<a href="/publications/1-ratchet-wrench" class="current-issue-dropdown__title-link">Current Issue

Brandon and Taylor Pickering of Pickering's Auto Service believe a marketing budget shouldn’t always be fixed, and should match a shop’s size and overall goals.

Rewarding Your Referring Customers

June 5, 2018

As Rose Quasney, co-owner of Auto Sense Auto Repair and Tire Center can attest, effectively rewarding a referring customer can involve a simple gesture, like sending out a thank you card complete with a gift card to a local restaurant.

Building a Trustworthy Staff

May 30, 2018

Just over a decade ago, shop owner Dave McClung’s staff robbed him blind while he was injured. He’s since rebuilt his operations to a $1 million shop with a fully talented, trustworthy staff.

8 Key Steps When Setting Goals for Your Shop

May 23, 2018

The most successful organizations utilize true win-win situations to be sustainable, Ryan Clo says. As a shop owner, this requires setting clear goals for both you and your staff.

Simple Tips for Finding Quality Technicians

May 16, 2018

As industry superstar Bogi Lateiner said in her WORLDPAC class, “Recruiting and Training Technicians,” there is no magic bullet or one secret way to find technicians. Just like marketing for customers, you want to utilize multiple different methods for finding quality technicians.

The Importance of Defining Your Brand

May 9, 2018

During one of his recent classes, “Increasing Market Share the Right Way,” Cecil Bullard said you must choose to either be the cheapest brand or the brand with the best quality and service. Any brand attempting to fit somewhere in the middle will not succeed.

Working Your Way Up

May 2, 2018

In our June issue, we take a look at Katee Moore, service advisor at Williamsburg, Va.-based American Pride Automotive, and how she has been able to implement friendly, effective customer service along with an improved CSI score. But as Charlie Marcotte, owner of American Pride, can attest, her story goes far beyond simply raising the company’s CSI score.

2018 World Class Technicians: Jonathan Couch

April 25, 2018

As part of a weekly series, Ratchet+Wrench will take a look at 2018’s ASE World Class Technician recipients, including a brief bio of their career, and their thoughts on the industry. Today, we talk to Johathan Couch.

Finding (and Keeping) Great Employees

April 25, 2018

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.

Zimmerman's Automotive Turns 60th Anniversary into Community Celebration

April 17, 2018

After 60 years of operation, Zimmerman’s Automotive is celebrating its history in the Mechanicsburg, Pa. area, complete with a celebratory event in August.

Get to Know Your Market

April 10, 2018

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.

A Look at Two Impactful Leadership Books

April 3, 2018

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In our June issue, we’ll take a look at four truly inspiring leadership books. As a bit of a preview, here’s a look at two strong, leftover books that didn’t make it into the article.

6 Tips for Attracting More Business from Networking Groups

March 27, 2018

Here are six quick tips that ATI's Eric Twiggs says you should implement when out trying to promote your business through area networking groups.

What to Expect from Ratchet+Wrench's Coverage of the ATI SuperConference

March 20, 2018

Readers can expect updates from associate editor Travis Bean over three days. He’ll be tweeting out tips and takeaways from the various classes, roundtables and presentations he’ll be attending.

Building a Strong Facebook Presence

March 13, 2018

Jenna Gross, CMO of marketing firm Moving Targets, shares some tips on building your brand with a well-rounded Facebook page.

Meet Luke Franta, ASE's Youngest World Class Tech

March 6, 2018

For a promising glimpse of the industry's future, one can look at Luke Franta, a 23-year-old technician who just earned his world class certification through ASE.

Servicing Rare and Unique Luxury Vehicles

February 27, 2018

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Reggie Stewart, owner of Noblesville, Ind.-based Reggie’s Motorworks, says that older BMW models are a part of his DNA, and his shop is able to service older BMWs to create a strong additional revenue stream.

The Anatomy of an Effective Thank You Card

February 20, 2018

Shop owner John Bockman provided Ratchet+Wrench with examples of what an effective thank you card looks like, and how you can track its ROI.

Honest-1 Launches 'Love in the Shop' Valentine’s Day Campaign

February 13, 2018

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Honest-1 Auto Care built a “Love in the Shop” campaign centering around married franchisees throughout its system, and how they “maintain a marriage while maintaining vehicles.”

Better Understand Your Customer Base

February 6, 2018

When your staff is on the same page and invested in understanding the customer? Everyone on staff can anticipate the customers’ demands and what will sell. Here are some basic questions to gauge how well your shop’s CRM observes your customer base.

Building a Strong Facebook Presence for Your Shop

January 30, 2018

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Jenna Gross, CMO of marketing firm Moving Targets, shares some tips on building your brand with a well-rounded Facebook page.

A Simple Template for Measuring ROI

January 29, 2018

In the February issue of Ratchet+Wrench, Chris Matson broke down how to properly track ROI on business investments with a simple spreadsheet, which you can download here.

Download: A Guide to Financial Planning

January 23, 2018

Dave Mulcahy, director of a Small Business Development Center, has provided Ratchet+Wrench readers with a spreadsheet for tracking said stability. You can read his full story in the February issue, but for now, this speadsheet encompasses everything he says you should consider in order to run a profitable, financially healthy business.

Common Misconceptions About Female Technicians

January 16, 2018

Tess Collins