Source: Motor Age
 December 2, 2009
By:Tschanen Brandyberry
Marketing your shop can take many forms. Whether you send customers postcards, participate in welcome mail packages, have a Web site or just try to educate your clients, you?re marketing your shop constantly. Adding to your marketing plan can boost your bottom line without adding numbers to your budget. While it could sound like a double standard, even your community service can serve as a marketing tool, as can simple conversations with customers. By putting some time and thought into your shop?s offerings and employees? capabilities, new pieces for your game plan will develop faster than you might think.
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Source: Motor Age
November 25, 2009
By:Tschanen Brandyberry
Customers racing into Frantz Automotive Center don't hit the caution flag when the roll into the bay at this Cary, N.C., shop. They'll certainly pass a checkered flag among the other various NASCAR and sports memorabilia, though. The shop, owned by Don and Lisa Frantz, draws on the love of NASCAR, racing and college sports not only by the owner, but also by many of its customers. As Don Frantz explains, Cary is a somewhat upscale community, and the clean, unique design appeals to community members.
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Source: Motor Age
November 25, 2009
By:Tschanen Brandyberry
Terry Wynter Auto Service Center has an equation in place to make sure it meets its customers? expectations every day. Confidence plus trust equals loyalty. And according to Kay Wynter, who along with her husband Terry owns the Fort Myers, Fla., shop, adding up that equation starts from the minute someone answers the phone or says hello to a customer walking in the door. This service model helped the shop place eighth in the 2009 Top Shops Contest.
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Source: Motor Age
November 25, 2009
By:Tschanen Brandyberry
Ross Schofield works hard to keep his shop, Marathon Automotive, right out there on the edge. He says the shop is on the cutting edge of technology and on the cutting edge of marketing, but firmly on the customers? minds. So much, in fact, that customers often stop by the Traverse City, Mich., shop for a cup of its signature coffee even when their vehicles don?t need maintenance or repairs.
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Source: Motor Age
November 24, 2009
By:Tschanen Brandyberry
While the philosophy at Wilhelm Automotive Service Centers is to keep a customer for life, it could be continually giving back. From giving to the community through service to working with the industry via internships and training programs or new technology for technicians, Wilhelm continually give back. And that?s just fine with the leadership of the five-shop group.
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Source: Motor Age
November 21, 2009
By:Tschanen Brandyberry
When Vernie Menke used to wander out to his father's shop behind his childhood home, he knew he wanted to work in an automotive shop for the rest of his life. But when he walked into his first job at Paul Fischer Performance Shop in 1970, his views all changed. Yes, he still wanted to be in a shop, but this was different. The shop was pristine. It was spotless and organized ? just how Menke knew a good automotive repair shop should be run.
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