SHOP OWNER – ESTABLISHING A SHOP’S CHAIN OF COMMAND
A team of great employees is a lot like a well-oiled army platoon. In order to succeed, everyone needs to know their role, needs to support one another, and needs …
MOTOR AGE – TEAM ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WILL BRING CARS INTO YOUR SHOP
Car count is about much more than advertising. This entire article is built on that fact, so I’m not going to bury it down the page. In successful shops, the …
DRIVE EMPLOYEE INERTIA
by David Rogers As published in MotorAge Magazine It’s no secret that we’re facing a technician shortage in our industry. I could write an entire article on why we’re facing …
RATCHET & WRENCH – IMPROVING CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION WITH TECHNOLOGY
When the term “artificial intelligence” was coined back in 1955 by John McCarthy, the idea was simple: train computers to think and learn like humans. “Machines as simple as thermostats …
APM FOUNDERS EVOLVE REPAIR SHOP INDUSTRY
The aftermarket automotive industry is no stranger to change, as technicians must adapt constantly to new components and technology in new vehicles. Shop management hasn’t changed nearly as rapidly, however, …
SHOP OWNER – GROWING YOUR BUSINESS
Opening a second location is a tempting idea for many shop owners, and why not? Twice the sales, twice the profits, and a chance to go through the process again …
SHOP OWNER – STEPS TOWARD SMOOTH SAILING
We’ve all been there. It’s one of those days, weeks, months… Customers just keep coming in in waves and your shop is crazier than it’s ever been – your techs …
MOTOR AGE – ARE YOU READY FOR AI IN YOUR SHOP?
In mid-2017, Audi announced its new A8 would be fully self-driving up to 40 miles per hour. Nissan is following suit with a full range of driverless vehicles by 2020. …
SHOP OWNER – SUSTAINABLY INCREASE YOUR CAR COUNT
“I need more customers!” I’ve heard this so many times, from so many different shop owners. If only there were more cars, they say, their problems would fade away. The …
MOTOR AGE – TRAINING MULTIPLE LEARNING STYLES
Do you remember the first time you saw a colored wiring diagram? Those things are a beauty! Before those came along, technicians were left deciphering a spaghetti mess of wires, …
RATCHET & WRENCH: CREATING A SUCCESFUL SHOP CULTURE
To a passerby, there’s not much that stands out about Keller Bros. Auto Repair. Actually, it’s difficult to even notice it. The shop sits in a sunken strip mall, a …
MOTOR AGE – GETTING RESULTS FROM CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
The first step in building strong, lasting relationships is by cultivating a team of loyal, caring, committed people. Early on after I came to work for Terry Keller at Keller …
MOTOR AGE – THE TWO TIMES YOU NEED TO ADVERTISE
David Rogers, the Chief Operating Officer of Keller Brothers Inc., and president of Auto Profit Masters, discusses the two times you need to advertise to make sure you have customers …
AUTO INC. – SYNC UP FOR SUCCESS
By Terry Keller In 43 years of shop management and ownership, I’ve made every mistake possible. There was a year when my accountant had to prepare 102 W2s. Imagine how …
RATCHET & WRENCH: TIPS TO EFFECTIVE COACHING
It was one business conversation David Rogers initially felt wholly unequipped to handle, and one he’ll never forget. One night in the late 1990s, as Rogers wrapped up a shift …
SHOP OWNER: WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER
It takes a lot of technical know-how to service modern vehicles. But there would be a lot more shop owners and technicians walking around with fat wallets nowadays if running …
THE ROLLERCOASTER OF SHOP MANAGEMENT
In a special Shop Owner article, Terry Keller gives a personal account of the trials and tribulations that come along with owning a small business. He offers some advice on …
PRIORITIZE TRAINING IN YOUR SHOP TO BUILD A CULTURE OF SUCCESS
It’s no longer a matter of “making time” for training because it is the most important thing you can do with your time. Steve Jobs wore the same outfit every …
CHANGING PROBLEMS VERSUS FIXING THEM
Terry here. Have you heard that you can crack an egg into a radiator to plug the leak? Even if it works for a time, all it does is change …
PART 2: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE SHORT ON CASH BUT NEED TO DO MARKETING!
This is part 2 of an article Terry posted earlier. Click here to read part one! Here’s the Problem Deep discount ads can bring a high response, no doubt. They …