Ratchet+Wrench Radio

A Systemized Process for Tracking KPIs

For this episode, we decided to feature a shop owner who participated in the 2017 Shop Performance KPI Survey. Thorp’s single-shop operation boasts an overall gross profit margin over 60%, a net profit margin over 20%, and an annual revenue of 1.4 million. In our interview, he outlines what KPIs he’s made a priority to track in his shop and how they’ve helped improve his operation.

The Next Wave of Shop Owners

Owner of Casey's Automotive in Virginia, Bryan Jewett, discusses the challenges that young shop owners face and how he overcame them. 

Keys to Being an Effective Marketing Director

Taylor Pickering, Ratchet+Wrench All-Star Award winner, marketing director and fleet manager at Pickering's Auto Service, outlines the importance of having a structured marketing strategy, budget and reporting system.

Why You Should Raise Your Labor Rates

Cecil Bullard, CEO of the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence, discusses why many shop owners are afraid to raise their labor rates and how that fear could be holding them back.

Setting Up a Successful Apprenticeship Program

Mike Davidson, owner of Parkway Automotive in Little Rock, Ark., is looking to bridge the gap between the automotive repair industry and the education system with his non-profit organization, the American Skilled Labor Association. And a huge part of that, he says, is building an apprenticeship program that not only attracts students into technical schools, but also sets them up to become the best technicians possible as they head full-time into the profession. He provides the key steps to structuring a successful apprenticeship program for both mentees and mentors.

Inside Industry Technology

Industry tech guru Donny Seyfer, co-owner of Seyfer Automotive in Wheat Ridge, Colo., sits down with Ratchet+Wrench editor Bryce Evans to discuss the 2017 Shop Technology Survey, industry technology trends, and how your shop can benefit from an era of rapid technology advancement. 

Making Telematics Part of Your Business Model

A scholar of telematics for years, Derek Kaufman has written on and discussed the subject ad nauseum. Today, as the managing partner for Schwartz Advisors, he’s pushing to make the technology a crucial, everyday component of automotive repair shops. Kaufman joins Ratchet+Wrench to discuss the progression of connected car technology, the necessary equipment for shops, and why we must educate drivers on how it offers improved shop-to-customer communication.

Giving Back to the Community

Charlie Marcotte, owner of Pride Automotive and founder of Family Service Day, discusses the importance of giving back to the community and how it's impacted him as a shop owner. 

Taking a Shop Digital

Ron Haugen, owner of Westside Auto Pros in Des Moines, Iowa, discusses his shop's transition to paperless processes, and how any shop can reap the benefits of going digital.  

Achieving a Double-Digit Net Profit

Adam Liu, Ratchet+Wrench's March cover subject and the owner of M-Spec Performance in Middle Village, N.Y., discusses his top tips to achieving a 22 percent net profit.