Sinopsis
Automotive Aftermarket Success Stories
Episodios
-
The Investment in Youth: Why Camp D.R.I.V.E. is a Win [THA 444]
01/08/2025 Duración: 34minThanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, and Today's Class Camp D.R.I.V.E., (Determination, Resourcefulness, Vision, Enthusiasm) created by Weston and Tenise Chapman of Black Hills Tire, is a powerful hands-on initiative that introduces kids aged 12–15 to the world of automotive technology. Now in its third year, this two-day experience puts young participants in the driver’s seat—changing tires, doing oil changes, welding, and more—across interactive stations. Camp D.R.I.V.E. is changing perceptions about the industry by showcasing its technical, creative, and rewarding sides. The conversation also explores the program’s community impact and offers practical tips for other shops looking to launch something similar, including how to manage costs, secure insurance, and collaborate with local partners. Tenise and Weston Chapman, Black Hills Tire, Rapid City, SD. Listen to previous episodes HERE Show Notes: Watch Full Video Episode
-
ROI - Return on Investment [E181] - Business By The Numbers
31/07/2025 Duración: 29minThanks to our partner PromotiveThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comText Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413Download a Copy of My Books Here:Wrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto https://remarkableresults.biz/Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/The Auto Repair Marketin
-
Preparing for September’s Marketing [E163] - The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast
30/07/2025 Duración: 31minThanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueledYou know that feeling when summer’s barely over, kids are back in school, and suddenly you’re staring down September, wondering what the heck to post on social media? Yeah, that’s where this episode comes in. Brian is back with Caroline Legrand for their monthly marketing prep session, your go-to podcast for staying ahead with smart, simple ideas that actually matter.They’re covering everything from prepping your fall events, tying in national awareness months (like National Preparedness Month), and even having some fun with off-the-wall days like “Talk Like a Pirate Day” and “Bald is Beautiful.” But it’s not just fluff, this episode is packed with real ways to build trust, showcase your shop’s personality, and create content that positions your brand as the go-to in your community.Whether it’s using DVI photos the right way, setting up educational posts, or just being more intentional with your calendar, this episode is all about showing up prepared before your
-
Diagnosing Legends: The Impact of Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan [E195] - Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z
30/07/2025 Duración: 30minThanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech TrainingIn this episode, Matt Fanslow reflects on the recent passings of two cultural icons—Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan—and draws parallels between their careers and the automotive aftermarket industry. Both figures revolutionized their respective fields (music and professional wrestling) through innovation, perseverance, and an unparalleled connection with their audiences. Matt explores what we can learn from their legacies, including the importance of passion, reinvention, and recognizing opportunities outside our comfort zones.Key Discussion Points1. Ozzy Osbourne: The Accidental Pioneer of Heavy MetalOzzy’s final performance at the Power Trip festival, where he performed in immense pain, skipping pain meds to stay present.How Black Sabbath (with guitarist Tony Iommi) accidentally created metal by downtuning guitars after a workplace injury.The importance of appreciating contributions even if you’re not a die-hard fan.The value of knowing how you’ve impacted others (li
-
Retention Starts with Recognition: Why Pay Is Just the Beginning [RR 1050]
29/07/2025 Duración: 41minThanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS This episode dives into the real challenges of technician retention and why it’s time to rebrand automotive careers, moving beyond the outdated terms “mechanic” or “technician” to embrace the title of “specialist.” Craig Noel unpacks the urgent need to move away from traditional flat rate pay systems and toward compensation models that prioritize fair pay, financial security, and work-life balance. He also shares his own innovative pay structure designed to reward skill and dedication while keeping top talent engaged. Craig Noel, Sun Automotive, Springfield, OR. Listen to Craig’s previous episodes HERE Show Notes Watch Full Video Episode Rise of the Specialist - A NEW Language Standard for Auto Repair Specialists: https://remarkableresults.biz/downloads/ Episodic Education (00:01:06) Shop Expansion and ADAS Specialty (00:01:45) Staffing Challenges and Work-Life Balance Shift (00:02:54) From Mechanic to Technician to Specialist
-
Adaptive Communication with Rhonda Lea [E053] - Speak Up!
28/07/2025 Duración: 46minThank You To Our Partners The Institute, AutoFlow, Shop Dog Marketing, In-BoundWatch Full Video EpisodeIn our episode today:In this episode we’ll hear about Rhonda’s communication journey and how her relationship with Jimmy has lead to a new path speaking and presenting on topics loyal listeners of Speak Up will certainly appreciate.Rhonda Cites George Bernard Shaw with one of her favorite quotes sums:“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”What we say seems clear to us - but as Rhonda will express - misalignment often lurks beneath the surface.Craig asks Rhonda a key question in this discussion:"What would you tell someone who asks you - why should I need to adapt to others?"Topics Include:Gaps in Communication How some chaos is a good thing! (It means there is plenty of demand!)It can be exhausting to adapt to othersThe importance for leaders to show up as a person.A book recommendation: Crucial ConversationsOur WOTD isAdaptive(Adjective)The adjective "ada
-
Diagnostics 101: Stop Guessing, Start Solving [E218] - Chris Cotton Weekly Blitz
28/07/2025 Duración: 10minThe Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops. Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo: https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/If you would like to join their private facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermindVisit ShopMarketingPros.com/chris to partner with a team that understands your business. Because every great shop deserves marketing that’s just as great. In episode six of "The Weekly Blitz," Coach Chris Cotton expertly guides auto repair shop owners through an in-depth, eight-s
-
Brakes for Breasts: Breast Cancer Vaccine Update 2025 [THA 443]
25/07/2025 Duración: 41minThanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, and Today's Class This episode features Brakes for Breasts co-founders Leigh Anne Best and Laura Frank, along with Cleveland Clinic researcher Dr. Justin Johnson, as they celebrate the automotive industry’s role in raising over $2 million for breast cancer vaccine research. They share the initiative’s grassroots beginnings, its 100% donation to research model, and provide an update on the vaccine’s progress, highlighting the completion of Phase One trials and the upcoming launch of Phase Two. A key highlight of the campaign: During October, independent auto repair shops across the U.S. offer free brake pads to customers. For every brake service performed, the customer receives their brake pads at no cost and only pays for labor and other parts. In turn, each participating shop donates 10% of the brake service total to the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Research Fund. The episode also shares the inspiring story of Jennifer Davis, the first vaccine recipi
-
Mailbox: Write-Off for Weight Loss Drugs, Gambling Winnings, and Employee Handbooks [E180 - Business By The Numbers
24/07/2025 Duración: 28minThanks to our partner PromotiveThis week, Hunt Demerast, CPA, dives into three hot-button business questions—each with surprising consequences for your bottom line. From covering weight loss meds for your employees to falling into the payroll HR trap, and even how the IRS is tightening the screws on your gambling losses—this episode breaks it all down, minus the legalese.What You’ll Learn:(00:00:00) Introduction(01:02) Can you write off weight loss drugs like Ozempic for your employees—or yourself?(03:19) The truth about MERPs, HRAs, and what ChatGPT got right and wrong(07:09) The real IRS rule that trips up most owners (hint: it's about fairness)(11:28) Gambling tax rule changes that could cost you—even if you lose(16:04) What triggers a W2-G, and how scratch-offs could land you a surprise tax bill(23:30) Why HR modules from payroll companies are often a waste of money(25:50) A real-life story that cost Hunt money—and why handbooks matter(29:52) What every business owner should review in their employee handb
-
Write a Children's Book with Ben Tilson [E162] - The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast
23/07/2025 Duración: 51minThanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueledEver meet someone in this industry doing something completely out of the box, and it works? That’s Ben Tilson.Kim sits down with Ben, the second-generation owner of Tilson’s Auto Repair in Rochester, Minnesota. He’s not just growing a solid shop, he’s writing children’s books to spark curiosity and pride in the next generation of technicians. And no, it’s not a gimmick. These books are rooted in Ben’s journey with dyslexia and a passion for storytelling that’s reshaping how kids and their parents see the auto repair world.We dive into the making of Technician Colton’s 10 Steps to an Oil Change and Olivia’s ABCs to a Car, how these books are being shared with local libraries, schools, and families, and how they’re quietly laying the foundation for future techs. His mission is clear: show kids that trades matter, that working with your hands is something to be proud of, and that this industry is filled with real opportunity.But the episode goes way beyond books. We
-
What We Can Learn From Jurassic Park [E193] - Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z
23/07/2025 Duración: 21minThanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech TrainingMatt Fanslow dives into an unexpected but fascinating comparison between Jurassic Park and the auto repair industry, exploring themes of chaos theory, unintended consequences, and the importance of foundational knowledge. Drawing parallels from the iconic film (and Michael Crichton’s novels), Matt discusses how small decisions—like cutting corners or skipping fundamentals—can lead to big, unpredictable outcomes in business, careers, and life.Key Topics Discussed:"Your Scientists Were So Preoccupied With Whether They Could, They Didn’t Stop to Think If They Should"How the pursuit of innovation without foresight mirrors challenges in the automotive industry.The dangers of prioritizing profit or speed over sustainability and safety.Chaos Theory & The Butterfly EffectSmall, seemingly insignificant actions can have massive consequences (e.g., a poorly coded security system in Jurassic Park → dinosaur chaos).Applying this to business: How initial conditions (hiring,
-
The Power of Accountability: You Can’t Grow Alone! [RR 1049]
22/07/2025 Duración: 35minThanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Recorded at the Institute Summit 2025, Tracy Holt and Patrece Holt Vance, a brother-sister duo from a family owned shop, share how their business transitioned into a new era of strategic growth and profitability under their leadership. They credit much of their progress to the accountability and peer support they found through the Institute’s Peer Groups. Tracy and Patrice also open up about the critical role of workplace culture and employee well-being in their success, and Tracy reflects on how a personal tragedy reshaped his "why" and fuels his drive today. Tracy Holt and Patrece Holt Vance, Performance Place, South Jordan, UT Show Notes Watch Full Video Episode The Institute of Automotive Business Excellence: https://www.wearetheinstitute.com/ Don’t Sell, Connect: The Power of Emotion with Your Clients [RR 1032]: https://remarkableresults.biz/remarkable-results-radio-podcast/e1032/ Introduction (00:00:00) Guest Introductions and Family Busin
-
A Simple formula for Artful Story Telling [E052] - Speak Up!
21/07/2025 Duración: 18minThank You To Our Partners The Institute, AutoFlow, Shop Dog Marketing, In-BoundWatch Full Video EpisodeWOTDGregarious gre·gar·i·ousadjective1. (Of a person) - Fond of company sociable.2. (Of animals) - Living in flocks or loosely organized communities3. (Of plants) - Growing in open clusters or in pure associations…No matter the situation you find yourself in, storytelling is one of the most important things we can do to create shared experiences as humans. They help us understand each other, connect with one another, and even learn to empathize or identify with others.Whether it is for business, for humor, or for a moral lesson - a good story is easier for any human audience to focus on and listen to and retain information from and all of this makes stories a powerful tool in your communication tool box.Here is the formula:LA (Location Action) *Helen, our club president suggested we remember this as the story starts in “Los Angeles”)WantObstacleResolutionNext time you have a story to tell: Remember - Lo
-
Tools of the Trade: What Every Shop Actually Needs [E217] - Chris Cotton Weekly Blitz
21/07/2025 Duración: 13minThe Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops. Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo: https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/If you would like to join their private facebook group go here:
-
Transportation as a Lifeline: The Hidden Power of Your Shop [THA 442]
18/07/2025 Duración: 38minThanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, and Today's Class This episode highlights the life-changing impact of reliable transportation and the power of volunteerism in the automotive industry. Featuring Hands of the Carpenter in Denver and Onramp DFW in Dallas-Fort Worth, two organizations that provide vehicles and repairs to people in need, it explores how mobility creates freedom, opportunity, and lasting change. Shop owner Chris Cloutier shares how supporting these efforts boosts morale within shops and gives employees a renewed sense of purpose. Listeners are encouraged to give back by donating time, services, or resources, reinforcing the industry's unique ability to uplift lives and strengthen communities. Chris Cloutier, Golden Rule Auto Care and CEO of Autoflow. OnRamp DFW: https://www.onrampdfw.org/ Hands of the Carpenter: https://www.handsofthecarpenter.org/ Show Notes: Watch Full Video Episode Introduction (00:00:00) The Importance of Transportation (00:02:23) Challe
-
Tax Changes: How to Maximize the Changes in Your Shop [E179] - Business By The Numbers
17/07/2025 Duración: 32minThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comText Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413Download a Copy of My Books Here:Wrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto https://remarkableresults.biz/Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Bri
-
Building Great Teams with J.R. Portman [E161] - The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast
16/07/2025 Duración: 46minThanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueledWe all want great teams, but most shop owners don’t realize that a high-performing team doesn’t start with talent; it starts with culture. In this episode, I sit down with my right-hand man, J.R. Portman, and we unpack the real story behind building and keeping a team that not only performs but thrives.JR’s been instrumental in shaping the culture here at Shop Marketing Pros, and together we walk through what it takes to build a team from scratch, the brutal cost of hanging on to the wrong people, and how to create an environment where your team steps up even when you’re on vacation.We’ll get into hiring for character vs. capability, how tools like EOS and DISC can transform your business, what “core values” actually mean in the real world, and the moment when your team starts running the business better than you do.This isn’t fluff. It’s real talk about what culture is, what happens when you get it wrong, and how it feels when you finally get it right. This epis
-
Music, Metal, and Shop Morale [E193] - Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z
16/07/2025 Duración: 26minThanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech TrainingEpisode Highlights:Metal Music & CultureMatt opens with a quote from the documentary Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey by Sam Dunn, discussing how metal celebrates what society often denies and why it remains a culture of outsiders.Shares his experience attending the Summer of Loud festival with his 10-year-old son, Christian, where they saw The Devil Wears Prada, Beartooth, I Prevail, Killswitch Engage, and Parkway Drive.Reflects on the positive atmosphere at metal concerts, breaking stereotypes about metal fans being angry or self-centered.Christian’s Guitar PerformanceChristian, who has been taking guitar lessons for a few months, performed a medley at the Universal Music Center’s music fest in Red Wing, Minnesota.His set included:Eruption & Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love (Van Halen)Seek & Destroy & Master of Puppets (Metallica)Careless Whisper (Wham!)The crowd’s reaction shifted from curiosity to excitement as he played, proving his talent and stage prese
-
Your Solution To: Missing Credits, Expenses, and Parts Tracking [RR 1048]
15/07/2025 Duración: 36minThanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS This episode features Alex and Bob Saladna, father and son founders of WickedFile, as they share how their software helps auto repair shops boost profitability by tracking parts, returns, and credits. WickedFile uncovers hidden losses from uncredited returns, missing parts, and even employee theft. A standout feature, Navigator, is an AI assistant that answers questions about shop data, offering insights into declined jobs, inventory, and customer trends. The system also streamlines audits and generates custom reports, freeing up shop owners to focus on growth. Whether you're looking to reduce losses or gain better control of your business, this episode offers practical, high-impact tools for shop success. Alex and Bob Saladna, WickedFile Show Notes Watch Full Video Episode Tracking Parts and Expenses with Data Mining: Discover Your Weaknesses: https://remarkableresults.biz/remarkable-results-radio-podcast/e970/ Introduction (00:00:00) WickedFile’
-
How we Talk About Money (Discussing Payment Options) [E051] - Speak Up!
14/07/2025 Duración: 22minThank You To Our Partners The Institute, AutoFlow, Shop Dog Marketing, In-BoundWatch Full Video EpisodeIn our episode today…How we talk about money.If I think back to the earliest time of my career as a service advisor - my closing interactions with clients on occasion, felt somewhat awkward when taking payment. It wasn’t awkward because the business component of the job is wrong or weird - it wasn’t awkward because I felt sorry for them due to the cost of transmission work (I did feel sorry for folks) - It was awkward because when you’re having a great conversation shifting into talk about money is sometimes, really stupidly awkward! That’s OK.But sometimes - we make it even MORE awkward by not communicating well around the way payments for services can occurs. That is why in today’s episode - we’re talking about how we talk about money.ParsimoniousWOTDWe’re back - and the WOTD is ParsimoniousIt not only an adjective.It’s a euphemism for someone who is cheap!It means!unwilling to spend money or u