Ratchet+Wrench Radio

Innovate: Perfect Your Verbal Business Card

If your shop is dependent on word-of-mouth advertising, then you need to understand how to talk about your shop with customers and area businesses. Eric Twiggs, a coach with the Automotive Training Institute, discusses a few simple steps you can take to perfect your verbal business card and effectively market your shop to networking groups, which should result in a plethora of referrals.

Innovate: Transforming Your Company’s Culture

Owner Bud Wildman shares how a simple meeting with ATI convinced him to heavily invest in improving the company culture at his shop, Precision Auto in Germantown, Maryland. For Wildman, this process involved changing or removing negative energy in his shop, while infusing it with new employees who have a consistent positive attitude. Once you’ve had the opportunity to create this positive culture, Wildman says, you’ll do anything to protect it. He covers some of the 24 fundamentals he created for a strong atmosphere in his shop, and the conception of his shop's “Golden Wrench Award,” which he gives to his top employees of the month.

Lead: The Power of Influence

As a shop owner, your employees will consistently be influenced by your actions, whether you like it or not. In this week’s Lead Podcast, Aaron Stokes discusses the power of influence, and how being a disciplined leader can bring out the best in your employees. To get your employees to do what you need them to, Stokes says, it’s important to be the best version of yourself every day to draw respect from the rest of your team.

Grow: Setting Up a Training Program

As your shop grows, it’s vital to implement a structured training program for your entire staff. On this month’s Grow podcast, Rissy Sutherland discusses how to effectively set this program up with Chris Chesney, senior director of training at Carquest Technical Institute, and Brad Pellman, owner of Pellman’s automotive in Boulder, Colorado. Brad lays out what you can do at the shop level, as far as training technicians, putting a pathway together and letting technicians control their own destiny. Chris details how everyone in the industry can make a difference and get involved with better training efforts.

Inside VISION’s Hi-Tech Training & Expo

We recorded this week’s Ratchet+Wrench Radio podcast from VISION in Kansas City, and guests include four different management training course instructors. Each presenter also discusses why they keep coming back to VISION, and what their favorite parts of the conference are. Amy Mattinat, owner of Vt.-based Auto Craftsmen, discusses effective in-house marketing strategies, and why a blog should be an important component of your shop’s website (0:30). Danny Sanchez, CEO of Autoshop Solutions goes over the first steps to creating a strong company culture, and how he keeps things fun at his own business (6:13). Industry veteran Bill Haas discusses the difference between a challenging and difficult customer, and some common mistakes shops make when an especially difficult customer comes through the door (10:54). Jeremy O’Neal, founder of AdvisorFix, explains how a digital sales process works, and why it could be beneficial for your shop (16:05).

Innovate: Growing Your Own Technicians

Frank Leutz, president of Desert Car Care in Chandler, Ariz., joins Ratchet+Wrench Radio to discuss the importance of growing your own talent through an apprenticeship program, and how you can successfully attract young talent to your shop.

Lead: The First Steps to Improving Your Shop

In Aaron Stokes’ inaugural Lead episode as part of the Ratchet+Wrench Radio Network, he discusses the best starting points to position your shop for maximum growth and future success. To take your business to the next level he says, you’ll have to change up your daily patterns and surround yourself with people more experienced than yourself.

Grow: Inside the Indy Shop’s Path to Success

The independent shop's path to success can be rugged—if you're not willing to adapt. In Rissy Sutherland's inaugural Grow episode as part of the Ratchet+Wrench Radio network, she delves into the best practices two shop owners used to prosper in their markets.

The Importance of 20 Groups

Craig Noel, owner of Springfield, Ore.-based Sun Automotive, and member of Elite Pro Service for almost 8 years, discusses the importance of 20 Groups, and how they helped him become a stronger owner and leader. 

Valuing Your Employees Can Grow Your Business

Dennis Houska, owner of  Houska Automotive in Fort Collins, Colorado, talks about the ways how he, as an owner, taps into his employees for ideas and ways to grow and improve his business.