RR 187: Parker Davis – BMW Specialist – Owner Broad Stroke Associates

Parker Davis is President of Broad Stroke Associates from Snohomish, WA.

Humble Beginnings.
Parker was drawn to anything mechanical as a child. His favorite thing to do was take things apart and rebuild them. This naturally progressed from toys, to bicycles, to motorcycles, and finally into cars. In high school he participated in the auto shop program. He pioneered the Automotive Youth Education System program for his school district. The AYES program allowed him to work for a local Ford dealer and get school credit. While working for the Ford dealer, he knew he would be attending a technical school far from home so he started car shopping for a more reliable vehicle. After much searching he stumbled across a BMW that he ended up buying. This was the start of his BMW obsession.

Post Secondary.
After graduating high school he attended Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, AZ with the intention of getting into the BMW STEP program. He graduated UTI at the top of his class with multiple ‘student of the phase’ awards and a perfect attendance award.

BMW STEP.
After UTI, Parker was accepted in the BMW STEP program which he graduated in 2003. Shortly after graduation he took a job with BMW Northwest in Fife, WA. He worked there for only 7 months before he changed dealerships and started working for BMW Seattle where he worked until 2008. BMW Seattle ran a 13 hour shift for 3 days a week which allowed him to start Broad Stroke Associates and get it off the ground.

Growing.
It has been almost 10 years now and Broad Stroke Associates has grown from a one man part time business to a full time 7 employee 4 bay 2,000 sq ft facility. Parker will be breaking ground on Broad Stroke’s new 10k sq ft facility this spring.

In Parker’s Own Words:
“I started Broad Stroke Associates because I wanted to create a team of BMW specialists who would treat the customer properly, thoroughly explain their recommendations, and build trusting relationships with our clients. Lastly, I needed to be assured that all of our BMWs & MINIs were safe and under the care of the best BMW service hands available.”

Episode Highlights:

  • Digital Vehicle Inspections have contributed to a growth in ARO to the high $800’s
  • Parker field four brand new BMW loaner cars for his customers.
  • A fixer by nature but understand he must work on his business instead of in it.
  • There is a lot of training out there to make you a better leader and Parker attends his share each year.
  • At Broad Stroke they do not do oil changes. Instead they sell ‘Engine Oil Service’ with a plan to have their customers cars last up to 300K miles. The strategy is an immense amount of servicing with as little breakdowns as possible.
  • He is an avid listener to podcasts including Remarkable Results Radio.
  • Parker explains his ‘days open’ strategy, Tuesday – Saturday. It works for his clients.
  • He sees more specialization in the industry with shops working on specific platforms.
  • Wise words ‘Choose Your Hard’, Parker explains.

Web Site for Broad Stroke Associates.

Guest Profile

Years in industry: 18
Years in business ownership: 10
Number of technicians: 3
Number of Lifts and Bays: 4
Other team members: Service Writer – Shop Helper
Annual estimated volume: $1.3M
Days Open: Tuesday – Saturday
Average Annual Training Hours Per Tech: 24
Specialization: BMW
Aftermarket memberships: BIMRS – CRP Innovation Council
Personal Certifications: BMW Master Technician
Primary Supplier Marketing Program: Bosch Service Center
Business Coach: Cecil Bullard

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About the author, Carm Capriotto, AAP

Carm is the founder and host of the Remarkable Results Radio Podcast and the pioneer of automotive aftermarket podcasts. Carm calls on his years of experience in the aftermarket to bring engaging stories from his guests.

Listen to raw, unfiltered, honest, and sincere stories that include insights, trends, best practices, and expertise. Each interview brings an opportunity to learn one new thing through the stories of personal achievement. Many podcast guests tell their story of transformation from working in their business to working on it.

As host of over 1,000 episodes, Carm uses his enthusiasm and passion for the aftermarket especially the service sector to take his listeners on a journey showcasing successful service professionals’ paths to Remarkable Results. He also enjoys interviews with aftermarket industry thought leaders who bring their industry perspectives to his listener.

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