ASE has made a commitment to its certifications and continues to push forward with its own app to make recertifications a learning opportunity. Not only do certifications benefit the technician and business owner, but it is also a tool to educate customers. It’s time to promote your business and employees and show your professionalism in the industry as ASE celebrates its 50th year.

Brad Pellman, Pellman’s Automotive, Boulder, CO, and ASE Board Chairman. Brad’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points

• Brad has been on the ASE board for 10 years
• 50th anniversary of ASE- made up of a group of directors, and a large body of governors 
• Brad started as a technician- was afraid to test his knowledge
• Certifications- defines you as a technician, give you pride, designation to customers and employer. 
• Promoting your business- shows customers you are high quality and technological advanced 
• Working on ADAS and Safety Certifications for hybrid and EV
• ASE is meeting the standard for licenses  
• ASE Renewal app- for recertification, answer questions on your own timeline, learning opportunity. A business owner can monitor the tests.
• Future expansions to L1
• Looking for a new job? Has business closed? Certifications help with finding a new job and differentiates yourself from other candidates  
• Increase wages based on certifications- technicians are in charge of their own pay

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Key Talking Points

• What was the most rewarding experience in your career? Had already started scaling a virtual studio prior to COVID 19 shutdown and was able to launch virtual classrooms.
• How did you start your Allstar network of surrounding people? Connected with people through internet groups at first. Listened intently to people’s attitudes and passions. 
• Advice- pay it forward, remember the basics, be servants in the industry for others 
• How important is it to have personal relationships? Businesses grow through personal relationships. Don’t be worried about hurting someone’s feelings or being transparent when times are tough. Technology changes but you always have 24 hours in a day. Do the right things at the right time- manage that time well. 
• Do you have any regrets? Ideas that weren’t put into action but if you sit long enough you’ll find regrets, don’t sit on them.
• Service ready shop- specialization is necessary for the future. The challenge is the critical need to ensure the technicians have the skills to be able to solve problems. Competency.
• Technician shortage- creating a specialist/career path for the younger generation. Hold people to standard with training. Create a personal relationship with vocational school instructors and offer support. Offer to tell your story of how you started in the industry. Invest in the people you already have- growing with skills that meet your business model. Erosion of technicians- is this all there is? Is this all I’ll ever do and be? Are you charging enough so you can pay your employees what they are worth?
• Full EV disruption- CTI has created EV content for training (virtual and hands on), EV is a disruptor but where? Market location, and how you prepared prior (first Prius is 20 years old). Challenges- EV doesn’t only mean battery electric vehicles, most will be hybrid. Infrastructure issues for charging and hydrogen.
• What’s next for Chris Chesney? He isn’t leaving the industry

• A special thanks to Chris Chesney for his contribution to the aftermarket.

• Books Page HERE
• Listen to all Remarkable Results Radio, For The Record and Town Hall Academy episodes.

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Join the Ecosystem – Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE.

Buy Carm a Cup of Coffee 

This episode is brought to you by Shop-Ware Shop Management. It’s time to run your business at its fullest potential with the industry’s leading technology. Shop-Ware Shop Management will increase your efficiency with lightning-fast workflows, help your staff capture more sales every day, and create very happy customers who promote your business. Shops running Shop-Ware have More Time and generate More Profit—join them! Schedule a free live demonstration and find out how 30 minutes can transform your shop at getshopware.com

Are you seeing auto shops in your area get hundreds of 5-star Google reviews and are you feeling left behind because your shop only has a few?

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Plus, asking for feedback makes your customer feel valued and more connected to your business. Isn’t that what you want a connected customer? See how Broadly can help grow your auto shop.  Visit www.getbroadly.com/chat to learn more.

Informative and fun 25 minutes to improve your business and career. Shop Tour at Pellman’s Automotive, Boulder, CO. Guest host Amy Mattinat from Autocraftsmen, Montpelier, VT. Streaming on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. #aftermarketweekly #aftermarketstrong. Episode 22

• Guest Host – Amy Mattinat, Auto Craftsmen, Montpelier, VT – Pivoting During COVID and Trends She Sees
• Shop Tour with Brad Pellman, Pellman’s’ Auto in Boulder, CO
• Swiss Race Car Driver Built his first Car in 1911

Brad Pellman first started working in the automotive industry at the age of 15 and over his career has held a wide variety of jobs at both dealerships and independent repair shops. In 1995 this dream of owning his own shop became a reality when he opened up Pellman’s Automotive in Boulder, CO with his wife, Lisa.

Brad is ASE master certified and AAM designated as well. He is currently on the Board of Directors for ASE and ASA Colorado, with past board involvement with CCPN and the TECHNET Automotive Council. He has had the added privilege of being designated as one of the Motor Age Top shops in the country. And hopes to continue to raise the awareness and importance of Independent automotive repair across the country. Brad’s previous episodes HERE.

Peter Foreman from Integra Tire, Second Generation Shop Owner, 39 Years old from Langley, BC. Peter literally grew up in the shop. As a baby, there was a cot in the office while his mom Cheryl did the books! Taking his Dad Dave’s beliefs and expanding on them, Peter went out and made a career on his own in the auto parts industry before deciding to come back and help his family bring the shop into the next age of auto service and repair in 2005. Peter is happily married with two children. His children love to visit the shop as well. Maybe there will be a third-generation one day! Learn of Peter’s Previous episodes HERE.

Paul Marquardt Started in this business in 1979 as a pump jockey and lube tech. Paul attended various training over the years, some of it daytime training 4 hours of travel time. He bought the business Northwoods Auto Techs, Rhinelander, WI, in 1990 and in 1995 expanded from 2 bays to 5 bays and became a NAPA Autocare center at the same time. He was the NAPA Stevens Point NAPA ASE Tech of the Year from 1999 through 2008 and was the National NAPA ASE Tech of the Year for 2010. Paul Joined the NAPA Autotech training team around 2011 as a contract trainer and have been doing that as well as keeping the business going. Learn of Paul’s Previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points: 

• Big reality is that there is enough business for everyone.
• You cannot work on all the cars that drive by your shop
• Problem is not the shop across the street or down the road
• Many shop owners have learned from their peers
• Smart shop owners are in a network and talk weekly
• There is no reason to create from scratch. Get ideas from colleagues, tweak to make them yours and implement. It is called R & D. Ripoff and Duplicate
• It is better to have friends than enemiesCall for support from a local team or network can help you solve a problem
• If you get along they can be there to help you
• You see strong comradery at events like Vision. Why can’t that get down to the very local level?
• You solve problems by having resources. Friends in your market can help you
• In Peter’s group, they used to have a Google sheet that listed all their tools so they knew what they could borrow
• If you borrow a tool twice you should own it
• You can also share business challenges and marketing ideasSome have even helped with a tech
• If you share marketing ideas use different companies to keep your identities separate
• Visit every new shop in your area. Just stop in.Ask for their opinion on things. Tools, training, etc
• Encourage the shop down the road to visit aftermarket events including social events and training
• No secret sauce exists. Don’t worry about someone taking ideas. That is the point. Make it your own and grow your business
• Don’t ever talk negatively about another shop. It does not make you look good. It makes you look small
• Always defend shops in your town
• You may discover a customer who is never happyFriends share that information
• We are all in the business for the same thing and we cannot work on every carWorking together insures your own success
• Fighting one another never grows a great industry
• “You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.” Jim Rohn
• Friends help you. Make your competitor your friend. It is not a bad thing. It will help you grow your business
• Help each other with tools and similar software systems. 
• Small Shops … Big Egos. It is real not to share and have your Ego get in front of important decisions.
• You’ll never get better if your ego rules
• If your customer ends up at the shop up the street. Then you screwed up.
• Friendships enable your success

Resources:

• A special thanks to Brad Pellman, Paul Marquardt, and Peter Foreman for their contribution to the aftermarket.
• Books Page HERE
• Listen to all Remarkable Results Radio, For The Record and Town Hall Academy episodes.

Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email

Mobile Listening APP’s HERE

Join the Ecosystem – Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE.

Buy Carm a Cup of Coffee 

This episode is brought to you by Shop-Ware Shop Management. It’s time to run your business at its fullest potential with the industry’s leading technology. Shop-Ware Shop Management will increase your efficiency with lightning-fast workflows, help your staff capture more sales every day, and create very happy customers who promote your business. Shops running Shop-Ware have More Time and generate More Profit—join them! Schedule a free live demonstration and find out how 30 minutes can transform your shop at shop-ware.com

The Panel:

Bryan Gossel, BG Automotive, Fort Collins CO  Brian’s Previous Episodes HERE.

Phil Carpenter, Director of Operations, Urban AutoCare and Avalon Motorsports.

Judi Haglin and husband Dana own Haglin Automotive Inc., a full-service auto repair shop in Boulder, CO, and they’ve been leaders in the Boulder auto repair industry since 1981.

Judi and Dana have a super working relationship and they pay attention to details, share a core value; ‘Everyone Speaks’ that is part of their strong business culture.

They received Motor Age’s Top Shop honor in 2015. Key to their success is they know their roles and together make a strong business owner. They say, “Fixing cars is secondary, we are primarily solving our customer’s problems”. Judi’s previous episodes HERE.

Brad Pellman first started working in the automotive industry at the age of 15 and over his career has held a wide variety of jobs at both dealerships and independent repair shops. In 1995 this dream of owning his own shop became a reality when he opened up Pellman’s Automotive in Boulder, CO with his wife, Lisa.

Brad is ASE master certified and AAM designated as well. He is currently on the Board of Directors for ASE and ASA Colorado, with past board involvement with CCPN and the TECHNET Automotive Council. He has had the added privilege of being designated as one of the Motor Age Top shops in the country. And hopes to continue to raise the awareness and importance of Independent automotive repair across the country. Brad’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

• Training is Maintenance
• Why is the participation low at so many regional and/or national events
• Listen to the commitment from Phil Carpenter as to the number of venues and how many of his team are going to matter how far including Vision, ASA Colorado Summit and STX
• Localize training with your fellow shop owners. Don’t call them competitors call them allies
• Classes for technicians, service advisers and owners
• The power of networking beyond the training
• Build grassroots in your community and create a culture of sharing
• Be the hand up not the handout. Give.
• Also, be willing to receive and then implement a great idea. Don’t regret for years not implementing
• Realize that there is enough business for everyone. You cannot fix all the cars
• A good shop wants the shop across the street to be as good as them
• Same faces show up for training
• When will shops hit the wall because they are not training? Many may have already
• Bring in national trainers to your marketplace, get together with your allies and split the costs
• Have all local competitors work together on training. There is no competition when it comes to the power and value of training
• If you don’t implement the key things you learn you just wasted your time
• When you teach you learn
• ADAS training should be required for all owners, techs and service advisers. Understanding the complexities and calibration routines will help communicate with your customer and respect the technology while working on an ADAS equipped vehicle
• Asking for help is a sign of strength not weakness
• Consider a training bonus at year-end
• Pay for all training
• Do not ask for a written commitment to stay with the shop after you invest in training
• Find a close friend who owns a shop and work together as collaborator and an ally

Resources:

• A special thanks to Bryan Gossel, Brad Pellman, Phil Carpenter, and Judi Haglin for their contribution to the aftermarket.
• Books Page HERE
• Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.
• Listen to all Remarkable Results Radio, For The Record and Town Hall Academy episodes.

Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email

Mobile Listening APP’s HERE

Join the Ecosystem – Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE.

Buy Carm a Cup of Coffee 

This episode is brought to you by Shop-Ware Shop Management. It’s time to run your business at its fullest potential with the industry’s leading technology. Shop-Ware Shop Management will increase your efficiency with lightning-fast workflows, help your staff capture more sales every day, and create very happy customers who promote your business. Shops running Shop-Ware have More Time and generate More Profit—join them! Schedule a free live demonstration and find out how 30 minutes can transform your shop at shop-ware.com

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