Alex Van Abbema

A Process for Performing Group Interviews

August 9, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Group interviews can be a great way to see if a candidate fits in with your team. Here’s how to properly execute them.

Tariffs Could Further Raise Record-High Vehicle Age

August 8, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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If President Donald Trump does eventually place tariffs on 25 percent of all imports of automobiles, the price of a new car could jump between $1,400 and $7,000. If this is the case, the already record-high age of vehicles may continue to rise.

6 Tips for Catering to Customers

August 6, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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From handling unruly customers to responding to negative reviews, there are plenty of tips shop owners can take from restaurants when it comes to quality customer service. Here are six tips the two customer service experts offer for servicing a customer base.

Shop View: Auto Tech LLC

August 2, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Take a virtual tour of Auto Tech LLC, an eco-friendly shop that renovated a run-down barn in order to build a uniquely designed facility.

Previewing AAPEX’s Road to Great Technicians

August 1, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Chris Chesney, senior director of training at Carquest Technical Institute, is one of the panelists on AAPEX Automotive Career Pathways: The Road to Great Technicians, and spoke with Ratchet+Wrench to give readers a small preview of what they can expect at the session

Budgeting a Yearlong Marketing Plan

August 1, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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When creating a yearlong marketing plan, it’s vital for budgeting and marketing to be intertwined. Here are seven steps for forming that plan.

Recruiting Technicians for the Booming Heavy Duty Aftermarket

July 31, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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The heavy duty aftermarket is booming, and many organizations, including Volvo Trucks and the Auto Care Association, are paying attention and finding ways to recruit technicians to the industry.

Putting on Car Care Clinics for Kids

July 31, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Patrick McHugh, owner of Richmond, Va.-based Bimmer Rescue, found another creative way to offer his time to get young people into his shop and teach them about the industry.

Your Blueprint to Becoming a Better Leader

Leadership Boot Camp

July 30, 2018

Travis Bean and Alex Van Abbema

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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.

Inside an Effective Apprenticeship Program

July 26, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Building a mutually beneficial internship program can help you develop a strong pipeline of talented, long-term staff members.

The Secret to Maximizing Effective Labor Rate

July 25, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Effective labor rate is a simple calculation that tells you what your shop actually makes per billed hour. Here are several tips for maximizing this important KPI.

Q&A: Mobile Repair Giant Wrench Discusses Growth Plan

July 23, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Ratchet+Wrench spoke with Wrench CEO Ed Petersen to learn more about his company’s partnership with e-commerce platform Carvana and Wrench’s growth plans going forward.

6 Steps to Develop a Beneficial Rewards Program

July 23, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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If you have a main goal in mind and invest accordingly, even the simplest rewards program can boost customer retention.

Going Green with an ROI

July 19, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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As Gary Jeck can attest, going green isn’t just a feel-good story—it’s a way to boost your shop’s bottom line and improve its position in the marketplace. Here's how one simple eco-friendly effort has benefitted his shop.

Openbay to Use $8M Shell Investment to Grow Team, Market Services

July 16, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Openbay CEO Rob Infantino spoke with Ratchet+Wrench about how an $8 million investment from Shell will be integral in growing the company’s staff and marketing it services going forward.

Q&A: Why Shops are Ditching Traditional Media

July 13, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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A recent independent shop marketing survey found that 46 percent of shops are no longer spending money on traditional media, like television, radio, newspapers and billboards. A market research analyst explains why.

A Method to Deal with Slow Days in Your Shop

July 12, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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From cleaning and reorganizing the shop to training your technicians, there’s a multitude of ways your staff can keep productive during slow days.

Offering a Truly Unique Customer Experience

July 11, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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For a business to truly set itself apart from the pack, Jim Murphy, pro service coach at Elite, says to take a clear look at your unique competitive advantages and what you offer that other shops don’t.

Overcoming a Diagnostic Dilemma

July 9, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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When adding a new brand of servicing onto your shop, a clear diagnostic process is the key to making everything run smoothly.

Selling High-Dollar Repairs to a New Customer Base

July 5, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Working on a giant repair ticket was one thing—but as a new shop owner, Jon Iverson soon found out that selling it to a customer base was a major obstacle. Here's how he overcame his original hesitation.

Competing in the Growing Quick Lube Market

July 5, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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As brands like Take 5 Oil Change and Valvoline rapidly expand and the quick lube market continues to grow, independents can still find ways to get this market share back.

Shop View: Yingling's Auto Service

July 5, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Take a virtual tour of Yingling's Auto Service, which aims to offer a more open environment for customers.

3 Tips for Building a Culture of Improvement

June 29, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Daniel Stewart and John Mislick know it’s important to create a strong environment where staff members tap into their passion, and continually want to learn. Here are their three keys to creating and maintaining a culture of improvement in a shop.

Valvoline Details Upcoming Expansion Plans

June 26, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Ratchet+Wrench spoke with Valvoline executives to learn more about the brand’s expansion efforts and how its acquiring real estate for these properties.

The Anatomy of a Fleet Contract

June 26, 2018

Alex Van Abbema

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Whether you handle fleet accounts with a contract or a less formal service agreement, communicating your services and understanding accounts receivables are key to reducing liability with your clients.

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