Tire industry veteran Jeff Morgan is the executive director of TEN (Training and Education Network.) He can be reached at jeff.morgan@20dsp.com or (651) 846-9871. For more, see www.mtdten.com
Opportunities to grow your business can be right in front of you. It’s your job to pay attention, recognize that they are there and find a way to act upon them. These opportunities may not be huge and glaring. In fact, some of the most beneficial opportunities may seem small at the start.
Competition is everywhere in our industry. As such, the ability to attract and retain talent is even more of a challenge, particularly with a limited talent pool. For some, this is a daily struggle. Yet there are a few out there who seem to be doing very well.
Your dealership's P&L statement is the most important report in your business. But just looking at your P&L regularly is not enough. You have to learn to speak its “language.”
The only thing that you have power or control over when it comes to time is what you do with it. So while you cannot manage time, you can - and must - manage yourself. This is especially true when running a business.
All of us are looking for ways to generate new business. There are two basic ways to accomplish this: do more with the customers that you have or increase the number of customers you serve. While both are effective, one is much more limiting. The greatest gain comes in finding ways to bring in more customers.
In our industry, we are faced with technological changes in nearly every aspect of what we do. Automotive systems are evolving and changing. How we interact with our customers is evolving and changing. It is important to recognize these changes and act upon them at the right time in order to keep our businesses thriving.
Let’s be honest - a few of you read the headline of this article and thought I was referring to one of the many tire brands that you sell. This is certainly not unexpected, considering our industry and the various tire brands that are out there. However, there is one brand that means more to your business than any other. It is built and tested everyday, but not inside a manufacturing plant.
This is the time of year when your dealership is ramping upward and into the spring selling season. As such, if you were not already looking to add staffing, you may be now. Here's how to attract and land those "big fish" who will help move your business forward.
"If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected," says Jeff Morgan. "Having plans in place for every possible calamity prepares you and your business to 'weather the storm.'" In this MTD exclusive, Morgan tells you how to get ahead of potential crisis situations - and how to manage those that do occur.
You sell tires and automotive service, but you're really in the people business. And because of that, you cannot leave it to chance that everyone within your business will be providing customers with an exceptional experience. You need to plan for how you and your team will do it.
Wow! What a year 2020 has been. Talk about a roller-coaster! The year started out like any other, with great expectations. We started hearing rumbling about some virus, but didn’t really pay much attention, at first.
Fall is in full swing. With the way 2020 has been, even that seemed in question at times. However, we have managed to reach another change of season. And with it, business for many tire dealers will change, as well.
Fall has arrived. The change of seasons means a change to business for many dealers. This also is the time when many start thinking ahead strategically for the next year.
How well does the average consumer know the needs of his or her vehicle? Years ago, before many readers here can remember, when you brought your car into a gas station for a fill-up, someone came out to not only pump your gas, but also check your oil and your tires’ pressure levels. And you were kept informed on your vehicle’s condition.
Who typically sees more cars in your shop on a typical day: a master mechanic or a lube/tire tech? I’m sure you recognized that it’s your lube or tire tech. Now, think of the impact on your business when this person is performing at a high and consistent level.
As a business owner, you understand the importance of managing and protecting your tangible assets, such as property, inventory, equipment and employees. But what about the assets that lack a tangible cost or value?
As a business owner, you understand the importance of managing and protecting your tangible assets, such as your property, inventory, equipment and employees.