Ratchet+Wrench Radio

Talking Shop: Alex Noll of ABR Houston

In this episode, we visit with Alex Noll, owner of ABR Houston European Specialty Repair in Houston, Texas. If you recall, Alex was featured in the February 2024 issue as the featured shop in Shop View. Today, Alex talks about his background in automotive, going to tech school, getting picked up by BMW, going after shop ownership, and what the future holds for him.

Podcast: Can Online Scheduling Increase Car Count?

In this episode, Steven Fafel of AutoOps shares industry data about the effectiveness of online scheduling and how it adds customers to the shop. He also talks about the latest feature that helps shops close more appointments after hours.

Can AI-Based Service Advisors Change the Game?

Kieran O'Brien of Shopgenie demos the company's new virtual advisor, Jasmine, and explains how this tech can help shops book more after-hours appointments and how AI is changing front-of-house operations. 

Ready to Sell Your Shop? Here's How

In this episode, Matthew Schwab of Cluth Automotive in Houston, Texas, talks about what shop owners who are ready to turn over the reigns need to do to get a buyer for their shop. 

Podcast: Profitable Partnerships: The Power of a Business Development Office

In this episode, Ceasar Cordon,  who heads the Outside Business Development Team for Fifth Gear Automotive, talks about why collaborating with dealerships and competing shops has boosted their new business revenue by nearly 50% ... and how it can do the same for your shop.

How Standardizing Processes Leads to Success

In this episode, AJ Nealey, owner of Nealey Tire & Auto, which has five locations in Maryland, talks about using the EOS method to standardize his shop and how it has led to massive growth and success across the board.

How to Handle Customer Complaints In-Person and Online

In this episode, Brittany Schindler of Rod's Japanese Auto Care in Bellingham, Washington, who was also the 2021 AAPEX Service Advisor of the Year, explains how service advisors can handle customer complaints with grace.

Is Predictive Maintenance Better Than Recommended Maintenance?

Can predictive maintenance help your auto repair shop schedule more accurate repair appointments for customers? In this episode, Tim Hardin, senior vice president/GM global data services, Epicor, discusses the data that drives predictive maintenance and how it stacks up against the traditional 30/60/90K maintenance model in more accurate scheduled repairs to customers.

Successfully Managing Conflict in Auto Repair Shops

In this episode, Chris Cloutier of Golden Rule Auto Care in Dallas, Texas, discusses how to manage employee conflict in auto repair shops. He identifies what conflict in the workplace looks is, when employees should escalate grievances up to the auto repair shop owner, and how leaders resolve conflict within the team. 
 
Sponsored by Chemors

The Impact of Servant Leadership

In this episode, Karim Morsli of Winkler Automotive, talks about going from engineering and IT to auto shop ownership. He discusses how the servant leadership style he learned translated in the shop, and why having a selfless approach as a shop owner can change the shop, and more importantly, lift the industry.