Here are the two most recent episodes
Lost Keys, Found Revenue: Capitalize on Key Replacement with AutoProPAD G3 [RR 1025]
Explore the profitable opportunity of key cutting and programming for auto repair shops in the automotive aftermarket. With around 25 million keys sold each year, many vehicle owners lose at least one key within the first 15 years of ownership. Matt Fanslow and Scott Gompper highlight the Nitrous AutoProPad G3, simplifying key programming and emphasizing the significant revenue potential within this largely untapped market.
remarkableresults.biz/e1023
Start Simple: A Practical Approach to Implementing Digital Vehicle Inspections (DVI) [THA 418]
This episode covers the practical benefits of digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) for shop owners. Learn how DVIs can boost Average Repair Orders (ARO) and improve customer communication. Industry professionals share real-world insights on overcoming cultural resistance, the role of leadership, and strategies for successful implementation. Plus, explore how AI enhances inspection reports and processes. Whether you’re new to DVIs or looking to optimize, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help your shop thrive.
remarkableresults.biz/a417
Subscribe. Dont Miss an Episode
And all the rest:
Invest in the Industry's First Rate Content From the Premier Automotive Service Specialist Podcast
THA 036: Ten Reasons For Buying Technician Tools
Is Tradition Preventing Shop Owners From Buying Technician Tools? FACT: Shop Owners Are Already Paying For Their Employee Tools, And At A Super Inflated Premium With A Ton Of Interest To Boot.
This Academy panel feels that making employees supply tools is an outdated tradition, based on poor understanding of economics and is commonplace for all the wrong reasons.
We cover a lot of ground including the debt load carried by technicians, tool truck time, improved retention and loyalty. We talk side work, and how to approach starting this new strategy. The panel agrees it takes more than just money to retain top talent.
When the shop provides all the specialty tools you need to have them cataloged so everyone knows where they are located to prevent wasted time finding them. In the end, what is in the best interest for your shop will guide how you tackle this.
RR 264: Steve Ciabattoni – Credit Card Compliance
Are You In Compliance with Credit Card Regulations As It Relates to Chip Cards?
Steve Ciabattoni from 360 Payments explains the regulations for EMV, the chip cards. We also discuss contracts, processing fees and who makes the real money in credit card processing.
An important episode to help evaluate your relationship and what to look for in a processor. Steve gives a tip on the best fee structure, equipment leasing and the future of credit card processing. He also is outspoken on the link between the chip reader and your SMS.
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.
RR 263: Jason Servidio – VP Transformers Institute
Do You Have a Sales Culture or an Automotive Culture At Your Service Counter?
Jason Servidio, Vice-President of Transformers Institute found his calling as a service advisor. He then realized his passion for teaching sales training. Today he teaches service advisors how to be at the top of their craft.
Learn about sales technics that advisors need to master, what qualities to look for when hiring a service advisor and how to measure ROI on service advisor training. Jason shares what to do when the customer says no and why marketing money is wasted if the sales counter is not great at making long-term customers out of marketing campaigns.
Jason also shares his simple yet important retention tactic. He also shares his view of the number of service advisors to technicians need to run a successful relationship building shop.
RR 262: Skip Potter – Retired Executive Director NASTF
Retiring Executive Director Shares His Legacy and the Importance NASTF is to the Automotive Service Industry
Skip Potter has had a storied career working in parts distribution, motorsports, tools, service, collision, and heavy duty. He also had important roles with leading industry associations and a radio career with a syndicated radio broadcast called ‘Virginia Race Line.’
Skip is one of our unsung legacy leaders in our beloved aftermarket. He just retired as the Executive Director of NASTF (The National Automotive Service Task Force). Skip gives us a firsthand account of the value NASTF brings to the industry. You will be surprised.
Skip is one of those very versatile industry leaders and a great example of a legacy aftermarket leader. It is important we hear his story. So prepare for an important understanding of the role NASTF plays for all of us and the storied career of a legacy aftermarket leader.
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.
RR 261: Jim and Shelly Fleischman from Automotive Alley
NASCAR Experience Helped This Shop Owner Create Strong Systems in Every Department.
Jim and Shelly Fleischman created Automotive Alley in Arcade, NY from scratch while Jim was still teaching post-secondary automotive technology. Now working full-time in the business, Jim brought his passion for teaching and organizational skills to the business and Shelly brought her accounting experience.
This meticulous shop with systems designed for improved efficiency is preparing to scale. Jim credits his past NASCAR experience as a guidepost for being lean and organized. Jim’s every move has been to consider growth through business model improvements along with additional locations.
Jim is a big thinker with huge goals and the energy to do anything he puts his mind to. And all along the way, Jim will have a system in place that makes it all work.
RR 260: Vic Tarasik – Part 2 – Life’s Lessons
Life’s Lessons that Establish Your Strengths as a Leader.
After nearly 30 years of successfully operating Vic’s Precision Automotive, a fourteen-bay automotive repair facility located in The Woodlands, TX, Vic Tarasik sold his beloved shop, however, he remains active in the industry he loves.
In the episode, Vic’s shares the remaining 5 life’s lessons. He covered the first five in episode 234. He’s very transparent as he speaks to how these lessons changed him as a leader.
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.
RR 259: Clint Dudley from Shade Tree Auto – Update
Are you taking care of your customers beyond their expectations?
The business culture at Shade Tree Automotive in Grimes, IA is the biggest factor for creating satisfied customers and team members. Owner, Clint Dudley has a brand-new building to service his customers. It was a team effort to design the building for top efficiencies.
This AAA Top Shop in Iowa has also been recognized with the 2016 Torch Award for Ethics from the US Chamber of Commerce. Clint is a disciplined goal setter and has taken his entire team to Vision in KC in March 2017.
He says hiring practices has made the difference in building his top team. Clint says we have a bright future and his new location has made him more convenient to his customer base. He doubled his tire sales in the last year.
RR 258: John Francis from Francis Automotive Services
Be Honest, Speak from Your Heart, Always Be Authentic and Have the Highest Ethics. Your Business Will Boom!
John Francis from Francis Automotive in West Chester, PA has given of himself to further the industry. With support to ASE, ASA and AMi among others, John has helped steer the direction of the aftermarket in many volunteer positions.
He finds the time to be a part-time business coach, is excited about the 3rd generation of Francis’s to join his company, he ran in twenty marathons, and John figured out a long time ago that he needed to work on his business, not in it.
Another Legacy Leader Episode.
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.
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.
RR 256: Rachael Wacha from City Auto Repair
Joined the Family business and doubled sales within a year.
Thirty one-year-old Rachael Wacha from City Auto Repair realized she was more like her dad than she thought. She also didn’t realize how important she was to the business.
You’ll be moved by her story and very open discussion of her very personal journey as she walked through life’s challenges and overcame them all. She has the tenacity to achieve every goal she sets for herself.
Having completed a succession plan to own the business, Rachael has joined a coaching and mastermind group. She is the president of the local ASA chapter and Is investing her time in vocational training and engaging with students.
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.
RR 255: David Milne from ATMC and ASE
Important Study Shows the Graying of Our Technicians Poses a Big Challenge in the Very Near Future.
Dave Milne serves as the President of the Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC), a division of the ASE Industry Education Alliance. Dave is also the Executive Director of Special Test Programs for ASE.
Dave shares the mission and value of ATMC, their most recent survey data that he says will have a big impact on the industry. We talk about education and recruiting our future technicians. You’ll also hear Dave speak to our industry training needs and trends, pay structure and how ATMC and ASE is working with the industry to bring awareness to our trade.
RR 254: Rod Stephens from The Stephens Law Firm
Employment Law. Keep an HR Advisor or Attorney On Your Team to Prevent You From Becoming a Defendant.
Rod Stephens from The Stephens Law Firm has worked with the ASA Northwest group for some time. He knows our aftermarket business.
We chat about handbooks, disability, terminations, cell phones, wage and hour, and the depth of legal knowledge you need to know as your obligations are not only federal law but your state and city laws too.
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.
RR 253: Scott Buckley & Steve Bullins
The Future of Our Industry Speaks Out on Tech, Technology, Millennials, DVI and Customer Service.
Scott Buckley and Steve Bullins from Buckley’s Personalized Driver Care bring a refreshing look at our industry. You’ll be happy to hear this duo speak on so many topics.
All the while you are listening, consider these guys are the shop owners of the future and will help guide and steer our industry for many years to come. We’re in good hands.
RR 252: Eric Carlson from Ervine’s Auto Repair & Grand Rapids Hybrid
Michigan Shop Owner Makes Hybrids His Specialty Niche
Eric Carlson from Ervine’s Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrids has found that his specialty in Hybrids has been a welcome addition to his business and his market is responding. With hybrids as loaners, his hybrid business is growing at an unexpected rate.
Eric shares his story that includes the purchase, 24 years ago, of a business that was on its last leg. His supplier gave him a heads up on the opportunity. Eric has been recognized multiple times as the NAPA Technician of the Year, in the Grand Rapids region. He also tells about his commitment to ASE and the time he was as a subject matter expert. He helped work on the Hybrid tests.
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.
RR 251: Craig O’Neill form O’Neill’s Transmission Service
Third Generation Millennial Whose Dad Has Complete Confidence in His Decision Making is Looking for an Actionable Succession Plan.
Craig O’Neill from O’Neill’s Transmissions and Service has taken some bold moves in the business and implemented a DVI system and hired a business consultant.
He sees great opportunities in emerging technologies and values the power of a strong business culture.
Regarding the technician shortage, he shares their apprentice program that has helped not only his business but the vocational school he works with.
RR 250: Dave Hobbs – Lead Technical Trainer- Delphi
Renowned Industry Trainer Says Our Technology is The Carrot at The End of The Stick To Entice Recruitment Into the Industry and to Keep Our A Techs.
Dave Hobbs, Lead Technical Trainer and Program Developer at Delphi Product & Service Solutions, has been in the aftermarket for over 30 years living his passion teaching technicians about repairing new technology.
He is on the cutting edge with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and discussed the challenges with calibrating repaired systems. This interview covers his start in the industry, what it takes to create a training seminar and that he sees great opportunities for A techs even if they want to move to a new city, to find the right situation, and work for a top shop.
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.
RR 249: Brenda & Brent O’Neal from Repair One Automotive
Is Your Customer Retention All About Your Integrity and Building a Trusting Relationship?
Dynamic husband and wife team, Brenda and Brent O’Neal, lead their team to ensure “The customer experience is the best it can be.” All roles must do their job to perfection. The team knows that they are not fixing cars and that their customer is the most important part of the business.
They believe that living in the same community as their business brings great value and recognition.
Brenda and Brent, who do not have a background in the automotive field, share where they get their new ideas, how to grow your own techs, their marketing strategy, and the extreme value they’ve received from hiring a business coach.
RR 248: Tom Lambert from Shadetree Automotive
Do You Expect Your Customers to be ‘Customers For Life?’
Tom Lambert from Shadetree Automotive in Layton, UT has a goal to keep customers for life. Everything done in the business and through marketing efforts works toward that goal.
Lambert can say this because he has built a company with a strong culture of caring from a highly motivated, yet laid back team that loves to have fun.
The key to his success was hiring a business coach to bring the guidance he needed to see things from a different perspective. His organization is experiencing 10% growth each year and will top out at $2.5 M in revenue this year.
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
RR 247: Derek Kaufman – Partner at Schwartz Advisers – What Does the Future with Autonomous Cars Look Like?
What does the future with Autonomous Cars Look Like?
Derek Kaufman a Managing Partner at Schwartz Advisors is thinking large about the future of the auto care industry and the acceptance of TaaS (Transportation as a Service) with ride sharing and ultimately vehicle ownership.
Vehicle ownership will have a big impact on our industry and it will have a big impact on the miles driven with the remaining vehicles in the car parc.
Derek is challenging a report that says there will be only 44 million vehicles that will handle the 6 trillion Vehicle Miles Traveled in 2030 in the car parc vs 270 million we have today. He is accepting the technical evolution with AV’s, however, he is questioning the numbers from the report and applied some of his own math to figure out what our future may look like. Will these vehicles be able to handle the miles we drive today for work and pleasure? What about convenience. What about our work trucks? Listen to his view on our future.
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.
The Aftermarket Radio Network Podcasts
Our Partners
