There’s a lot of discussion these days about providing superior customer service – in fact, this subject is the cornerstone of my Pinnacle Performance sales and customer service training for the tire/auto service industry. For a great example of how superior customer experiences correlate to increased profitability, look no further than Starbucks.
Computer technology may be an earth-shaking breakthrough in gathering information, but it can’t always help with one simple problem common to shop owners everywhere: How to find good employees.
Automotive Lift Institute Inc. (ALI) and Petty’s Garage LLC (PG) have announced a new partnership program. As part of the agreement, ALI will be an active participant in the Petty’s Garage Performance Tour. Although thousands of fans and customers visit Petty’s Garage every year, this tour will bring Petty’s Garage to the nationwide consumer.
No more written exams. That was one update on the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) given by Tony Molla, vice president of communications for ASE, at the Collision Industry Conference held Jan. 12-13 in Palm Springs, CA.
Federated member Hovis Auto & Truck Supply has opened its new Hovis Technical Training Center located in Mercer, PA. The 10,000 square-foot hands-on training facility is equipped with the most advanced tools and equipment and is dedicated to instructing professional service technicians about time-saving and problem-solving techniques, according to Hovis.
AVI and Babcox are joining forces with Bob Cooper of Elite Worldwide to offer a webinar, “Creating Team Spirit in Your Auto Repair Shop!” which will cover employee management, and more specifically, internal communication and how to manage the relationships between advisors and technicians. Use the special coupon code to enroll in the $29.95 webinar at no charge!
Continuing its long and successful partnership, Federated Auto Parts will once again sponsor NASCAR legend Ken Schrader and his race teams during the 2012 season.
Bosch has announced the launch of a new complete line of Bosch Workshop Oil Filters targeted to the traditional automotive repair market in the U.S. and Canada.
The average age of cars and light trucks currently in operation in the U.S. has increased to 10.8 years, according to Polk. Passenger cars showed a modest increase in age since 2010, from 11 years to just 11.1 years at the end of June 2011. Light trucks (including pickups and SUVs) show a more sizeable gain in the same timeframe, from 10.1 years to 10.4 years.
Babcox Media Inc. is pleased to announce its acquisition of Automotive Video Inc. (AVI), effective Jan. 1, 2012. AVI’s broad range of educational products for technicians and video production capabilities adds to Babcox Media’s portfolio of media properties and marketing services and will enable the company to extend its reach farther throughout the automotive aftermarket, tire, performance, collision, commercial trucking, engine building and powersports markets.