The fourth episode of The Shop Management Show, a new podcast presented by AutoLeap, is officially live!
We speak with AutoLeap customers and industry leaders about their shop management experiences, covering everything from marketing strategies to how they prepare for emerging technology.
Let’s review some key takeaways from episode four!
» Want to grow your auto repair business? Click here to schedule a demo.
Recap from episode four
Helaine Kurot, owner of 360 Automotive, joined The Shop Management Show for episode four.
Helaine and I discussed:
- Early career lessons in the auto repair industry
- Building a community among local shops
- Strategic planning to grow your business
- Focusing on high value customers
- And much more!
On transparency with customers
Helaine ran a 5,000-mile service special shortly after opening her shop that charged around $150. That price was considerably higher than oil change deals and cheap maintenance offers in the area.
As customers pushed back on the price, Helaine explained her thought process. You have to factor in the cost of repairs, including labor and parts. “If you want to fix your car, that’s great. If not, that’s fine. I’m not forcing myself in a position to sell you a bunch of stuff you don’t need.”
On building a community among shops
For most auto repair businesses, other shops in the area represent competition.
But for Helaine and 360 Automotive, the experience is far different. Local shops in Cottonwood support each other in creative ways!
If Helaine knows of a shop in the area that specializes in certain services or does a specific repair exceptionally well, she will recommend that a potential customer goes there. And vice versa with the other shops recommending Helaine’s business.
They even share expensive equipment with each other. Helaine mentions that one shop recently bought some equipment for ADAS calibration and encourages the other shops to stop by and check it out.
Here are some other ways that Helaine and fellow auto repair leaders in her area built a community among shops:
» Looking to transform your shop? Discover how AutoLeap can help.
Closing thoughts
Check out more episodes of The Shop Management Show today for incredible shop management insights from auto repair business owners across the industry. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most popular streaming services.
