How Do You Keep Good Techs from Leaving? Here’s How to Build a Team That Sticks Around

  Hi Sara, We can’t afford to lose our top techs, especially during season. What can we do to keep them from leaving? ----------------------------------------------------- We get it. Every shop in town is eyeing your best techs like they are the last slice of pizza at a party. But keeping your top talent is not about locking the doors or bribing them with donuts (though, honestly, donuts help). It is about creating a workplace where they [...]

By |2025-04-07T13:54:23-05:00April 7th, 2025|Ask Sara Hey, Service, Training|

How Do You Speed Up Turnaround Without Sacrificing Quality?

  Hi Sara, We’ve been getting complaints about long wait times. How do you speed up turnaround without sacrificing quality? ----------------------------------------------------- Let’s face it. Nobody likes waiting. Whether it's in a drive-thru line, at the DMV, or for a repair job at your shop, long wait times can drive people nuts. The good news is that you do not have to choose between speed and quality. You can have both, like a perfectly cooked steak [...]

By |2025-03-28T13:20:56-05:00March 28th, 2025|Ask Sara Hey, Service, Training|

Should We Focus on Attracting New Customers or Keeping the Ones We Have?

  Hi Sara, We’re always looking for ways to grow our business, should we focus more on attracting new customers or retaining existing ones? ----------------------------------------------------- Ah, the age-old question: do you spend time wooing new customers like a lovesick puppy, or do you keep the ones you already have happy, like a dog faithfully guarding its favorite bone? Spoiler Alert: keeping your current customers is where the real magic happens - and here’s why. The [...]

By |2025-02-27T14:19:38-06:00February 27th, 2025|Ask Sara Hey, Marketing, Sales, Service|

How to Set Clear Expectations for Employees Without Micromanaging Them

  Hi Sara, I feel like I’m always checking in on my team to make sure things get done right, but I know that’s not helping anyone, including me. I want to set clear expectations so they know what to do without me hovering, but letting go of that control is tough. How can I find the right balance? ----------------------------------------------------- Micromanaging is the workplace equivalent of a backseat driver - annoying, unproductive, and often a [...]

By |2025-02-13T11:38:46-06:00February 13th, 2025|Ask Sara Hey, Management|

What’s the Secret to Keeping Your Service Department on Schedule and Getting Jobs Done Faster?

  Hi Sara, I can’t figure out why we’re always behind on jobs. How do you keep your team on schedule? ----------------------------------------------------- If running your shop feels like chasing your tail all day, you’re not alone. Staying on schedule can feel like trying to stack marbles - frustrating and almost impossible. But with the right strategies, you can turn that chaos into a well-run operation. Let’s look at three simple fixes to get your team [...]

By |2025-02-06T11:31:54-06:00February 6th, 2025|Ask Sara Hey, Service, Training|

How Can You Write a Job Description That Attracts the Right People?

  Hi Sara, What’s the best way to write a job description that actually attracts the right people? ----------------------------------------------------- You’re not alone — many businesses are finding it tough to attract the right candidates, and landing the perfect hire can feel like an impossible task. But here’s the good news: with a little effort and a well-thought-out job description, you can simplify the process, draw in top talent, and set your business AND your new [...]

By |2025-01-29T14:00:32-06:00January 29th, 2025|Ask Sara Hey, Hiring|

Struggling to Balance Inventory and Customer Needs?

  Hi Sara, My parts inventory seems overwhelming, and I have A LOT of money tied up in parts, but I never seem to have what my customers actually need. Help! ----------------------------------------------------------- How to Stock the Right Parts Without Losing Your Mind Running a parts department is no small task. It’s the first impression for many customers, the lifeline for your service department, and can sometimes feel like a juggling act. Some days, you’re trying [...]

By |2025-01-16T17:15:02-06:00January 16th, 2025|Ask Sara Hey, Parts|

What is Gross Profit, Why Does it Matter, and How Can You Make it Work for Your Dealership?

  Hey Sara, I keep hearing about gross profit, but whenever someone explains it, I feel like I need a translator. What is it, why does it matter, and how do I actually make it work for my dealership? ----------------------------------------------------------- Let’s talk about gross profit. You’ve probably heard it a thousand times in meetings, podcasts, or random conversations that make your eyes glaze over. Maybe you even nod along, pretending you get it, while your [...]

By |2024-12-19T10:18:19-06:00December 19th, 2024|Ask Sara Hey, Management, Training|

Tackling Negative Reviews Without Losing Your Cool

  Hi Sara, We’ve been hit with a few negative reviews, and it’s dragging us down. How do we respond and turn things around? ----------------------------------------------------------- Negative reviews are like that annoying fly at the summer barbecue — they’re a pain, but they don’t have to ruin the whole event. The reality is that most people who walk into a dealership are already in a bad mood. Why? Because something they need is broken, and simply [...]

By |2024-12-11T13:44:35-06:00December 11th, 2024|Ask Sara Hey, Management|

Keeping the Peace: Balancing Family Time and Business Talk During the Holidays

  Hi Sara, With the holidays coming up, our family’s dealership and the state of the business seem to sneak into every gathering. How do you balance family time with business talk during the holidays? ----------------------------------------------------------- Oh, the joys of family business and holiday gatherings! If you’re part of a family-run business, you know how quickly a Thanksgiving dinner can turn into a board meeting. I get it — my dad started Bob Clements International [...]

By |2024-11-25T10:32:16-06:00November 25th, 2024|Ask Sara Hey, Management|
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