The New Frontier of Measuring Service Advisor Effort and Output [RR 913]

Stan Stokes and Eric Renninger from Iron Fist Consultants discuss the evolving roles of service advisors in the automotive industry, the impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior, and the role of technology. Gone are the days of going purely on gut feeling; today, maximizing conversion rates means utilizing every bit of data available. Operationalizing data and effective communication are fundamental aspects of a positive customer journey. 
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The Roadmap to Success: Work Smarter Not Harder [RR 884]

Dan Taylor discusses various aspects of running a successful automotive repair business. He emphasizes the importance of having a roadmap to success, repackaging information to resonate with different people, utilizing reliable shop management systems, client and employee retention, effective marketing strategies, well-defined processes and procedures, and artificial intelligence in the industry. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of making money in the automotive repair industry and the need for a paradigm shift towards maintenance and customer service.
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Listening to Service Advisor Phone Calls [THA 343]

“The art of asking the right questions: this approach, inspired by the Socratic method, helps uncover valuable insights and ensures a thorough understanding of situations. Authenticity is key in every interaction.”

Carm Capriotto introduces a panel to discuss the importance of listening to service advisor calls. Rena Rennebohm and Clint White are service advisor coaches, while Collin Ashin and Tyler Nichols are their clients. They discuss the benefits of reviewing recorded calls, such as identifying areas for improvement, enhancing problem-solving skills, creating a safe environment for feedback, the value of coaching, and the need for continuous improvement. Remember, the journey to self-improvement begins with a single step.
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Paradigm Shift: Predicting Customer Needs with Artificial Intelligence [RR 870]

Dave Schedin and Jorge Antico discuss the importance of showing care and compassion for customers, effective communication, and the use of technology to improve customer service. Did you know technology can help overcome the shortage of qualified staff by providing comprehensive information to service writers, demonstrating expertise, and offering cost-effective maintenance programs? They also emphasize the significance of preventative maintenance in reducing breakdowns and improving customer satisfaction.  They encourage a paradigm shift in the industry to prioritize customer care and proper maintenance.
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From Training to Triumph: Breathe Leadership Into Your People [RR 868]

COO’S Max Orsborn and Dave Askwith discuss the importance of training and defined leadership in automotive businesses. They highlight the need for effective training that goes beyond just checking boxes, emphasizing accountability and pressure on individuals who attend training sessions. The conversation also touches on the significance of transparency and communication within organizations, focusing on clear communication during promotions and changes. Max and Dave share their experiences as leaders, with insights on admitting mistakes and making adjustments in hiring, as well as the importance of staying true to one’s beliefs and vision.
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Is Your Shop Butcher Clean? [RR 866]

COO’S Andrew Marcotte and Melissa Parker discuss growth and succession in the industry, emphasizing the importance of having a sellable business. They share their experiences with acquiring and managing new shops, highlighting the value of cultural fit over work experience. Andrew and Melissa also encourage others to build relationships within the industry, learn from other operations and have a ‘butcher clean’ shop!
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Seller Beware [THA 304]

Matt Fanslow shares a recent interaction with a salesperson that wanted to help in the sale of the business. There were some warning signs, and with a call to an industry peer, Hunt Demarest, Matt stopped what could have been a costly mistake.
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“Uncopyable Sales Secrets: How to Create an Unfair Advantage and Outsell Your Competition” by Kay Miller [RR 772]

Have you thought about developing relationships with your customers and how they happen organically, intentionally, or not at all? Are your service advisors making that human connection daily? I’m joined by Kay Miller, author of “Uncopyable Sales Secrets: How to Create an Unfair Advantage and Outsell Your Competition.” Kay simplifies sales to a basic level that anyone can benefit from. In Kay’s early days in sales, she worked for Walker Exhaust and earned the moniker ‘Muffler Mama’. If you’re interested in reading a free chapter of her book, head to the show notes for the link. Or find her book on the books page on remarkableresults.biz

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The New Frontier of Call Conversion Rates – Stan Sokes [RR 734]

The phone call from a customer is always the beginning of the relationship. Are you tracking, measuring and holding your service advisor accountable for every phone call that comes into your business? What is your phone SOP? Do you have a conversion rate for phone opportunities? I’m with Stan Stokes, founder of Iron Fist Consultants, who has created the next level of measurement for service advisors.

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Creating Lifetime Customers – Brittany Schindler [RR 684]

Creating Lifetime Customers [RR 684]

Establishing a connection with your customers and being able to keep them coming back is always a challenge for the automotive industry. How do you build loyalty and ensure customers are educated properly? In this episode, Brittany Schindler answers that question with easy-to-follow steps her service advisors implement every day, including a lifetime warranty for customers. Keep listening and brainstorm what you could change in your business.

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Service Advisor Role Play #6 [THA 245]

Service Advisor Role Play #6 [THA 245]

You’re going to love this episode. My panel dives into a role play like we’ve never done before. Chad Jacks and Ethan Smith swap their roles interacting as a service advisor answering a phone call from a customer. They play an average service advisor and then redo the scenario as an exceptional service advisor. Rena Rennebohm offers coaching in between. Answering the phone is often the first interaction you have with a client opportunity. Are you listening to recorded calls? Do your service advisors need an occasional tune-up? This episode will help in all cases.

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I Want $1 Million For My Business [THA 240]

I Want $1 Million For My Business [THA 240]

In this episode, my panel will be dissecting a pertinent issue when it comes to selling any business, which is wanting more than it is worth. Many have worked for years and want to get 1 million for their business.

As a business owner, you’ve been painting a very specific picture in your mind about retirement. Where you’ll live, what you’ll be doing, and most importantly, what will your nest egg look like. Too often your ideal price tag does not line up with the bottom line financials of your business and its true market value and what the buyer is willing to pay. And, if you’re a buyer, how do you bridge that gap from want to real value? The panel rolls up their sleeves and discusses both sides of buying and selling a business.

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Selling Batteries with Tom Sciortino and John Armstead [CC 092]

Selling Batteries with Tom Sciortino and John Armstead [CC 092]

How many batteries are you selling in your business per week and per year? Are you testing each battery that comes through the bays no matter what? You might be missing an opportunity to not only make a sale but also gain a customer’s trust that their battery needs to be replaced before it fails. No one wants to get stuck because of a dead battery. Listen and learn from two guys that aren’t shy about sharing how many batteries they sell per week!

Head to the CarmCast Page on my website https://remarkableresults.biz to listen or watch archived episodes.

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Drop the Keys and Fix It [RR 641]

Drop the Keys and Fix It [RR 641]

Think about the latest procedure or surgery you had. You put all your trust in your doctor and the medical staff as you were getting put under anesthesia. Can we translate that trust into auto repair customers? How do we gain “Here are my keys, I trust you, fix it and let me know when it’s done” type of customers? In this episode, Andy Bizub and Charlie Marcotte break down the fundamentals of connecting with customers and what that means to your business.

The key talking points for this episode reside at remarkableresults.biz/e641

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Tires as a Profit Center [THA 219]

Tires as a Profit Center [THA219]

Did you know that roughly 33% of tires that come through your shop on customer’s vehicles need to be replaced? Are you willing to see that money go to someone else? It’s time to turn your business into a one-stop shop for your customers! Find out how in this episode with shop owners who love tires!

You can also watch the show’s video and get the key talking points at remarkableresults.biz/a219

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The Virtual Service Advisor [RR 621]

The Virtual Service Advisor [RR 621]
Amidst the pandemic scare, shops have taken advantage of VoIP, cloud services and new technologies to serve their customers. Some have had to put their service advisor working from home for various reasons. Imagine having support for your counter in the virtual world. Is there is a future for a Virtual Service Advisor?

Our guest today, Robbie Bunch became a virtual service advisor because of the pandemic and has excelled at it. His previous experience helped make this a reality for a shop he supports. Not only is Robbie Bunch doing Virtual Service Advisor work for a shop he continues to work for his other business “Platform Digital Marketing.”

Robbie and I toss out the idea of creating an entire industry of Virtual Service Advisors to support shops when your business is growing but not in need of a full-timer or when you lose a Service Advisor and while you are looking to hire a new person to rely on a Virtual Service Advisor to take up the slack. This episode will get you thinking.

The key talking points reside at remarkablersults.biz/e621.

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Service Advisor Role Play #5 [THA 213]

Service Advisor Role Play #5 [THA 213]

Our role play subjects cover closing the expectation gap on the appointment setting call and understanding the importance of building anticipation in making the sale after the results of the DVI. We also covered how to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Service Advisor in calming the customer while building value in their services and retaining the sale. Lastly, we talked about the effective way in deferring services at the cash-out. All important and vital in building you or service advisor team.

The panel includes Clint White from Shop Vision, Dan McWilliams from Quality Service Center and Ben Lesueur from Oxford Automotive. They put their service advisor strategies for you to follow.

Find ways to compare and improve your confidence and comfort in the face of your customer. Together we have something here. This episode’s key talking points are already done for you. Find them at remarkableresults.biz/a213

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Stop Selling From Your Wallet [THA 208]

THA 208 Stop Selling From Your Wallet

Too many times we think about our own money tolerance instead of the customer needs. We think what others believe is a lot of money to us is not. We also can’t fathom people paying what they do for services because we would not. We have different lines in the sand when it comes to price perception and if you sell from your own wallet you’ll limit yourself, do what is not necessarily right for your customer and limit your potential, not only for yourself but for the business.

In other words, don’t make the decision for your customer. Let them decide. We play a really insightful game that you need to do with your team.

I’m with Brian Gillis of You Net Results, who brought this excellent topic and the neat game we play, also Andy Arndt of Arndt Automotive in Malta, IL. And Keith Knowlton of LKS Auto Repair, Bremerton, Wa. They bring sound, practical, and professional advice for all of us to stop selling from our own wallets. Too many times we think about our own money tolerance instead of the customer’s needs.

This episode’s key talking points are already done for you. They reside on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a208.

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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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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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Service Advisor Advice from Steve Shaw [RR 586]

Service Advisor Advice from Steve Shaw [RR 586]

Service advisor consultant trainer Steve Shaw of Steve Shaw Training brings his unique brand of training. Steve has some great ideas and concepts that can help you grow sales therefore dropping that margin gain directly to the bottom line. Steve Shaw teaches service advisors to get customers’ permission.

Steve shares 5 key reasons customers buy And he wants you to change the wording when you sell maintenance. There is also a simple approach to selling tires.

Steve also adds techniques in this episode. He advises, if you follow the tools and training you will sell more. He extends his understanding of customer behavior to your advantage. This episode can answer why customers buy and offer some great ideas on selling maintenance and tires.

Find the show notes at remarkableresults.biz/e586.

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Make Customer Service your Single Biggest Competitive Advantage [RR 559]

Make Customer Service your Single Biggest Competitive Advantage [RR 559]

If you are a customer service advocate, one who believes in the Customer Experience you’ve come to a well of information that will confirm your strategies and help to create a new and powerful commitment to your customer.

Author John DeJulius and business coach Alan Beech talk about John’s book ‘Customer Service Revolution’. This is a highly recommended read from me and you can find it on the books page on the website.

John DeJulius says you can’t out market or outspend your competition … You need to out love them with an exceptional customer experience. He also says that exceptional experiences is one of the only sustainable differentiators among competitors.
Learn about secret service systems and soft skills training. You have to know your customer even at the tiniest level like learning what their coffee preferences are. You can out-service the competition this way. Exceeding their expectations ensures having a repeat customer.

Find the key talking points and bios for John DiJulius III and Alan Beech’s at remarkableresults.biz/e559

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