Build Your Labor Rate From The Ground Up [THA 276]

How much do you value your time? Your employee’s time? Are you making your decision on your labor rate based on data? My expert panel breaks down a mathematical and strategic way to understand the labor rate that delivers your profit goal. To view the charts and presentations my guests have prepared, make sure you head to my carm capriotto youtube channel or find the link on the show notes. Once you see the math your decision to set a profitable labor rate will be smarter and easier.

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Plan For Slow Times [THA 275]

The aftermarket is blazing busy. We may think that boomtown will continue without an end in sight. But what are your ‘slow day action plans?’ Some who have not been doing things ‘right’ are feeling the ebb and flow of typical cycle times, holidays, back to school, vacations, weather, and travel. Let this episode help you re-think how you prop up your business. Stop stopping.

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Do You Need an Estimator? [THA 271]

Is your service advisor stressed? Do you have a full lot of vehicles to repair but have technicians standing around? I’ve been asking shop owners if an estimator role in the business is an important hire. I got an ear full in this Academy Webinar on how the metrics work and the role and responsibilities to consider hiring an estimator or parts specialist in your growing busy shop. All three shop owners on my panel have this role in their shops. Stick around and learn.

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Are You Offering ‘Only’ Synthetic Oil Services? [THA 270]

Questions, what is your customer oil change service like?  Have you transitioned to ‘synthetic only’ oil for your customers? How do you stock all grades and weights? The days of $20 oil changes every 3 months is gone. My panel of shop owners discuss why they have synthetic only oil service and how it’s improved their efficiency in the bays and for their customers. If you have not implemented this business strategy learn in this episode why you need to do it.

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Next Best Improvement: Lean [THA 266]

How do you calculate the common phrase “work smarter, not harder?” This episode is all about getting lean in your shop. Are you tracking the steps it takes to do something simple like an oil change? Are your parts and supplies not only organized but purposefully placed in areas for efficiency? My panel discusses simple ways to get started with Lean Six Sigma. 1 simple change can save you time and money.

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Out with the Old, in with the New [AW 095]

Guest hosts and shop tour with Rich and Linda Brauer, 59 Auto Repair, Plainfield, IL. They’ve been in business 28 years and was the 2021 NAPA Shop of the Year. Rich and Linda discuss the importance of being open to new ideas and change, rather than saying “that is the way we’ve always done it.” 

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CarmCast Power Panel [CC 102]

CarmCast Power Panel [CC 102]

This CarmCast featured an anything goes format, a ‘Power Panel.’ No question Bryan Kelley and Greg Buckley would make for a great power panel. What better way to start off 2022 than some comprehensive discussions marking trends like Multi Shop Ownership. We hit some great wisdom on developing Trust, Delegation, EVs, Work-Life Balance, and more. No doubt you’ll pick up a gem or two to help make your 2022 a banner year for you. Let me ask you … how do you recharge? Well, I asked my panel. Compare your rechargeability to theirs. Thanks for listening to the podcast where ‘Your Learning Curve Never Sounded So good!’

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Scheduling Work Flow [THA 248]

Scheduling Work Flow [THA 248]

We are living in the “new normal.” For anyone who wants things to go back the way they were pre-pandemic, you’ll be waiting a long time. Professionals everywhere are feeling the impact of shipping delays, short staff, and pricing. Our industry is no exception and efficient workflow has never been more critical. Clear communication and expectations between employees and customers is step one. In this episode, my panel shares their own experiences with scheduling workflow. Listen for some smart ideas start implementing small changes in your business that will have a lasting impact.

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Implementing EOS with Barry Barrett: Four Shop Owners Share Their Success [RR 686]

Implementing EOS with Barry Barrett: 4 Shop Owners Share Their Success [RR 686]

The Entrepreneurial Operating System has been highlighted on the podcast with a 7 part series featuring Barry Barrett, a certified EOS Implementor. The EOS system enables owners to get the most out of their business using six key components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction. It’s easy to discuss and learn, but how does it work with real people in different levels of business? In this episode, you’ll hear from 4 shop owners that have implemented EOS in their business and their success stories from it.

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Growing Pains When Scaling Your Business [RR 683]

Growing Pains When Scaling Your Business [RR 683]

We all know growing pains happen when expanding your business to more locations. It’s tough, necessary, and normal. But wouldn’t it be nice to skip some of the known challenges? Consider this episode your “How to Scale” road map if you’ve been considering opening more locations. Listen and learn from a shop owner and one of his Directors, as they share some tactics to controlled chaos.

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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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EOS Part 7 – Traction with Barry Barrett [RR 666]

EOS Part 7 – Traction with Barry Barrett [RR 666]

Welcome to the final episode in our 7 part EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) series with Barry Barrett, a certified EOS implementer. It’s time to put everything together that we have learned in the previous episodes on EOS. No business is too big or too small to put this system in action.

Everyone has a lot to get done every day, especially business owners, but are you getting the right things done every day? How should your weekly meetings be structured? Take the questions out of the equation in your business by following Barry’s simple and direct processes. EOS can grow your profitability by 20-25%, what are you waiting for? remarkableresults.biz/e666

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EOS Part 6 – Process with Barry Barrett [RR 657]

EOS Part 6 – Process with Barry Barrett [RR 657]

We are on part 6 of our 7 part series on the Entrepreneurial Operating System with Barry Barrett, a certified EOS implementer. In this episode, Barry discusses how to systemize your business by building processes. Too many owners think they don’t have time to document processes and then wonder why they can’t leave the shop and take a vacation.

Guess what? Processes can be a simple 1 page of bullet points. Keep listening to follow the steps to create consistency in your business. remarkableresults.biz/e657

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Day End Processes with Bill Nalu and Joe Hanson [CC 093]

Do you have a set of tasks that need to be performed at the end of business every day? Does this discipline help your team keep focused on customer service, securing your money, and the facility for closing time?

My panel provides you with a few of their day-end disciplines that, as you’ll hear, provide the business and the customer with strong day-end measures.

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Make Price Irrelevant [THA 228]

Make Price Irrelevant [THA 228]

Everyone strives to implement good customer service. But what about creating an exceptional customer experience?

Being friendly and helpful to customers while repairing their vehicles correctly is plain old expected. In a restaurant or hotel or anyplace for that matter, what is going to push you to remember the experience? Have you asked your customers if you are meeting their expectations? In this episode find out how to elevate your business and culture.

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Building Customer Trust [THA 225]

Building Customer Trust [THA 225]

We all know building customer trust takes time and doesn’t happen overnight. So when does it happen? It starts with every single touchpoint you make with your customer.

From marketing to the way your storefront looks, and that first phone call, every interaction inches you further in developing trust. Find out how to polish your business in this must-listen episode.

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Improve Your Capabilities and Processes – Get LEAN [CC 090]

Improve Your Capabilities and Processes – Get LEAN [CC 090]

I recommend you watch the video so you can see the incredible organizational strategies Craig Caudill has implemented at Fine Tuned Auto in Erie CO. Use it as a template for your shop. Head to the CarmCast Page or remarkableresults.biz/cc090 to watch the video and find the key talking points for this episode.

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MSO: 18 Team Members Tested Positive for Covid. How We Survived [RR 609]

MSO: 18 Team Members Tested Positive for Covid. How We Survived [RR 609]

What can we learn from this unprecedented year? A lot!

Our story today is of a hard hit multi-store operation (MSO) and how it survived 18 team members who contracted Covid-19. The preparation years before Covid-19 was to become a pandemic is the anchor in this story. It is proof of concept. Build a strong culture, put your people first, love your customers, engage all the latest technology and systems, and have strong processes and procedures. With all that in place, you can navigate just about anything.

Dwayne Myers from Dynamic Automotive from Frederick, MD, and his partners, Jose Buesso and Lee Foreman put their company in the position to fight through their Covid-19 barrage and come out the other side in decent shape. Surviving the ordeal was gut-wrenching and thought reflecting. Yet they did. This is homework for you to Listen to Learn Just One Thing!

You can find Dwayne Myers’s other episodes, and the key talking points, they reside at remarkablersults.biz/e609

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Proof of Concept [THA 206]

THA 206 Proof of Concept

The pandemic was the test of preparedness, fortitude, leadership, nerves, among others. Our topic “Proof of Concept” is the story behind the strong getting stronger.

The leaders who listened and implemented the strategies being served up by the industry pundits especially coaches over the last 3 to 4 years found themselves in a good place. You’ve heard them enforce on the podcast, … essential tactics like strong business culture, a commitment to training your team, firing non-productive or toxic employees, DVI, Cloud-based software, text to pay and the list goes on like strong leadership. Smart Marketing. Managing KPIs, Good financial statements, building processes, and systems, Etc, etc. In essence, the strong found their pandemic recovery easier than others. That is what we are talking about today: ‘Proof of Concept’

Joining me is Chris Cotton, AJ Nealey, and Michael Gallini. They all agree that they are in a better spot because they implemented and worked the strategies and tactics that the industry is known to create success and sustainable profits. Glad you are here, Let’s Talk About It.

The key talking points from this episode are already done for you on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a206.

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Requirement for Growing a Branch Store [THA 205]

THA 205 Requirements for Adding a Branch Store

Welcome to the 205th episode of the Town Hall Academy. New Year, New Challenges. Many in the industry are contemplating growth and many are thinking of selling or succession. Keep close to the insights and wisdom from your aftermarket peers, right here, who share their growth story with you.

I’m with Greg Bunch, Austin Miller, and John Manelas. Greg is the owner of Aspen Auto Clinic, Colorado. Austin Miller opened Tire Star in2011, and John owns Auto Care Plus and Euro Care Plus. Together this team has 15 branches and growing.

How many shops are enough? Is there a sweet spot? What qualities must a shop owner possess in order to successfully add a shop? What are the challenges? No doubt this group tells their tale of their initial branch store and the huge learning curve that happened with it and subsequent stores.

The key talking points from this episode are already done for you on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a205.

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Creating the Right Environment for Shop Efficiency [THA 201]

Creating The Right Environment for Shop Efficiency [THA 201]

There are a lot of variables when we talk about shop efficiency. There is culture, environment, leadership, and more. There is no single formula that can solve shop efficiency. But if there are the right guidelines, our panel today, certainly has the answers. A big fat thank you to Chris Monroe, Joe Marconi, and Kevin Vaught for sharing their expertise with you. So many small things done right makes for improved efficiency.

Chris Monroe is a coach who owns Monroe Tire & Service at Shelby, NC., Joe Marconi is a coach who also owns Osceola Garage at Baldwin Place, NY., and Kevin Vaught is a former multi-shop owner and is an Elite Worldwide Business Development Coach.

The key talking points from this episode are already done for you on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a201.

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Four Corner – Four Wall Shop Inspection [THA 198]

Four Corner – Four Wall Facility Audit [THA 198]

Welcome to an episode that brings to you the power and value of peer inspections of your facility and property. This discussion applies to the Four Corners and Four Walls of your shop. Does your customer see the organization and cleanliness of your shop? How about the environment that your people work in. Is it up to your standards?

I’m with Seth Thorson, Owner of EuroTech Auto Service and LMV Bavarian BMW Support; and Daniel Gravely, District Manager, EuroTech Auto Service. And keep in mind this is a peer review – some special power in that.

The key talking points from this episode, they are already done for you. Go to the show page at remarkableresults.biz/a198.

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Doug Grills – 20 Questions in 30 Minutes [RR 589]

Doug Grills – 20 Questions in 30 Minutes [RR 589]

Welcome to another episode of 20 Questions in 30 Minutes. I’m with Doug Grills of AutoStream Car Care Center. Doug along with his partner Rick Levitan has been around the auto service business for over 25 years and has built their reputation by offering best-in-class service to their customers. Now he joins and answers his hand-picked questions on our format I call 20 Questions in 30 Minutes.

This episode highlights Doug’s early musical career and allowed us to understand how he uses his analytical skills to make decisions. He believes in process and that a strong culture is what people really buy into.

Find the key talking points, Doug Grills’ bio, and links to his previous episodes at remarkableresults.biz/e589

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