Road to NAPA Auto Care Gold Certified: From Technician to Owner of 6 Locations [RR 946]
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care
Brad Updegraff’s transition from a general service technician to a visionary business owner of 6 NAPA Gold Certified locations is a story of dedication and strategic planning. Discover the milestones and the speed bumps he encountered along the way.
Brad Updegraff, Dave’s Ultimate Automotive, 6 locations, Austin, TX.
Show Notes
- Watch Full Video
- Learn more about NAPA Auto Care Gold Certified and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care
- Transition to the automotive field (00:01:55) Brad’s transition from managing a pizza delivery company to becoming a general service technician in a small gas station repair shop.
- Seizing the opportunity (00:05:06) The unexpected opportunity that led Brad to become a partner in 2012 and the risks and steps involved in his journey.
- Building a successful partnership (00:06:15) The partnership with a former homebuilding executive and the successful merging of their expertise for store growth and development.
- Learning the business side (00:07:25) Brad’s learning curve in understanding the business side, seeking help, and investing in personal and business development.
- Challenges in growth and expansion (00:10:52) The challenges in advertising, customer base, and geographical analysis that impacted the decision to halt further expansion.
- Recruitment and training strategies (00:12:29) Brad’s recruitment strategies, including internal referrals and partnerships with local vocational schools for technician training.
- Promoting the industry to youth (00:14:32) The need for industry professionals to promote the technical nature of the automotive industry to young people and engage with vocational schools.
- Advisory Board Representation (00:17:10) Importance of representation on advisory boards for independent dealers and community colleges.
- Community Involvement and Giving Back (00:18:13) Support for charitable foundations, including Make-A-Wish and suicide prevention organizations.
- NAPA Gold Certification (00:21:28) Benefits and significance of achieving NAPA Gold certification for automotive businesses.
- Engagement in Training (00:23:18) Strategies for encouraging staff to participate in training and the value of owner involvement.
- Perpetual Learning and Magic Makers (00:27:16) The importance of perpetual learning, the concept of “magic makers,” and the impact on the organization.
- Employee Retention and Team Building (00:29:55) Strategies for retaining employees, team building, and celebrating milestones within the organization.
- Work-Life Balance and Store Visits (00:32:02) Balancing work and personal life, commitment to family, and the importance of store visits for management.
- Intuition and Common Sense (00:33:14) The importance of intuition and common sense in business decisions and management.
- Succession Planning (00:34:12) Discussing internal succession planning and opportunities for employees to grow within the company.
- Industry Challenges and Opportunities (00:34:53) Cyclical nature of the industry, market correction, and fighting for market share.
- Market Trends and Customer Conversion (00:36:12) Impact of market trends, potential for customer conversion, and the impact of economic factors.
- Financing Repair (00:38:00) The increasing use of financing options for vehicle repairs and its impact on the industry.
- Work-Life Balance and Reflection (00:38:54) The importance of work-life balance and reflecting on career choices and experiences.
- Overcoming Struggles and Mistakes (00:40:49) The journey to success, overcoming struggles, and learning from mistakes.
Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care
Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care
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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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