Ratchet+Wrench Radio

In this episode, recorded LIVE at AAPEX 2024 in Las Vegas, we sit down with R+W columnist, industry leader, former Women in AutoCare Woman of the Year recipient, and owner of Xpertech Auto Repair in Englewood, FL, Kathleen Callahan.  We discuss being new in the business, talking on a coach, understanding KPIs, financial metrics and a lot more.

In this episode, Ivan Rioja-Scott, Editor-in-Chief for Ratchet+Wrench, sits down with Ben Johnson, vice president, general automotive repair markets, for Repairify, about the evolving landscape of vehicle diagnostics and repairs. The discussion centers around the increasing complexity of modern vehicles and the unique challenges that automotive repair shops face today. As vehicles become more technologically advanced, the need for accurate diagnostics has never been greater. Join us as we uncover the importance of embracing new technologies and the vital role that asTech plays in equipping repair shops for the challenges ahead.

In this episode, David Askwith, Managing Director of Autostream Car Care, talks about shop's rapid and successful expansion.  He also talks about implementing systems, the right way to communicate, and choosing the right approach to re-branding.

In this episode, Brian Moak has taken Heart Certified Autocare, a three-store Chicagoland brand, from $7 million to 14$ million by making change within himself. Learn about his path for financial, personal and all-around growth.

In this episode, Matt Wagg of Accelerated Diagnostic & Automotive in Bennington, Nebraska, talks about his automotive journey from the son of a shop owner to opening a shop during COVID and hitting the million-dollar mark three years after putting the keys into the door. He discusses business plans, the importance of investing in self-education, why you need coaching, and the need for shop owners to have a clear direction.  Matt taught at the Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference in September and is an educator and shop coach who is passionate about learning and developing others.

In this episode, Uwe Kleinshcmidt and Frank Scandura of AutoTech IQ talk about how they help auto repair shops increase profitability by transforming the way shops use digital vehicle inspections to enhance communication and transparency which leads to fewer deferred jobs.

In this episode, Margaret Light, MA, LMFT, MN LMFT of Equilibrium Therapy Services P.L.L.C. discusses the unique stressors shop owners face and how they can impact mental health. She talks about the stress and burnout continuum and how unmanaged stress and burnout can develop into formal mental health concerns for shop owners. She concludes by sharing tips to help shop owners understand the impact of stress on themselves and their work and when to seek professional help to overcome chronic stress.

In this episode, Ryan Burton of Leads Near Me talks about the contents of his new book “High Gear: Marketing Strategies for Auto Repair Shops”, what you can learn about shop marketing, and his conference of the same name High Gear Auto Repair Marketing Conference, which will take place from November 14-16, 2024, in Atlanta.

In this episode, Bill Snow, vice president, franchise development & operations Rad Air Complete Car Care, talks about how he shows his team his appreciation, why they celebrate every win, and the importance of sweating the small details when it comes to encouraging your team members.

In this episode, Lauralee Schmidt of Schmidt Auto Care in Springboro, Ohio, discusses her approach to customer appreciation marketing. She also talks about ideas that have worked, ones that haven't, lessons learned, and why shops need a marketing budget.

In this episode, Nichole Bennecoff of Empower Automotive, formerly The Subie Guys, talks about running a niche Subaru shop and why she's now widening her scope of service, and how she's using driver profiles and data to do it.

In this episode, Brandon Jones and Josh Parnell of Limitless Leadership talk about what it takes for a shop owner to holistically become the leader their team needs from people to process.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.