Understandably, people prefer to be treated like human beings. Sadly, most auto service businesses fail at this critical “emotion” component. With no process in place, they default to treating customers like just another job, another ticket, another vehicle in their daily car count.
You’ve heard it time and time again, and probably more than you’d like to hear it, but the technician shortage is a very real problem facing the industry. And, it’s a problem you should start addressing now.
A good employee handbook records the company’s rules and communicates them to your employees in an easy, understandable way. If a handbook is well drafted, it provides helpful information on what’s expected from employees and what they can expect from their employer.
How do you set the bar for high performance at your automotive business? This article covers six essential elements.
Working in the automotive repair industry can be a nightmare in terms of time management and work-life balance. At one time or another, we’ve all gone through periods of putting in 80-hour work weeks and barely seeing the light of day, much less our loved ones. Ever walk into your shop on a day off and feel like you can’t get out of there?
While courtesy shuttles once served as a solution, today they no longer offer the same “wow factor” for customers as they once did. Instead, savvy shop owners are beginning to follow the example of luxury car dealerships – offering customers a loaner car to use while their own vehicle is in the shop, especially in the case of overnight repairs.
Geotargeting has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for marketers, and for good reason. The ability to reach your target customer based on where they are spending their time is a revolutionary advancement, increasing a business owner’s chance of delivering the right message at the right time.
A Harvard University study found that the amount of time spent on assembling a business plan is directly related to that business’s success. Owners who spend six months or less on the plan ended up with an 80% failure rate, but those who spent a year or more on the plan had an 80% success rate.
Some of the most common questions I hear are, “Can I do that?” “Can I require that behavior?” “Can I make this policy change?” and – most notably – “Can I fire him?” Today, our question is, “Can I ask my employees to sign that?”
Families can be messy. Mixing business and families together can sometimes be an extension of that mess. Keep in mind these few tips that will help you avoid arguments and prevent business disruption.
We spend one-third of our lives at work, and we frequently face physical and mental stress or anxiety. Or, we see it in others. Wellness is a significant issue today and will increase in importance if for no other reason than the cost factor.
Just like anything else in this industry and in life – building a winning shop culture takes time and effort, in addition to strategy. Good thing no one in the auto repair industry is afraid of a little hard work!
