Well, 2020 is more than half over and I think it’s safe to say most collision repairers are not exactly on track for their annual goals. Heck, that is probably an understatement! Due to COVID-19, a lot of shop owners don’t even know where the track is! If that describes your situation, let me [...]
What does a large multi-store body shop operator have in common with a small, single store operator? One thing for sure: they both started with a single location. What happens next is a topic that has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. There are a multitude of reasons for super-success including [...]
According to a Gallup poll I recently discovered, the U.S. economy suffers from between $450 - $550 Billion dollars annually in lost productivity. The cause? 66% of the workforce are un-engaged at work. For you readers outside of the U.S., you are not off the hook by any means. Worldwide, the Gallup poll indicates [...]
In Part 1 of the Power of SOPs, I wrote about how business owners and managers can – and should – use standard operating procedures to build a systems-driven business that prevents the business from running them. (See that article here.) In this article, I am going to provide specific tips on how shops [...]
You’re probably wondering, ‘Dave, what does ham have to do with an auto body shop much less mindset and culture?’ Let me tell you a story. The Story of Grandma’s Ham A young wife wanted to make a special dinner for her husband on their first anniversary and chose a favorite family recipe: ham. [...]
I often ask shop owners, “Do you feel as though you own your business, or does your business own you?” I’ll bet you can guess which answer I typically receive. As a technician-turned-business-owner myself, I too know the pain very well. For many it is a feeling that working harder does not yield the [...]
It’s time to get real – not that I am not always ‘real’ with my readers, but I need shop leaders to embrace the importance of this message! Collision customers don’t need an estimate; they need their vehicles repaired properly and without a lot of fuss. The only remaining question is the best way [...]
Most of you have heard the quote, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Most of us, however, have never learned how to plan. At least when it comes to strategic and financial planning for our businesses. Many business owners are, unfortunately, under the assumption that they would need a Certified Public [...]
It’s that amazing time of the year again! You know, family, feasts, giving, being grateful for our blessings in life… the whole holiday thing, right? For those of you running a business, it can also be a very difficult time of year. If you feel a little, or a lot, overwhelmed during the holidays, [...]
Whether you operate a small shop or a big shop, someone has to manage all those cars and people out in the shop – you might as well get great at it, right? Seriously, production is where you earn the money the people in the front office sold. Your job is to retain as [...]
