Not sure if you know that my daughter Tracy joined our media company and quickly signed on to our purpose to Advance the Aftermarket. She has made a great impact and helped to create the Aftermarket Radio Network. I’ve been encouraging her to find her stride and do her own podcast episode. Well here it is and she shares with you a personal story at the Women In Auto Care Conference in the Spring of 2022. Together we’ve attended ASTE, AAPEX, Vision, the Big Event, and others but this experience, she shares with you, is her first solo event and podcast. Get to know Tracy and see how proud I am to have her join the Aftermarket’s Premier Podcast. Many, I know, will relate to her story.

Watch Video HERE

Key Talking Points

• Speakers: Olivia Newton, Sherron Washington, M.A., Danielle Sonnefeld, Gabrielle Hopkins, Anne Coffin, AAP, Jill Trotta, Kim Nolan, Savannah Sprague, Olivia Newton, Cheryl Thompson, Tammy Tecklenburg, Tara Topel, Tamara Ghandour, Casey Beck, Jessica Hinman, Kathleen Long, Milagros Mendez

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Important Books

Check out today’s partner:

Learn more about NAPA AutoCare and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting www.NAPAAutoCare.com

My guest is Jill Trotta. She is the Vice President for Industry Advocacy and Sales at RepairPal. We talked about the 2019 RepairPal survey that pointed out which metro cities are best for car repair. This is based on factors like average repair order, road quality, average labor rate among others.

The survey talked about the statistics and information about car repair. You will learn the best and the worst cities for repairs according to the survey. The survey also pointed out which cities are most affected by the technician shortage. Listen to Jill’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points

• Best metro cities survey for car repair
  • Average repair order
  • Road quality
  • Average labor rate
  • Ratio registered cars to the number of mechanics
  • 55% of the score is the number of repair shop workers per car and labor rate
    • Are labor rates too low?
    • Lowest average repair bill- Dayton, Ohio
    • If a business wants to have the lowest labor rate it doesn’t help industry- have to charge for work and quality you’re offering
  • 30% labor rate
  • 30% repair invoice totals
• Best city- Jacksonville, FL
  • 5 cities in the Carolina’s in the survey- average repair order low
• Worst cities- 6 California cities in the top 10
  • Bad roads, high labor rate
• Technician shortage- northern areas more affected

Link to the RepairPal 2019 Survey HERE

Talk soon,

Resources:

• Thanks to Jill Trotta for her contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
• Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
• Link to RepairPal website HERE.
• Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:
Facebook   Twitter   Linked In    Email    Events    Speaking

Subscribe to a mobile listening app HERE.

As a member of the NAPA family, AutoCare Center owners can take advantage of the NAPA National Health Program from the NAPA Insurance Center. This “NAPA only” program gives you and your employees access to national “large group” rates on medical insurance with premiums discounted up to 30 percent. These rates are based on the collective purchasing potential of 22,500 NAPA locations including both NAPA AUTO PARTS stores and NAPA AutoCare Centers.

The NAPA Insurance Center can help you with a variety of other insurance benefits too. For more information about The NAPA National Health Benefits program as well as all of the insurance benefits available to your AutoCare Center and your employees, visit the NAPA Benefits Center, at www.napabenefitscenter.com or call the NAPA Benefits Center at 844-627-2123.

Jill Trotta, Vice President, Industry Advocacy and Sales RepairPal discusses pricing transparency and reiterates the fact that it is not going away. Every shop owner should understand this and never let this disable them in any way. If you happen to have a friend who is struggling with pricing, let them listen to this episode and it may be worthwhile for them to best understand how it works and what it means to your operation.

Jill says that millions of people visit the RepairPal site each month and the data they collect helps them understand how to make pricing transparency work for you. She also offers some survey results that, are frankly, disturbing as it relates to satisfied customers. Listen to Jill’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

• Pricing transparency   
  • Use it to your advantage- use it to gain trust with customers
  • Don’t let it disable you as a shop owner
  • Accept fact it is not going away  
• Repair Pal- Fair price source, not cheap price source
  • 6 million site visitors per month- able to get valuable information from consumers via surveys and questionnaires
  • 58% do not feel were charged a fair price with auto repair
  • 36% do not feel the car was fixed right the first time
  • 29% check prices online
  • 63% don’t have $500 extra for emergencies
  • 85% who had car repair had checked the price online prior
  • Let customers go on repairpal.com and see the price range for repairs- cannot give the exact price over the phone because of various factors once you are inside the vehicle   
• Service advisor
  • Need to sell the benefit and value to a consumer
  • Service advisor training and educating is key- should cover estimating and how to present it, have to be knowledgeable  
  • Customers want a discount- instead, offer car wash or detailing service  

Resources:

• Thanks to Jill Trotta for her contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
• Repair Pal Website HERE.
• Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
• Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:
Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email    Events    Speaking

Subscribe to a mobile listening app HERE.

The auto care industry is revving up.  New technologies are changing cars and the way people use them. To stay in the driver’s seat of all these advancements, you need to take charge of your learning, your business, and your legacy. That’s where the 2020 NAPA EXPO comes in. With help from industry experts and the best suppliers and manufacturers, the 2020 NAPA EXPO will provide the innovations and answers you need to charge forward into the future.

This is your chance to network with experts in the industry. Discover the latest innovations that will help you stay market competitive. Learn more about new products, services, and equipment. You will be using them every day.

Join us in Las Vegas, April 6-9, 2020!  Contact your NAPA AUTO PARTS store today to reserve your package for this can’t miss event. Enrollment is going on now.

To learn more about NAPA AutoCare and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

In the picture above is Carolyn Coquillette, Tammy Tecklenburg, Laura Soave and Jill Trotta.

I believe you know of my affection for the Women In Auto Care organization. Ever since I attended my first conference I’ve come to value the work they do to connect, empower and mentor women in our auto care industry. And something you may not know their incredible work with educational scholarships … this year to the tune of $65,000. More on that inside the episode.

2017 Honorees:

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate three accomplished women who share a passion for the automotive industry, a drive for excellence and a mission to mentor the next generation,” said Tammy Tecklenburg, president, Women in Auto Care.

Woman of the Year — Laura Soave, senior vice president, chief marketing and communications officer at Federal-Mogul Motorparts, who was chosen for her significant leadership and contributions to the auto care community throughout her career.

Woman of Excellence — Jill Trotta, director of the automotive group at RepairPal Inc., for providing outstanding contributions to the auto care industry.

Female Shop Owner of the Year — Carolyn Coquillette, owner and master technician of Luscious Garage in San Francisco, who was chosen for having a proven record of excellence in the automotive service industry.

In this interview is Laura Soave, Jill Trotta and Women In Auto Care President Tammy Tecklenburg, the Vice-President of Global Sales and Marketing Operations for Spectrum Brands

Women In Auto Care Website

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:
Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email

This episode is brought to you by Federal-MogulMotorparts and Garage Gurus. With brands like Moog, Felpro, Wagner Brake, Champion, Sealed Power, FP Diesel and more, they’re the parts techs trust.  For serious technical training and support – online, onsite and on-demand – Garage Gurus is everything you need to know. Find out more at fmmotorparts.com  and fmgaragegurus.com

Jacquie Walter Hower is the Director of Operations and 3^rd generation at her family’s business, Zimmerman’s Automotive, in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Typical family indoctrination.
During high school and into college, Jacquie worked part time for the company working in the Quick Lube department as a technician changing oil and maintaining customer vehicles. After her sophomore year of college, she was given the chance to become a manager for a new Quick Lube location for the company.

Director of Operations.
Since then Jacquie’s love for the industry grew into a passion. As director of operations, she handles a number of different jobs such as customer service, service auditing, daily accounting, training, and community involvement/events.

Attending Northwood On-Line.
In the summer of 2016, Jacquie began the Aftermarket Management program at Northwood University where she hopes to complete her bachelor’s degree in two years. Jacquie is involved with the Car Care Women’s Board and sits on the board of directors at the Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce.  She resides in Mechanicsburg, PA with her husband, Dan, and their two young boys, Brantley (4) and Mason (2).

Jacquie is the daughter of previous podcast guest Judy Zimmerman Walter. Hear Judy’s episode fifteen here.

Why Listen?

Talks about her Women’s Board mentor. Former guest Jill Trotta from Repair Pal.

Jacquie talks about the company’s succession plan.

Learn about her Child Seat Certification and how she is helping her community.

Her recent event with Family Service Day supporting 20 families transportation needs.

Zimmerman’s Automotive website here.
Also mentioned in interview; Northwood University Aftermarket Program here.

Feedback, socailly involved and in touch with the show:
Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Phone 716-320-1567   Email

This episode is brought to you by Federal-Mogul Motorparts and Garage Gurus. With brands like Moog, Felpro, Wagner Brake, Champion, Sealed Power, FP Diesel and more, they’re the parts techs trust.  For serious technical training and support – online, onsite and on-demand – Garage Gurus is everything you need to know. Find out more at fmmotorparts.com  and fmgaragegurus.com

You are about to experience a first for the podcast. I went on the road to Orlando to the Car Care Council’s Women’s Board Winter meeting. Going to a conference is not the earth shattering news. Bringing my recording equipment was.

This episode is a compilation of short interviews done in Orlando in early February 2016. These interviews were done randomly in a make shift mobile studio set up.

Why Listen?

The women interviewed, spoke on their experience at the meeting, their take-a-ways and of the value the agenda brought to them both personally and professionally.

Get a feel of the buzz that enveloped the participants and reactions to the value of networking.

Forgive the background noise as we were LIVE on site. The women’s board was very supportive in my quest to record these moments and thoughts of these twelve industry professionals. I thank the women’s board team and president Amy Mattinat for their support.

• Jill Trotta, Director Automotive Group, Repair Pal
• Shari Pheasant, COO Institute for Automotive Business Excellence
• Ann Coffin, Director of IT, Auto Value/Bumper To Bumper
• Janis Roznowski, Executive Director & Founder, Operation Comfort
• Rena Rennebohm, Automotive Business Coach, ACT
• Suzanne Hawley, Executive Director, Family Service Day
• Nancy Anderson, Key Account Manager, BOSCH
• Dawn Griffiths Gonzalez, Brand Manager, Trico Products Corporation
• Grayce Nance, Head Innovator, Motor City New Concepts
• JC Lindquist, Head of Retail, Automatic
• Anna Matisak, PR Manager, Radius
• Amy Mattinat, President Women’s Board, Owner Auto Craftsman

Visit the Women’s Board web site here.

Listen to all interviews with women industry leaders here.
Listen to Amy Mattinat, shop owner interview here.
Listen to Amy Mattinat Women’s Board interview here.
Listen to Jill Trotta episode here.
Listen to Shari Pheasant, Horse Power Strategies interview here.
Listen to Shari Pheasant, COO interview here.

This episode is brought to you by Federal-Mogul Motorparts and Garage Gurus. With brands like Moog, Felpro, Wagner Brake, Champion, Sealed Power, FP Diesel and more, they’re the parts techs trust.  For serious technical training and support – online, onsite and on-demand – Garage Gurus is everything you need to know. Find out more at fmmotorparts.com  and fmgaragegurus.com

Jill Trotta, Director Automotive Group at RepairPal provides an in-depth discussion on the benefits and value of this shop referral site. A few of our previous podcast guests are RepairPal members and that got me curious and prompted a call to Jill for an interview. According to Jill there are 1200 participant shops in their program and there has been a phenomenal growth in the two years she has been with RepairPal. She says their website is getting 3.5 million hits and brings in about 12 opportunities, each month, for participant shop. Among the take-a-ways she discusses a vetting process for new shops that is necessary to keep RepairPal’s integrity high. Pricing transparency came up and we had a lively discussion on it. See for yourself if RepairPal brings value to your shop.

Repair Pal Website