Ratchet+Wrench Radio

How to Overcome the Technician Shortage (w/ Cecil Bullard)

In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Cecil Bullard of the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence stops in to discuss how shop owners can overcome the technician shortage. Cecil discusses: Why raising labor rates is necessary to attract top talent A simple formula to raise rates today The need to create a career path for today's technician The importance of having the right atmosphere and benefits Why shops should proactively get involved in student programs Self-assessing your business model Why you need to constantly be recruiting The silver lining Find us on social: Chris | Cecil

Setting Future Techs Up for EV Success

As more EVs begin to enter the mainstream car parq, knowledge of how to work on those vehicles is becoming critically important for shop techs to have. Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tennessee, recently received a near-$350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to integrate EV technology training into its curriculum to ensure local techs are getting that information. Donna Farrell, Northeast State dean of technologies, and Ernie Morelock, automotive department chair, join Digital Reporter Hanna Bubser to discuss what the grant means for their college and why EV technology training is vital for today's techs.  

Preparing Your Shop for EVs & ADAS (w/ Ben Johnson)

This week on Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Ben Johnson of Mitchell 1 joins the show. Ben is the director of product management for Mitchell 1 and is responsible for managing Mitchell 1’s portfolio of products for the motor vehicle industry. He maintains several ASE certifications and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International. He currently serves on the Auto Care Association’s Tool & Equipment and Emerging Technologies committees, and on the executive council at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Technology Council. He is a frequent presenter at industry events, speaking on ADAS and emerging automotive technologies. Today, Ben will talk about the fear and uncertainty surrounding electrification and how shops can prepare to offer services for EVs and ADAS-equipped vehicles. 

Dissecting Mail Shark’s New Auto Care Customer Survey (w/ Josh Davis)

Welcome to Ratchet+Wrench Radio, your podcast for strategies and inspiration for auto care success. This week, Josh Davis, chief revenue officer at MailShark, joins host Chris Jones as they take a deep dive into a new auto care industry customer survey Mail Shark conducted called Cracking the Code. We'll talk about:   How they gathered the data What they learned about consumers and trust as it pertains to shops Why trust is changing One trust factor shop owners must fix today How DVI factors into consumer trust and perception of repair shops Demographic, economic, and generational factors regarding trust Whether 5-star Google ratings help or hurt shops in the eyes of consumers Habits of high-income customers Marketing tips for shops Get your copy of the survey.

Right to Repair Decision Could Be Coming Soon

The ongoing Right to Repair legal battle in Massachusetts has been a fixture in automotive aftermarket headlines for almost two years now, and a lot has happened since state voters approved the measure on the November 2020 ballot. A decision could be coming down this Friday, but after numerous delays, it would come as no surprise if it were delayed again. Nevertheless, Friday is an important day for the aftermarket. We’re dipping back into the podcast archives to revisit a conversation from last month on the ADAPT Podcast with Aaron Lowe, senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs with the Auto Care Association, about what’s at stake in the decision and why shop owners outside of Massachusetts should care.

How Great SEO Attracts People to Your Shop

This week on Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Chris Jones talks to Autoshop Solutions CEO Margaret Palango about the ins and outs of on- and off-page SEO and what shop owners need to know about drawing customers from the web.

How to Level Up Your Service Writer (w/ Guy Roberts)

In this episode, Ratchet+Wrench Editor Chris Jones and Guy Robers of Sales Fix Academy dive into the inner workings of Sales Fix Academy, what service writers need to do to increase sales and boost profit, and why a highly-trained service writer matters to the health and success of the shop.

How Ashot Iskandarian Built Shopmonkey

In this episode, Ratchet+Wrench editor Chris Jones talks to Shopmonkey founder Ashot Iskandarian about his back story, how and why he created Shopmonkey, his passion for hot rods, and his thoughts on now being a shop owner himself.

Staying on Brand (w/ Aaron Stokes)

In this episode, Ratchet+Wrench editor Chris Jones and guest Aaron Stokes talk about how and when shops should prepare for electrification. The conversation then turns to marketing and how shops can build their brand image and voice through the ways they market within their communities and service regions. 

Stop Inconveniencing Your Customers (w/ David Avrin)

In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, David Avrin of The Customer Experience Advantage joins host Chris Jones to talk about how shops should focus on the customer journey to become incredibly easy to do business with.