Thriving Through Our Economic Challenges [THA 357]

Recorded Live at AAPEX 2023, Greg Bunch and Matt Fanslow discuss the impact of the current economy on the automotive aftermarket industry. They explore various aspects of business such as margins, advertising, training, hiring, labor rates. The conversation also covers the potential loss of independent repair shops, and the need for better communication with customers.
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Insights Into AAPEX 2023: Right to Repair and Magic Johnson [RR 899]

Recorded Live at AAPEX 2023, Bill Hanvey and Paul McCarthy give insights into Right to Repair, what it takes to put on a massive show encompassing 2,600 exhibitors, and 46,000 buyers, and a recap of Magic Johnson’s engaging keynote. In a recent study, by 2035 there could be a 54% decline in market share due to repair restrictions, translating to $92 Billion lost by the independent aftermarket. This issue is not just about the industry, but also about the consumers who rely on affordable and accessible auto services.
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Succession in Real Life [AW 180]

Bob Ward discusses the importance of early and thorough succession planning, using real-life examples of both successful and unsuccessful transitions. Bob emphasizes the need for business owners to develop their successors and to consider their employees’ career goals. It’s never too early to start thinking about the future of your business and who might be capable of carrying it forward.
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Future Shop: Sooner Than You Think [THA 318]

Will diagnostic work overtake remove and replace work? How will you position and present your shop as a technologically advanced repair center? What training will our employees need? How will artificial intelligence impact our industry? Will we be prepared? Join Jake Sorensen, Chris Chesney and Derek Kaufman as they discuss the shop of the future. 
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Forecasting Your Future [RR 826]

The future is here, consolidation is already happening. The middle-level shops will now be at the bottom end of the bell curve. What are the trends at the OEM level? Is Uber/Lyft the fleet of the future? What is the outlook of the changing service aftermarket? Recorded Live at the 2022 Institute Summit, Michael Smith, Brian Bates, and AJ Nealey discuss the future; it is happening sooner than we think. 
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Preparing For The Next Five Years [RR 778]

If only we had a crystal ball to peak at the next 5 years. As a shop owner, you might still be booked out 2-3 weeks, but with gas prices, inflation, the great resignation, interest rates, and new and used car costs, what do you need to pay attention to in the short term to continue to be profitable and relevant? 
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Rob Merwin and Charlie Marcotte [AW 069]

Rob Merwin and Charlie Marcotte [AW 069]

Guest host Rob Merwin from Aftermarket Matters will share news on the number of shops that closed as a result of Covid-19 and the advance of mobile repair. Charlie Marcotte from American Pride in Virginia gives you a tour of his four shops.

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Buying & Selling: A Tale of Two Deals [THA 199]

Buying and Selling – A Tale of Two Deals [THA 199]

An episode that showcases a sale and an acquisition and the story behind these aftermarket transactions from two couples who each had a great opportunity.

Kevin and Sarah Bickford bought the Fox River Tire & Auto, Richie and Leslie Zimmerman owned and sold 3 Shops to a big box brand. The reasons and method of these two transactions will help you realize how these opportunities take an immense amount of work and maybe some luck.

The key talking points from this episode, they are already done for you. Go to the show page at remarkableresults.biz/a199.

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Electrical Engineers Become Shop Owners Growing to Seven Stores – John and Karen Manelas [RR 569]

Electrical Engineers Become Shop Owners Growing to Seven Stores – John and Karen Manelas [RR 569]

John and Karen Manelas attended the same school, took the same degree and became successful at their careers for 15 years as electrical engineers. They decided to take a huge life change and pay cut to start their own shop. They took on the challenge and the uncertainties. With low capital, they grew their shop from one in 2004 to an amazing 7 shops in 2019.

Growth is an amazing thing when you do it the right way. Prepare yourself mentally to put a lot of work into each location, hiring, training, and preparing the right staff.

Find the key talking points, John and Karen Manelas’ bio and links to their previous episodes at remarkableresults.biz/e569

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Aftermarket 2030 Consolidation – Opportunities – Challenges – Succession Planning [RR 514]

Rick Schwartz is co-founder and CEO of Schwartz Advisors LLC, a mergers and acquisition advisor and management consulting firm to the automotive and heavy-duty transportation industry. Prior to forming Schwartz Advisors, Rick’s career included senior executive leadership positions in sales, marketing, and finance. At Schwartz Advisors, Rick has advised private equity firms, aftermarket management teams and…

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THA 141: Selling Your Business – Valuation Strategies

THA 141 Town Hall Academy on Selling your Business – Valuation Strategies

This episode on ‘Selling your Business – Valuation Strategies’ will provide a great lesson on tactics to obtain a great value for your business. The caveat is that you need to have a successful business and we do discuss some strategies on how to make that happen.

I’m delighted to have Greg Bunch, owner of Aspen Auto Clinic a five-store operation in Colorado Spring, CO and the President of Transformers Institute that provides proven strategies to transform your business, Bob Ward from Wardden, LLC believes that a Perpetual Business is profitable and sustainable without you as you prepare for sale or succession and Joel Zaleski a partner at Cardinal Brokers.

This panel will inform you as we continue an important industry discussion on succession and business valuation. There are many misnomers about what can I sell my business for. If you’ve never done the research you’ll find out it is much different than what you may want for your business. You’ve got to have something to sell to a potential buyer. If your only real asset if location, you could do well, however you need much more than that if you want to sell and retire after years of hard work.

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THA 131: Preparing Your Shop For the Next Five and Ten Years

THA 131 The Future – Preparing Your Shop For the Next Five to Ten Years

What is your future? Have you planned it? What are you doing to ensure your success in the next 5, 10 or 15 years? If you do nothing you get what you currently have and that may not sustain you to far into the future.

Your panel: Kelli Weatherby, co-owner, with husband Lee, in Accurate Automotive, Inc. in Mesa, AZ., Bill Nalu, owner of Interstate Auto Care, Madison Heights, MI and AJ Nealey, Nealey Auto Service, Edgewater MD. This diverse group has some similar yet some different strategies for their future. It is so refreshing to hear the dialogue and then compare their tactics to your current or long term plans.
We are in a dynamic industry that is in a heightened change curve. Keeping up at all levels will bring you spoils. And keeping your eye on your business with the future in sight is an important responsibility you have to your employees and your family.

We talk BHAG’s, Debt, Branches, Succession, Training, refinancing, and SWOT among others.

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THA 128: Valuing and Positioning Your Business For Sale

Are you ready to sell your business? Do you know how to prepare? Is it a buyers market or a seller’s market? Do you understand some of the financial principles that drive a transaction? About 50% of you will be impacted by this discussion in the near future.

We cover a large swatch of ground as we talk about the incredible opportunity for sellers as the industry consolidates, getting your financials right, processes, leases, and the all-important EBITDA number.

The panel includes three members of Cardinal Brokers: Norm Gaither, Dennis McCarron, Joel Zaleski and a shop owner who recently sold his business Jeff Pohlman Retired from Jeff Pohlman Tire a 5 Locations operation.

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RR 397: Acquisition Integration – A Look Inside a New Location Transition

Acquisition Integration: A Look Inside a New Location Transition

Mike Allen, a General Manager Telle Tires and Auto Centers tells of his first-hand experience integrating a recent acquisition. This episode will show you the processes of transition and the sensitivities in customers, people, and brand when acquiring new shops.

Mike was recently involved in integration of one of Telle Tires most recent acquisition. This 10 stores 77-year-old legacy company has been on an acquisition path. Mike Allen talks about how he has lead one particular integration for the Telle family.

Aftermarket Professionals and Shop Owners will find this episode useful if they plan to expand and acquire shops. We can never say that there will be no risks with integrations but Mike’s wisdom will help you understand the excitement, opportunities, and challenges that come with growth.

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RR 332: Mort Schwartz – Legacy Interview

Legacy Aftermarket Leader is Passionate for Educating Our Youth.

Mort Schwartz is a legacy leader in the automotive aftermarket. He brought vision to many exciting programs and companies that are stoic brands of our industry.
For years, Mort had a large influence with the way parts got to market. He was one of the original founders of Carquest, former Chairman, and CEO of Strauss Discount Auto, Import Parts of America, Thermo King of Northern California and Chanslor & Lyon.

He is currently a Trustee of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation that awards scholarships to students who show a desire to work in the automotive.
He was a past Director of WORLDPAC, past Chairman of the APAA, AWDA and CAWA and founder of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), and inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. I’ve listed more distinguished positions and honors of Mort’s on the show notes page.

Mort Schwartz realized years ago that the service professional needed the support, marketing, inventory, service, and training, from their supplier, to drive their success; and he set out to deliver just that.

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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.

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RR 257: Tom Marx, MAAP – Marx Group & Hart Marx Advisors

Shops That Have Created a Brand Where People Trust You Find Their Business Booming.

Tom Marx, MAAP, Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer from The Marx Group, a full-service marketing communications agency, says the service segment of our industry is in the Golden Age. He is also very outspoken on industry consolidation as a partner in Hart Marx Advisors a mergers and acquisition consultancy.

Tom knows the aftermarket and the service professional. He’ll be speaking at AAPEX 2017 on ‘Amplifying Your Brand’. In the interview, Tom talks about industry consolidation from both the service and distribution side. He also shares his perspectives on training, marketing and the need for quality financial statements, if you are interested in selling your business.

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RR 238: Greg Bunch from Aspen Auto Clinic

Is your service adviser getting forty hours of training per year?

Greg Bunch owner of Aspen Auto Clinic a five-store operation in Colorado Spring, CO tells the story on how his first branch came about. Greg tells of his best practices on how to scale for multiple locations. He shares the traits of a shop owner when preparing for expansion.

We talk consolidation, the value of quality service adviser training, what good technicians want from their shop owner, how to prepare for expansion (you need capitol), customer retention and more.

He also talks about his Transformers Mastermind group for multi-shop operators.

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