal scenario to buy more locations? Should you buy an existing business or build from the ground up? I’m with Craig Popp at the 2022 Elite Invitational and each of his 4 locations has a unique story to tell. Keep listening if you are in the market for another shop.

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Do You Have a Customer Avatar? – Daniel Griffith [RR 756]

Have you identified and named your ideal customer avatar? Do you talk about it with your team? I’m with Daniel Griffith at the 2022 elite invitational. Listen as he breaks down finding the ideal customers and the importance of team culture. He even uses his employee testimonials in job postings (there’s an idea).

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Is Your Mission Statement Your Passion Statement? – Bill Greeno [RR 755]

Was your mission statement created by yourself, or was it a collaborative effort from your employees? Is it listed on your website homepage? Do your customers know what it is? I’m with Bill Greeno at the 2022 Elite Invitational and he discusses how his team revamped its mission statement into a passion statement. Find out why affirmations were critical in starting the process.

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Hairdresser Turned Shop Owner – Danielle Vila [RR 754]

Are hairdressers the new untapped resource for our industry? How does a hairdresser in San Francisco become an automotive shop owner in Las Vegas? What can we learn from the intimacy between a hairdresser and the client? I’m with Danielle Vila at the 2022 Elite Invitational, stay tuned, you won’t want to miss this episode. We discuss business, hair care tips, and a few laughs in between.

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Survey Says [RR 753]

Did you know a simple survey gathers valuable input from your customers about your business? It’s time to tap into the customer’s viewpoint by listening to what they want. Your customer’s input is a great source for your marketing plan. Find out how many survey responses give you a good sampling. Get info on conducting your own survey with links on the show notes page.

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From Investment Banker to Shop Owner [RR 752]

Ready to be inspired by a shop owner that came from the merger and acquisition realm? Why did he choose our industry? What fresh perspective does he have?  I’m with Thomas from Hotchkiss Auto Repair and his passion about people and training is infectious.

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Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) [RR 751]

Is your shop a part of the Motorist Assurance Program (MAP)? If this is the first you are hearing about the Motorist Assurance Program, you just may be pleased to know that  MAP provides repair and maintenance standards that create trust between the consumer and your business. Besides the consumer element. MAP follows and gets updates on state bills, guidelines, and regulations that you might not be aware of.

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Surviving Two Store Openings During the Pandemic [RR 750]

What is it like opening two locations at the dawn of COVID? David Eschbach shares his story around three primary business tenets. Each Take-Away is wrapped in a compelling story and supported by integrating sub-lessons. See the show notes as a guide, as this information is applicable for leading a business during any crisis or economic environment, not just during COVID.

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The Value of Exit Interviews [THA 278]

We’re talking Exit interviews. Some shop owners do them religiously. Some don’t want to face the music. Some don’t know what to do in an exit interview. 

Is it a smart time not to burn a bridge? Is there a format to follow? We are going to attempt to answer these questions and more in today’s Town Hall Academy. You can learn a lot about yourself and your company in exit interviews.

The Many Roles Of The Shop Owner – Dr. Dave Weiman [RR 749]

As we grow as leaders and build a strong culture in our businesses, we take on many different roles. These are unwritten roles that many small business people need to know that may have to step into. Such as a marriage counselor, a person of faith, an intervention confidant, and more. I’m with Dr. Dave Weiman, a great and wise contributor to the podcast, as we discuss the management of all the different hats we put on as business owners.

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The Lowest Price Shop Is Not Your Competitor – Reggie Stewart [RR 748]

What do you do when a disgruntled customer wants to know why your shop is more expensive than the one down the road? Are you educating customers on the value of your services? Do you feel like you have to defend your profitable business model? Does the shop down the road, which has the crazy low price, realize their business won’t be worth it’s value when it’s time to sell?

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Google Reviews – Jimmy Lea [RR 747]

It’s time to take a deep dive into Google Reviews. Why is it important to have a variety of star ratings instead of all 5 stars? Why do you need to respond to good and bad reviews? I’m with Jimmy Lea, Kukui Evangelist. Find out why your business must exist digitally in order to capture customers.
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From the Bays to the Classroom – Brandon Steckler [RR 746]

Do you have a passion for teaching others and watching them grow? Is it something you’ve been interested in doing? I’m with Brandon Steckler at the TST Big Event 2022 and we discuss his path to becoming a trainer and writer for MotorAge Magazine. He also shares a transparent review of one of his classes from a peer. A special episode I did with Brandon on his passion for teaching is episode 342. Speaking of training, did you know that auto tech colleges need part-time instructors? It is a great way to engage with auto tech students. How about being a high school night school trainer. Let’s think outside the box and advance the aftermarket together.

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“You’re Not A Technician, You’re A Technical Expert” Aaron Becker [RR 745]

I’m with Aaron Becker at the TST Big Event 2022. His stepfather-in-law is the late Myron Stein, inventor, product innovator, and founder of Airsept. Aaron is the President of Airsept and we discuss Myron’s famous donut and coffee selling tactic, and new products, and if you listen until the very end of your podcast player, you might hear a little backstage chatter with my daughter Tracy. By the way, I got to know Myron during my early days as a podcaster and he was an encourager and always told me like it was. I’ll miss him.

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The Hardest Lessons to Learn – Kevin Eckler [RR 744]

There’s nothing better than catching up with an industry friend at TST’s Big Event! Dive into the blueprint of Kevin Eckler’s second location, and his transparency of learning a valuable lesson of full commitment to his employees. He explains words are just words until actions are put into place. You’ll also hear from his newest employee that was an intern at his shop.

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“Vision, KC Is My Happy Place” [RR 743]

Candice and Jesse Beuttenmuller come every March from WaKeeney, KS. to the Vision KC Hi Tech Expo. Vision KC, they say, is their Happy Place, therefore shutting down the shop to attend. Their town is so small it doesn’t even have a stoplight! Since we recorded the episode they changed the name of their business to ‘Old 40 Auto Care’. We also discuss the importance of communication with their customers. As a side note, we had a lot of laughs and fun while recording this episode.

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Growing? Is Another Shop In Your Future? – Greg Bunch [RR 742]

Ever heard of the ‘entrepreneurial curse?’ Do you see opportunity everywhere you look? Are you ready to go multi-location? Or have you been approached to sell? I’m with Greg Bunch from Transformers Institute at Vision 2022 and we discuss the boom in becoming a multi-shop owner and the future of our industry.

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Wide Open Training Discussion with No Agenda [RR 741]

Dive into the minds of three incredible industry trainers in the studio of the 2022 Vision KC Hi Tech Training & Expo.  We had no agenda, just some friends chatting with a special dynamic and their passion for the advancement of the aftermarket. Some of what we covered: what are their perspectives on electrical theory, becoming a trainer, and training in general, you’ll also hear talk about business culture, mentoring and so much more. Profound fun awaits you.

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Do Your Standards Align with Your Core Values [RR 740]

How aligned are your business standards with the core values of yourself, and your team members? What are your corrective action plans? I’m with Clint White at Vision 2022 and we discuss accountability when things don’t go as planned in your business. It happens to everyone, but how to address it is a critical step some owners miss. 

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Women In Auto Care 2022 Conference – Tracy Capriotto [RR 739]

Not sure if you know that my daughter Tracy joined our media company and quickly signed on to our purpose to Advance the Aftermarket. She has made a great impact and helped to create the Aftermarket Radio Network. I’ve been encouraging her to find her stride and do her own podcast episode. Well here it is and she shares with you a personal story at the Women In Auto Care Conference in the Spring of 2022. Together we’ve attended ASTE, AAPEX, Vision, the Big Event, and others but this experience, she shares with you, is her first solo event and podcast. Get to know Tracy and see how proud I am to have her join the Aftermarket’s Premier Podcast. Many, I know, will relate to her story.

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