Shops that Evolve are Shops that Succeed

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Shops that Evolve are Shops that Succeed

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By Mary DellaValle
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There’s plenty to be said about not being complacent. After all, complacency breeds mediocrity. And in today’s competitive service environment, where the name of the game is standing out amidst your competition – being at the forefront in your line of work will bring increased visibility and more customers to your shop.

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In striving for excellence, to elevate your shop to be a cut above the rest, you need to define your place in the market, create ways to leverage your expertise and constantly look for ways to improve upon the building blocks of your business.

For your shop to be at its competitive best requires a conscious, concerted effort among all members of your team. It means examining the details of your everyday operations. It means identifying ways to work smarter. It means making customer service a top priority. And, it means never delivering anything less than service excellence and professionalism.

Drill down within your shop’s foundation to find out which areas need most attention. Maybe it’s things like upgrading your shop’s appearance, adding new equipment, boosting your advertising efforts, increasing training, expanding service offerings, better communicating with customers, seeking ways to be more productive or focusing on maintenance services.

Some of you are already headed in the right direction. In a recent survey of ImportCar readers, respondents indicated that they’ve made positive changes in their shop this year to be more competitive and profitable. Excerpts of those comments are summarized below:

  • Purchased a hand-held scanner and adapters;

  • Purchased better diagnostic tools and/or upgraded existing ones;

  • Added new equipment (like an exhaust bender) and more services (for example, custom exhaust);

  • Boosted efforts to reach out to customers;

  • Increased advertising and marketing; and

  • Added another bay and lift.

What changes did you make at your shop this year? Which ones proved to be the most/least beneficial?

As the year comes to a close, reflect on those items to serve as a foundation for your 2005 planning, but create a new slate for the new year.

Rather than being content with the status quo – innovate! Raise the bar! Think of new ways to accomplish routine tasks, create new processes to achieve the same end result, and outline new goals that challenge and inspire your employees.

Your shop should evolve as a means to grow and prosper. Take your shop to the next level and watch your profits soar!

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Several States Declare April As ‘Car Care Month’

Several governors across the country have declared April as Car Care Month in their respective states, urging their residents to be car care aware and perform the service necessary to ensure their vehicles are operating in a safe, efficient and clean manner.

TechShop Staff Writers
By TechShop Staff Writers
Published:

Several governors across the country have declared April as Car Care Month in their respective states, urging their residents to be car care aware and perform the service necessary to ensure their vehicles are operating in a safe, efficient and clean manner.
The following governors have issued official state proclamations that April is Car Care Month: Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama, Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois, Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan, Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico, Gov. John A. Kitzhaber, M.D. of Oregon, Gov. Nikki R. Haley of South Carolina, Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee, Gov. Peter Shumlin of Vermont and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin of West Virginia.
“We want to thank these governors for officially proclaiming April as Car Care Month,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Car Care Month provides a unique opportunity for the auto care industry and the government to educate car owners on the importance of proper vehicle care. Motor vehicle safety continues to be a major focus for state legislatures and regulatory agencies across the country, so we commend each of the governors for making these important proclamations.”
Spring is the perfect time for motorists to make sure their vehicles are running reliably after a rough winter and before the summer driving season begins. Many independent repair shops and community organizations throughout the country will conduct car care events during April. These events have revealed that three out of four vehicles inspected are in need of some type of maintenance or repair.
The non-profit Car Care Council offers many free tools on its website to help consumers drive smart, save money and be more environmentally friendly, including the popular 60-page Car Care Guide and a custom service schedule and email reminder service.
“By following a service schedule and performing preventative vehicle maintenance, motorists can ensure that their vehicles are safe and dependable. Plus, auto care can help save money in many ways, including reducing fuel consumption and extending vehicle life,” continued White. “We encourage all car owners across the country to get their vehicles inspected this April.”

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