Ep 91 - Greg Buckley & Dan Thieken | Repair Shops That Sell Tires and Use A.I. Are Winning

About this episode

If you're like me and aren't good at marketing, don't do it on your own. Let the experts handle it. Touch HERE for more on Turnkey Marketing.Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERE When I used the maintenance tool for the fist time with Detect Auto, my mind was blown. My advisors had the same reaction - and then SO MUCH MORE TIME. Learn more about Detect Auto and book a free demo now!For years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn't be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HERE AI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HEREIn this episode, Mike Allen, Greg Buckley and Dan Theiken break down the nuts and bolts of tire sales, sharing strategies for maximizing profits without getting buried in equipment costs. Greg dives into how strong local marketing (along with a well-branded shop van) has helped his shop stand out in a busy market. The crew also explores the fast-moving shift toward AI in the automotive aftermarket, from building smarter workflow tools to the dream of AI-powered estimating. Timestamps00:00 Does selling tires boost suspension work?03:00 Upcoming AI workshop & live shenanigans05:17 International golf trips, shop talk, and bourbon07:49 Who’s who: Meet Greg Buckley & Dan Theiken10:30 Tire sales strategy: Margins, GP/hour & labor costs13:03 Affordable tire equipment for small shops15:59 Managing tire inventory without a giant warehouse17:50 Tire protection plans, TPMS, and upsell opportunities19:43 Growing tire sales in different markets21:02 Local marketing, rolling billboards, and community outreach23:54 Shop expansion, buying land, and creative waiting rooms26:06 What AI is doing to the auto industry—real talk27:30 Building custom AI tools for shop owners29:39 How prompt writing is becoming a must-have skill31:30 Using AI (and Tekmetric!) for smarter shop management34:56 AI-generated content for training and onboarding35:55 Replit, podcasting, and next-gen marketing36:56 Songwriting, creativity, and AI tools like Suno41:01 AI’s impact on creative arts (and your Spotify playlist)42:10 AI avatars, digital influencers, and the automotive connection43:42 The AI “holy grail”: Instant estimates and DVIs44:42 Comparing shops: How AI is shifting sales and workflow46:55 Shop advisor roles, relationship-building, and speed47:33 Integration overload: The single-source dream48:16 Soup Radio: Building a multi-location media presence