So NOW You Are Thinking Succession??

This is a topic that has been ignored for years by shop owners within the Aftermarket, however as business grows tougher and the business becomes more complicated, many shop owners are thinking "how do I get out, and what will I get for this?"You are not alone. With the average shop owner now being well into their 50's and some into their 60's this question is now being asked over and over. The

Want to Change Your Business Outcome? Change The Shop Owners Image!!

Shop owners are not paying attention to the detail of their business. It still is the same old thing expecting different results.Some owners will not like this but it has to be pointed out.I have noticed a common trait among my clients. They made the change which gave them the desire to work "ON" their business instead of "IN" their business. The results have been absolutely amazing and has

Are Your Business Dots Connecting?

A shop operator opens the doors with visions in his or her head thinking this is just the beginning of their dream and the best is yet to come. They are very grateful for the opportunity given to them but at the same time scared of the unknown. They approach each day with optimism and a positive attitude that lights a spark with anyone they come in contact with.The first year is an amazing

Industry Jobbers Must Get Involved

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Automotive Industry Association's Industry Forum in Toronto. The venue was excellent. The agenda was excellent. The topics covered by the speakers were very pertinent. Manufacturers were present. Warehouse Distributors were present. Jobbers were but a handful which lead to a weak turnout of Service Shop owners.It is frustrating to watch AIA Canada

In Negative Times - Let's Make A Positive

Anyone that knows me understands I am direct and to the point person (sometimes I am often accused of being too black and white) because I believe deeply in any message I send out. I see and understand all my messages very clearly. All my messages, however, must be proven and stand the test of time.This is a very personal message I am asking you to embrace. I have never done this before in an

Dealing with FEAR in Moving Your Business Forward

Shop owners from Coast to Coast are falling into a rut that produces an immense amount of internal fear. They have not taken the steps required to transition their business from the break down and repair model to the preventative maintenance model of doing business. Instead they hold on to the routines that seem to be familiar to them. Unfortunately those routines from the old business model do

The Independent Sector Can and Will Make The Difference....IF.... WE... Choose to Do So...Where Do You Stand?

The Independent sector of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry time after time has been voted "consumers choice" but I believe we can do so much better to make a "dramatic" impact to the consumer and to do that we first have to acknowledge "together" that we have a lot of work to do.Unfortunately the sector over the next five years will continue to shrink in numbers of effective outlets but that

Some Shops Just Have All the Luck

Everyone in this industry has heard it over and over from various shop owners and industry personnel... "Boy does that guy have all the luck; look at the beautiful operation he has. What luck he must have to attract and keep that kind of staff in place. He must of been in the right place at the right time". Is it not amazing how so many in the Aftermarket justify their circumstances? They always

Continuing to Say "No" or "Not Now" is Not The Right Answer

Let's face it, the times are different than what you are accustomed to. You have been in business in excess of 10 years and you do not "trust" the industry. Let's consider the new realities:1). Jobbers and WD's have always said they have an important message for you and they even labeled it under the topic of "Business Management" criteria. You went to their presentation on your valuable time

Times Are Different...Why Are You Comparing to Last Year?

Shop owners know that things are different this year and in fact so much has changed that measuring the business results against last year or even the year before doesn't make much sense any more. These are new and very modern times in our sector. Management must relearn the business all over again and coupled with that challenge must also instill new self disciplines to execute differently. The

HAVE YOU STARTED ADJUSTING TO THE NEW SERVICE REALITY?

Shop owners and Managers must adjust their business processes to address today's vehicle service realities.Consider the higher quality of fluids and synthetics that are now being used today in all vehicles.Consider vehicle manufacturers are now recommending 10,000, 20,000 even 30,000 kilometers between oil changes. This means that there will be many cases where the shop sees the customer/

When you're drowning, you don't say "I would be pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me", you scream!

A quote from the late John Lennon actually nailed the Aftermarket.Why is our independent shop sector of the Aftermarket not willing to reach out and ask for help? Why is our sector not willing to accept the hard message advice required, understand it and embrace it to really fix the problem? Why is our sector always looking for the quick fix and instant gratification? Why does our sector not

Perhaps It Is Time To Step Back And Take A Deep Breath

Let's face it, there has been a lot of stress this year so far, but, let's think this through. Are you caught up in your business as like the "Y" generation and expect instant gratification or do you truly realize the realistic time frame to get things done. This is not a cop out. The fact is staff must come "up to grade" faster than ever before, that is the "Professionalism" of our sector,

ONE MORE TIME - IS IT TIME FOR A NEW VOLUNTARY AFTERMARKET SYSTEM IN CANADA?

The traditional methods of operating a business within the Independent sector of the automotive aftermarket industry in Canada has been very simple. A person or licensed technician has the opportunity of having his/her own shop, raises the required cash and opens up for business. A person or Jobber sales representative has the opportunity to own a parts store, raises the required cash, and the

Want Better Shop Management Skills - Learn to Play Golf

Only the golfers who own/manage an automotive business will really appreciate this particular BLOG and the message it truly sends.I just came back from my annual 10 day golf outing at Pinehurst/Southern Pines North Carolina. I love that region and the overall State itself but most of all I love their golf courses. The people throughout the region are warm and beautiful and the golf courses are

OE Website Access Must Be Planned

On May 1st 2010 all Independent shops in Canada are suppose to have open access to the OEM websites which was agreed to through a voluntary agreement.This simply means that information such as vehicle calibration codes and the ability to re-flash and reset the vehicle computers coupled with diagnostic information is suppose to be available to the Aftermarket for a reasonable fee.Some words of

SLOW TIMES MEANS PAY ATTENTION TO SHOP PROCESSES

Have you ever noticed that when the shop is slow, management has a tendency to panic? Welcome to the break down and repair business. The fact is it has been extremely slow from coast to coast. Over the past 4 weeks I have traveled from the Atlantic region to the shores of the Pacific and regions in between, talking with many people from all levels of the industry. Business is definitely

WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO MANAGE, DO WE HAVE THE GUTS TO MANAGE?

Many shop owners have invested the time to learn how to manage their shop in today's new realities. This is excellent and they must be applauded for that commitment made to their business. Now they return to the real world of the aftermarket after the course with great intentions and are faced with the incredible day to day distracting noise within the industry.The changes required to the shop

7 STEPS TO YOUR NEW BUSINESS MODEL IN 2010

There are steps that a shop owner can start to take to transition the business into the modern day format that is required to be successful for this new decade. Consider each point as it applies to your operation.1. THINK ABOUT THE SHOP'S HISTORY: Never embark on a new plan without first understanding where the shop came from. Discuss the shop's history with your team and talk about why change