Dan Thieken is the owner of Kreager Tire and Service in Millersport, Ohio. Today, Dan talks through losing nearly his entire staff in a VERY short period, but somehow kept the shop afloat.

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Timestamps:
00:00 Dan's Shop and an Update

13:42 Lack of Communication Criticized

18:04 Aftermarket Shop Offers Better Opportunities

26:33 Ted's Blunt Conversation on Expectations

28:31 Health Insurance Search for Team

37:28 Conflict of Interest Avoided

43:02 "Unwarranted Expense: $6,000 Bottle"

49:26 Helping Cousin's Demo Class Thursday

55:06 Mentorship Transforms New Shop Owners

58:21 Prioritizing Family Over Work

Today, we play a voicemail from Bryan's biggest fan. Or shall we say, biggest fan of his feet...oh yeah - and Tonnika Haynes joins to talk shop. And confess things, too.

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00:00 Funny Social Media to Watch

08:50 Overworked and Overcommitted

10:49 "Becoming a Shop Owner" Workshop

13:44 Sales Tactics and Decision Dynamics

19:46 "Unlock Hidden Auto Shop Revenue"

20:50 "Napa Encounter: Charismatic Persuasion"

26:19 "Cultural Fit Over Potential"

27:27 Balancing Tech Skills and Estimation

30:45 Insurance Influence on Repair Shops

35:56 Sibling Roughhousing Consequences

37:15 "Challenging Training for Real Skills"

43:21 EV Safety Certification with Avtech

43:58 Certification Test Opportunity Details

49:11 High-End Carlisle Equipment Discounts

51:05 Busy but Available for Fun

55:57 "Brian's Foot Finder Request"

You've been hearing us talk about the benefits of Tekmetric for months now - ready to cave in and give it a try? Do that HERE

Marketing is...let's say...not my strong suit. Good thing there's Turnkey Marketing! Let Carrie-Lynn and her team help you with something that's not your strong suit either HERE

Elite Worldwide is making my shop WORLDS better! I'm so pleased with the results so far. One-on-one coaching is keeping me accountable and it can with you too. Learn more HERE

In this episode, we talk with Neal Maier. Neal is someone who Mike has juuuust a little history with. Good history that is. Hopefully Neal feels the same! Neil and Mike take a trip down memory lane today and talk about their journeys through this industry. Oh and Bryan gets heated over O2 censors....again....

00:00 Mike has a confession

05:01 Tires Sustain Profitability

06:44 "Urgent Repairs Needed: Shaved Ball Joints"

10:59 "Costly Lessons Learned"

15:51 Evolving Marketing for Customer Journey

18:40 "Re-engaging Lost Customers Strategies"

21:01 Focus on Cost-Free Business Gains

25:08 "Pre-Qualified Offers Boost Return Visits"

27:21 Dispatcher's Stress Over Schedule Changes

32:49 Daily Car Processing Plan

36:00 Shop Confession: Off the Rails

40:22 "Laughing at Desperate Decisions"

41:41 Embracing Imperfection in Challenges

47:10 Event Planning and Expo Preparations

49:26 EV Safety Certification & Exam Proctors

53:50 Forklift Side Shift Adjustment

I only mention my sponsors because they have truly made a difference at my shops. I believe they can do the same for you. Visit their site below and learn more!

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Detect Auto

Today, it's coaching call number 5. This one is a bit different than the previous four, though. Why? I actually did my job! The strategy Matt and I have been working on is working well for my small shop, but it's not time to stop and celebrate. There is more work to be done. These conversations are a glimpse into what Elite Worldwide does for shops everywhere. Do you have them helping you?

00:00 Matt is bouche

08:19 Efficient Vehicle Maintenance Integration

11:10 Boosting Adoption of BG Services and Tires

19:19 "Managing Warranty Comebacks Efficiently"

25:52 Warranty Impacts on Free Labor

30:38 "Technician Pay Structure Adjustments"

33:58 Complex Repairs Undervalued in Labor Guides

43:23 Inexpensive Repair Causes Engine Failure

44:01 Ethical Sales and Repair Decisions

51:11 Customer Engagement & Service Strategy

58:04 Efficient Scheduling Boosts Car Count

01:00:50 Optimizing Consistent Car Count

In this bonus episode on Confessions of a Shop Owner, Charlie tells me his story of migrating from Greece to owning a multi-location repair shop. His story is what I think of what "American Dream" is mentioned, because this dude was a hard worker, would not take no for an answer, and found a way to find a way. We can all learn something from guys like Charlie. What is one ingredient he would say made him successful? Listen and find out!

01:25 – Charlie’s Early Years: From Greece to Boston at 17
03:20 – The First Jobs: Gas Stations, Chasing Work, and Learning English
05:43 – Launching Pleasant Car Care: Starting with Almost Nothing
08:11 – Naming the Shop & Choosing a New Standard for the Industry
11:11 – How Coaching Helped Charlie Think Bigger
12:15 – Meeting Todd & Bill: The Crucial Lessons of Early Coaching
13:31 – “Customer Pays for Everything” – A Lesson That Changed It All
15:09 – Moving from Technician to True Business Owner
17:23 – Why Most Shop Owners Think Too Small
19:24 – The Trap of Doing Owner Work Instead of CEO Work
21:04 – Why Your Time as an Owner Is Your Most Valuable Asset
23:14 – How One Decision Could Make Your Shop $6 Million More
24:07 – Four-Day Work Weeks, Six-Day Service: Staffing & Customer Service Debate
25:52 – Letting Your Staff Choose: Four, Five, or Six Days?
26:25 – The Challenge & Opportunity of Sunday Operations
27:17 – Saturdays, Sundays, and Putting Customer Convenience First
28:22 – Why Small Shops Can Be Super Profitable
29:36 – The Power of Efficiency in Small Shops
30:13 – Outro & Final Thoughts from Charlie and Mike

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Turnkey Marketing has helped my shop's marketing in ways I could have never on my own. They can do the same for here. Try them out HERE

Elite Worldwide keeps me accountable and takes a look at how I run my buisness from an unbiased perspective. It's greatly helped my shop! Learn more about how they can help you too HERE

Sunil Patel is the Founder and CEO of the best Shop Management Software in the industry - Tekmetric. PJ Leslie is a Miata lover like me and the Head of Business Development at Tekmetric. Today, Sunil tells me about the time when he owned a shop and an employee wrecked a customer's car. What happened next was CRAZY!

00:00 Don't Hate on Miata Lovers

08:57 Building Tekmetric: From Challenges to Creation

10:56 Industry Transformation and Shifting Demographics

14:55 "Tekmetric Dominates Aftermarket Software"

16:14 Strategic AI Integration Approach

20:23 Enhancing Service with Detect Auto

23:31 "Botched Car Lift Incident"

26:10 Minor Damage, Customer Informed

31:07 Transitioning from Trainual to Way We Do

33:53 Streamlined Automotive Business Integration

38:57 Empowering Leadership Approach

40:28 "Smart Jobs Integration Needed"

45:00 "Why-Based Training Benefits"

47:35 Incremental Improvements Drive Success

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Today, Mike Allen and Bryan Pollock are joined by Brian Stolpa, owner of Brian’s Motor Works Euro shop. They talk challenges of hiring—especially the decision between training an apprentice versus bringing in an experienced tech—and the realities of scaling a shop in today’s market. And yes, things get heated at the end when Mike brings up flat rate vs salary. Who's right? We may never know. But Bryan thinks Mike is wrong. We'll leave it there.

00:00 How Often Do You Buy Socks?

08:32 Hiring Strategies for Small Businesses

15:51 From NASCAR Aspirations to Mechanic

19:18 "Training Challenges in Skilled Labor"

24:42 "Finding the Right Team Fit"

27:58 Kids Dream of YouTube Fame

36:38 "Leasing vs. Owning Cars"

41:32 "Successful Implementation at Raleigh Shops"

43:34 Effective Communication with Customers

50:18 Flat Rate vs. Salary Risks

56:54 Unpaid Work Dilemmas

01:02:32 Post-COVID Job Shift Dynamics

In this episode, Matt challenges Mike to maximize his top-performing store without neglecting the fundamentals, like building stronger staff relationships. Ouch. That's what shop coaching is for, though! Sometimes, the toes need to get stepped on.

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Want shop coaching like this from Elite Worldwide? Reach out to learn more HERE

00:00 Self-Reflection and Accountability

05:10 Streamlining Shop Management with Tekmetric

08:59 Streamlined Estimate Notification Service

10:11 Boosting Tire Sales Strategy

14:21 Manual Process Checklists внедрение

18:11 Professionalizing Customer Experience

22:00 Improving Listening in Relationships

23:12 "Balancing Work and Family"

28:54 Tekmetric Sales Tracking Insight

32:03 Understanding Sales Cycle Timing

36:01 Increasing Sales Through Advisor Practice

38:28 Efficient Client Follow-Up Strategy

42:58 "Enhancing Phone Skills for Sales"

44:28 "Never Write NVH Without Test Drive"

47:44 Revenue Goals and Projections

53:00 Understanding Business Break-Even Points

55:19 "Broadening Perspectives at Events"

57:41 "Reconsidering My Words"