Talking Shop with ShopOwner Babcox Media

Charles Dickens might have said it best when he began his story “A Tale of Two Cities” by saying "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” When you think about it, every year end review and new years forecast could be summed up exactly the same way. It’s all in how you look at things.
In this 2023 wrapup/2024 forecast episode of Talking Shop With ShopOwner, Doug Kaufman and Vic Tarasik discuss the state of the automotive industry at the end of the year and what to expect in the coming year.
Kaufman, editor of ShopOwner magazine and Tarasik, The Shop Owner Coach agree that 2023 has been decent, with some clients experiencing record months and trending towards a record year. They also discuss the positive impact of lower gas prices and the potential for increased vehicle maintenance and repairs as a result.
However, they acknowledge that things can change.
The speakers touch on the importance of being prepared for potential challenges and uncertainties in the coming year, such as supply chain issues and changes in consumer behavior. They also discuss the trend of some shops considering a four-day workweek and the benefits and drawbacks associated with it.
Overall, they emphasize the importance of focusing on what can be controlled within the shop and making decisions that prioritize the well-being of employees and the satisfaction of existing customers.
Talking Shop with Shop Owner is sponsored by AAPEX, the premier automotive industry networking and educational event. To get more information about the 2024 AAPEX show, to be held November 5-7 in Las Vegas, visit AAPEXshow.com.

When the workday is over, the tools are put away, the computers have gone to sleep, the customers have driven away safely and the last tech has clocked out, washed up and left the parking lot, do you ever just take a minute to put your hands on your hips, look around your shop, take a deep breath and think, “Is this really all there is to life?”
If so, you’re probably not alone.
After a tiring day of being responsible for everything – from customers’ cars and their safety, employee productivity and their family’s security to your own business legacy, things can get a bit overwhelming. There’s a lot of stressful nights spent tossing, turning and considering what’s next.
Bryce Kenny understands what you’re feeling. Kenny, professional driver of the Monster Jam Great Clips Mohawk Warrior monster truck, says he has been stuck in routines that were intended to bring him one level of satisfaction, only to find out that he was stuck in the wrong gear.
In this episode of Talking Shop with Shop Owner, Bryce Kenny, talks about his new book called "Geared for Life." In the book, Kenny shares his personal journey and offers advice on finding the courage to chase dreams and overcome fear. He emphasizes the importance of shifting into the next gear in life and making a lasting impact on the world.
Kenny believes that success is not about faking it until you make it, but rather believing in yourself and becoming the best version of yourself. He also encourages readers to look for ways to inconvenience themselves and to find meaning and purpose in their work. Kenny's book is available for purchase on various platforms, and he is passionate about helping others find their own gears and achieve success.
Talking Shop with Shop Owner is sponsored by AAPEX, the premier automotive aftermarketing business and networking event. For more information about the show, visit AAPEXShow.com.

We talk a lot about the challenges facing shops these days – from technology to training to technicians, it often feels like we have more problems than solutions.

In this episode of Talking Shop With ShopOwner, we endeavor to get answers to some of our questions. Doug Kaufman, editor of ShopOwner and Tomorrow’s Technician, talks with Jen Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and supporting young people to pursue careers as automotive technicians.

TechForce provides scholarships, grants, and resources to help students get the education and training they need to enter the industry.

Tech Force recently launched the "Grab the Wheel" campaign, which aims to reach out to 13 to 24-year-olds who may be interested in becoming automotive professionals. The campaign focuses on empowering young people to take control of their future and consider a career as a skilled technician. Tech Force also offers a community platform where industry professionals can connect and support each other and encourages industry professionals, shops, and manufacturers to get involved by volunteering, making donations or posting job opportunities.

Tech Force is taking a group of students to the 2023 AAPEX Show, to expose them to the industry and show them the opportunities available. For more information on the foundation, visit TechForceFound.org

Taking Shop with ShopOwner is presented by AAPEX.

Would you go for a ride in a car that has no driver? Autonomous vehicles are making news every day and they're making some automotive professionals nervous. Are they the future of ride sharing? Are we destined to become a world of passengers? Today we're talking about taking a backseat and letting technology do to driving. We're talking Shop with Shop Owner.
Autonomous vehicles have been in the news a lot recently. Waymo, Google's self-driving car division has just announced success in putting completely autonomous vehicles into the field in Arizona. Yet there are still some challenges. Google says there have been cases where the test drivers in their vehicles fell asleep behind the wheel. A driverless car recently drove into wet concrete, mistaking it for a road, and studies from London have shown that self-driving cars and their cameras aren't yet perfect.





In this episode of Talking Shop with Shop Owner, Doug Kaufman discusses the future of autonomous vehicles with Chris Piche, the CEO of Smarter AI. Piche explains that Smarter AI develops software platforms for AI cameras used in various applications, including driverless cars. He emphasizes that while AI cameras are not perfect, they are constantly improving and have already been used to enhance safety features in cars. Piche also discusses the challenges of data collection and processing, as well as the potential for AI cameras to detect complacent and distracted driving. He concludes by mentioning the increasing use of AI technology in commercial transportation markets.

This episode of Talking Shop With ShopOwner is presented by AAPEX, the automotive industry's premier training, technical and networking gathering. The 2023 AAPEX Show will be held in Las Vegas, October 31-November 2. For information, visit AAPEXShow.com

Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan once said, "Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent." While it's doubtful the Ryan Express was discussing the future of the automotive aftermarket, his words are just as true for us as they were for himself, as he found himself facing increasingly younger, stronger batters throughout his career.
In this episode of Talking Shop with ShopOwner, the Kaufmans continue their analysis of what's to come. Doug Kaufman with Shop Owner Magazine and Derek Kaufman, managing partner at Schwartz Advisors, talk about the future of this industry, focusing on the people, the ones who work in the shops, the ones who own the shops.
The common complaint is there's just no good techs out there. When the local fast food places are having trouble hiring workers, what chance do we have? What will it take to recruit, hire and retain top talent now and in the next several years?
Talking Shop with ShopOnwer is sponsored by AAPEX, the premier automotive industry networking and educational event. To get more information about the 2023 AAPEX Show to be held this year in Las Vegas, October 31-November 2, visit aapexshow.com.

Of all the changes this industry has faced over its more than a century of life, that past 40 years have been a whirlwind. We’ve seen typewriters transition to mainframes to laptops; we’ve witnessed the eventual embrace of fuel injection and anti-lock brakes; we’ve seen OBDII and the internet come and pagers and faxes go. Through it all, shop owners have adapted.

It’s fun to look back at what’s changed and consider how much better off we are now – but it’s scary to be on the other side of the curve, looking forward, trying to predict what’s coming next over the horizon.

In this episode, Doug Kaufman, editor of ShopOwner grills Derek Kaufman, managing partner at Schwartz Advisors about what we can expect in the automotive industry in the future. As it turns out, that future is both closer and more amazing than you may imagine.

Talking Shop With ShopOwner is sponsored by AAPEX, the premier automotive industry networking and educational event. To get more information about the 2023 AAPEX show, to be held this year in Las Vegas, October 31 through November 2, visit AAPEXshow.com.