Episode 292 - Unlocking Employee Potential and Navigating Turnover With Brian Zemba
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Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free…
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Episode 291 - Pricing for Profit and Purpose in the Modern Auto Shop with Josh & Pixi Pickthall
Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, David and Lucas welcome Pixi Pickthall and Josh from Mesa, Arizona. Pixi and Josh share their unique approach to shop ownership, blending Josh’s decades of industry experience with Pixi’s social work background to create a highly personalized customer experience. The conversation dives deep into the challenges of setting proper labor rates, the importance of understanding financial metrics, and the need to balance quality service with fair profitability.00:00 Managing warehouse logistics09:25 Name change and market saturation12:50 Observations from working at dealership17:16 Challenges in hiring skilled technicians22:29 Implementing DVX for consistency29:16 Improving client experience36:25 Handling customer complaints39:22 Court warranty responsibility discussion45:55 Talking auto shop math basics49:50 Struggling with car ownership choices59:17 Financial stability and customer selection01:02:01 Seeking expert financial advice01:09:12 Auto Repair Shop Basics series01:10:48 Facing challenges and setbacks
Episode 290 - ADAS Calibrations, Shop Liability, and the Role of Industry Associations With Tom Elder & Joe Ocello
Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, Lucas and David sit down with Joe Ocello and Tom Elder from AASP New Jersey to discuss the state of the mechanical and collision repair industries. Tom shares his perspective on the growing need for specialized education and proper documentation as vehicles become more technologically advanced. Joe emphasizes the importance of ongoing technical training and communication to keep independent shops competitive and safe.00:00 Teaching and building a skilled team08:22 Ignoring safety instructions14:35 Discussing mechanical challenges19:55 Dealership service concerns26:33 Replacing a deformed metal line28:52 Carrying on the industry's legacy34:24 Importance of business education42:42 Dealing with repair mishaps46:03 Discussing lawsuit strategy and repairs49:57 Used car ADAS diagnostic work58:46 Maryland ADAS certification debate01:00:51 Discussing automotive repair regulations01:08:25 Engaging shops beyond North Carolina01:10:31 Staying focused on future goals
Episode 289 - Rich Fasulo aka Check Engine Chuck Talks Shop Failure to Mobile & Social Media Success
Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, the conversation focused on Rich Fasulo's career journey, also known as Check Engine Chuck, as he shared his path from mobile diagnostics to shop ownership and back. One concept discussed was the importance of charging appropriately for diagnostic and repair work, with a strong emphasis on valuing your time and not giving away discounts out of pocket. A key theme that emerged was the struggle to balance caring for customers with running a profitable, sustainable business—highlighting how industry integrity depends on both technical skill and smart business decisions.00:00 Choosing between shop and mobile business06:56 Failing van inspection in New York08:19 Fixing my car with a friend11:42 Fixing a wheel balance issue14:25 Learning from Scannerdanner videos19:54 Writing detailed explanations for claims23:37 Ensuring quality and reputation25:38 Frustration with lack of effort27:23 Frustration with tech industry's focus30:26 Reflecting on past business failures35:51 Explaining billing to customers38:59 Realizing a Habitual Pattern42:03 Learning from industry peers44:34 Sharing videos for personal reasons48:38 Diagnosing and strategizing module repairs51:47 Troubleshooting a no-crank issue53:37 Bringing in more mechanical vendors
Episode 288 - Transitioning from Finance to the Garage with Lance Lupi of Lee Myles Auto Care
Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, the conversation focused on transitions into shop ownership, the challenges of maintaining industry standards, and planning for long-term success. The discussion explored how entering the automotive industry from a corporate background can offer a unique advantage, especially in management and process implementation. A key theme was the importance of building a strong shop culture rooted in quality and integrity, even when customer awareness often hinges more on convenience than craftsmanship. Lastly, several points highlighted the need to prepare exit strategies and succession plans early, ensuring shop owners are ready for both expected and unexpected changes in their business journeys.00:00 Airport confusion during an emergency05:04 Visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum07:52 The importance of personal artifacts13:07 Struggles with delegation in auto shops16:44 Starting coaching with confidence17:18 Embracing Change to Drive Growth21:54 Father-in-law's car passion26:27 Long-term planning for business owners28:20 Learning about health savings accounts33:01 Attending a life-changing class36:53 Working in car parts sales38:18 Realizing customers don't notice quality43:06 Proper car wheel maintenance45:12 Ensuring job tasks are completed49:19 Discussing shop culture impact53:38 Workplace culture and technician skills57:05 Values and integrity in coaching58:52 Building a supportive team