Jamie Carlson is an Owner at Ervine’s Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrid. Look for Jamie’s other episodes HERE.

Rachael Wacha, City Auto Repair, Gainsville, FL. Rachael Wacha was born and raised in Gainesville, FL. Her career started in the Salon industry, then to writing home and auto insurance coverage. In 2010, she started working for her father at City Auto Repair, Inc. It didn’t take her long to fall in love with the business.

By 2012, she had doubled sales in a year. In February 2013 Rachael was written about in a nationwide automotive magazine. Since then, Rachael went from managing the business to owning it in 2016. City Auto Repair is a AAA approved repair facility. Rachael is currently the President of the Automotive Service Association in the Gainesville/Ocala area.

Rachael is extremely passionate about educating women in automotive repair, which is why she started hosting free Car Care Clinics, “Lipstick and Dipsticks” for women. Look for Rachael’s other episodes HERE.

Emily Chung is a proud mom of two energetic boys. She owns and operates AutoNiche, a family-friendly auto repair shop in Markham. She is a licensed Automotive Service Technician, and Automotive Writer with various publications. She also teaches in the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College. Emily holds a degree from the University of Waterloo in Psychology and Business, and her previous jobs include Psychometrist and Human Resources Associate.

She has appeared on various media including Breakfast Television, Cityline, and the Marilyn Denis Show. She is passionate about her work; together with her staff, AutoNiche’s purpose is to bring better communication and client service to the auto repair experience. Check Emily’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

• Marketing to women Clean environment when customers walk in- first impression, cleanliness is a part of sales, also for your employees  
• Adding cleanliness and masculinity into business
• Attracts the customer (male or female) that will be the most satisfied with the quality of service you offer
• Inspire women to post on google reviews
• Market yourself if women business owner
• Free car care clinics for men/ women- checking fluids, changing tires etc. Educate and empower them. 
• Advice for margins/cost management and becoming profitable Find a coach/smart group/ 20 group/networking group
• When you become profitable you are able to pay technicians more  
• Not getting hung up on “list price” from part supplier
• Margins are going to be all different dependent on your area- goal is to keep and gain customer, sometimes have to adjust margins  
• Value of part that is charged- warranty and safety
• Business during the pandemicContinue to wipe down cars and steering wheels
• Shopware-contactless business, digital communication
• Touchless doesn’t mean voiceless or that you aren’t going to build a relationship with them  
• Changing the hiring process using Zoom Zoom interview with everyone in shop- takes about 2 hours  
• Allows other employees to have say in interviewing process 
• Can also do work trials or video resumes 

Resources:

• Thanks to Jamie Carlson, Rachael Wacha, and Emily Chung for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
• Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
• Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser and many more. Mobile Listening APP’s HERE
• Find every podcast episode HERE.
• Every episode segmented by Series HERE.
• Key Word Search HERE.

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The NAPA Smart Sign, previously known as Digital Menu Board, gives your shop a professional, state-of-the-art look and feel. It’s a great way to educate and inform your customers about needed repairs and service, plus increase awareness of your current promotions. NAPA AutoCare Center that have installed a Digital Menu Board found one out of five consumers ask for a repair or service they’ve seen on the board. Targeted promotions resulted in double-digit increases. You choose the content from a library of auto care service and repair topics. The latest NAPA national promotions are downloaded to you automatically. And with the Digital Menu Board it’s easy to change your services, prices, and video content anytime you’d like. Talk to your servicing NAPA store to find out more.

Learn more about NAPA Smart Sign and the hundreds of other benefits NAPA offers. visit the NAPA Benefits Center, at www.napabenefitscenter.com or call the NAPA Benefits Center at 844-627-2123.

Panel:

• Rachael Wacha, City Auto Repair, Gainsville, FL
• Kate Jonasee, K-Tech, Sebastopol, CA (MSO)
• Donnie Hudson, Troy Auto Care, Troy, MI (MSO)
• Jeremy Winters, Service Manager at Weavers Auto Center, Shawnee, KS

Talking Points:

• Kate’s big thing was the improvement in her company culture and the psychology of herself as a leader was impactful.
• Rachael, getting yourself centered so you can make a change with your team
• Some on your team will exit themselves as they choose not to be team players
• Technical and management training is so important to the development of your team
• Donnie does cross-training so each other knows the other job
• Training happens when the culture breeds continuing education
• Localize training needs to be more hands-onHire a national trainer and split costs with fellow shop owners and set up a Saturday for a daytime hands-on
• Labor rates are a reflection of your value proposition. 
• Labor rates should be a function of the business not of the market
• If you did your job right it is never about the labor rate
• Customers want to trust you  
• Rachel sells here value vs price or labor rate
• Customers ask price or rates because they don’t know what else to ask
• Focusing on the customer is part of your culture. They will now it and feel it
• You can offer a value proposition for your customers even if you just started. Start out strong with a strong culture and commitment to your team and your customerSurround yourself with people smarter than you
• Ask other shop owners 90% of them want to help. Put your ego on the shelf. Be humble
• Weavers got completely off of flat rate. They have six-figure technicians on an hourly planYou can tie many performance bonuses
• Donnie and kate has put in place an IRA plan for their techs
• Comebacks:Handled as a #1 priorityThis show the character of the company by how you handle come backs
• Consider a system to track every come back to spot a trend
• Kate and Jeremy are watching the growth of EV’s 
• Kate and Donny are not heavily into Hybrids
• Rachael feels that having peers and colleagues helping her has had a big impact on here business
• Kate feels that her business coach has had a huge impact on her businessShe recently had 36 other shop owners touring her facility where there was knowledge transfer happening for everyoneBonding and Q & A happening
• Idea sharing
• Jeremy has seen the impact of a business coach on the business. A game-changer
• Donnie’s coaching experience is from his local business development group. Sharing, caring, teaching
• Succession planning. How do you plan to doEvery decision you make should be on succeeding the business
• Family businesses have unique dynamics. Open communication is critical
• If you can’t find a successor with the passion necessary you don’t have a good candidate

Resources:

• A special thanks to Donnie Hudson, Kate Jonasee, Rachel Wacha and Jeremy Winters 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.

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Rachael Wacha was born and raised in Gainesville, FL. Her career started in the Salon industry, then to writing home and auto insurance coverage. In 2010, she started working for her father at City Auto Repair, Inc. It didn’t take her long to fall in love with the business.

By 2012, she had doubled sales in a year. In February 2013 Rachael was written about in a nationwide automotive magazine. Since then, Rachael went from managing the business to owning it in 2016.

City Auto Repair is a AAA approved repair facility. Rachael is currently the President of the Automotive Service Association in the Gainesville/Ocala area.

Rachael is extremely passionate about educating women in automotive repair, which is why she started hosting free Car Care Clinics, “Lipstick and Dipsticks” for women.

Talking Points:

• Overcame challenges in her early life. She was on Medicaid, on food stamps and a single mom.
• Joined the family business and was not sure where that was going to go.
• Cleaned up the place and joined the service counter because she knows people.
• It did not take long for her to get accepted on the counter.
• She learned that she was very much the same as her dad. He did not appreciate how important she was to the business.
• In 2012 she doubled sales in a year.
• At 31-year-old Rachael became the shop owner.
• She connected with Gary Gunn and joined a ‘50’ group.
  • It was her most incredible experience to join that coaching team and mentoring group.
• She is part of Aaron Stokes mastermind Shop Fix Academy.
• She shares the moment when she got a big raise from her dad.
• She struggled with finding good service advisor help.
  • She found a superstar that loves the business just as much as she does.
• Rachael finds things positive in every challenge.
• She is investing in vocational training and engaging with students.
• Rachael is working on being better organized in her office.
• Looking for a ‘B’ tech for the shop.
• Is starting to share her numbers with her team.
• Her goal is $1MM in sales.
• Having Monday morning meetings with her team and setting standards (goals).
• She offers advice on succession plans.
• Our industry is so competitive but we are stronger when we are together.

City Auto Repair Website

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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