No two shops are the same. From the employees to the equipment to the space constraints, managing workflow is a balancing act. But with enough foresight and strategization, you can maximize throughput with any space. Here is your guide to doing just that.
Equipped with a game plan, the right team, and the right target audience, these two shop owners didn’t follow a path, but built their own as they guided their shops to success. Here’s how they did it.
Lynn Austin has sought to form a local system that sets students up for apprenticeships. Here he details his tips for forming that local network and motivating students in your area to embrace careers as technicians.
With information culled from the inaugural Ratchet+Wrench Industry Survey, here's a statistical breakdown that provides a broader overview of the equipment driving profitable shops and how it affects those businesses' numbers.
Your team, your processes, your mindset—it’s crucial to nail all of these elements down if you want to become a multi-shop owner. Here’s how to set up your shop internally ahead of expansion.
Patrick Leddin, a professor for the managerial studies program at Vanderbilt and a senior consultant for FranklinCovey, bases his seminars and classes around four main tenets of what makes for a great leader. Here's a brief breakdown.
As a recent study noted, saying “no” to customers can cost auto repair shops around $23,000 in annual revenue. Matt Muilenburg, who conducted the study with his company Marchex, breaks down the study as he identifies the root of “negative” language and how can your shop effectively utilize more positive language.
There is a growing list of artificial intelligence options for auto repair shops. From reaching drivers to completing repairs, here’s a breakdown of AI designed to streamline communication with customers.
As someone who has played virtually every role at Adams Autoworx, Melissa Brunson is now bringing everyone to her level as general manager. The results speak for themselves, with annual revenue up $1 million and ARO up $100 over one year ago.
Noted leadership author and speaker Jessica Pettitt wrote an entire book on forming better connections with employees. As a condensed version, here’s a flowchart Pettitt uses as a guide to more meaningful conversations.
Obsessed with thoroughness and organization, Gina Stammers didn't just overhaul finances and human resources at A Master Mechanic—she allowed owner Shari Pheasant to regain control of her business.
Founder of the Technician Improvement Forum at AutoStream Car Care, Joseph Hearn is not only pushing himself, but pushing every fellow technician at his five-shop MSO to up productivity and efficiency
The two leadership experts in this article have mapped out a program that, from beginning to end, provides a blueprint for anyone looking to become a more effective leader. In fact, Ratchet+Wrench can back it up with data culled from the 2018 Ratchet+Wrench Industry Survey.
When you're ready to expand to a second facility, finding that second location can be a trying, draining task. Here's some advice from two shop owners about how they pulled it off.
Forming a connection with customers and building a fanatic following means telling your story. And if you follow the plan laid out by these marketing experts, you’ll not only get that story in front of your community, but ensure it wins you lifelong customers.
With information culled from the inaugural Ratchet+Wrench Industry Survey, here's a statistical breakdown of what shops are tracking KPIs and how it affects those businesses' numbers.
Every business is different—but the numbers that affect repair shops are universal. And knowing how to monitor and improve KPIs is an art. Courtesy of two standout shop operators and information culled from the 2018 Ratchet+Wrench Industry Survey, here’s your guide for tracking KPIs.
Sometimes, to keep up, you don’t need a major shift—you just need to pivot. Here are two shop operators that were able to maintain their core values and beliefs while projecting a new image that fit into their changing surroundings.
Between recruiting and interviewing and onboarding and training, there's a ton of work to be done in finding and retaining employees. Here are the absolute essential ones to keep in mind, according to the Automotive Training Institute.
Automotive Training Institute coaches Don Wafler and Mike Warren presented on better understanding your market at the 2018 ATI SuperConference. During their lengthy presentation, they touched on four simple—yet essential—steps for becoming in tune with your neighborhood.
