Changing The Industry Podcast

David Roman & Lucas Underwood
  • 4.7 (81)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

This podcast is dedicated to changing the automotive industry for the better, one conversation at a time. Whether you're a technician, vendor, business owner, or car enthusiast, we hope to inspire you to improve for your customers, your careers, your businesses, and your families.

  1. 2d ago

    Episode 271 - Training New Technicians and Building a Lasting Automotive Business With Charles Mitchell

    Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTech Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros! Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros  In this episode, listeners hear the story of a small-shop owner’s journey to purchase and grow TenPin Motors in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The conversation focused on the challenges of transitioning from technician to owner, including finding and training quality staff. A key theme that emerged was the importance of building lasting customer relationships and delivering a superior client experience to stand out in a competitive market. The discussion also explored the realities and concerns of scaling to multiple locations, highlighting industry trends toward consolidation and the difficulty of maintaining quality and culture as shops grow. 00:00 Buying the dealership 08:21 Discussing small town expansion plans 14:49 Transitioning from technician to business management 16:35 Realizing the need to plan 22:32 Creating a welcoming atmosphere 27:13 Adjusting Services After Technician Left 35:03 Focusing on customer care in auto shops 40:14 Upgrading marketing and customer service 45:41 Increasing Profit While Managing Costs 49:17 Planning Future Business Growth 53:24 Concerns about expanding quality 01:00:47 Fostering positive industry growth

    1h 7m

  2. May 25

    Episode 270 - Overcoming Shop Owner Struggles: Hiring, Training, and Shop Management With Shaun Tipton

    Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTech Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros! Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros  In this episode, Lucas Underwood is joined by Shaun Tipton, who shares his 28-year journey from technician to shop owner. Shaun Tipton discusses the common pitfalls technicians face when transitioning to ownership, emphasizing the importance of understanding financials and setting fair labor rates. The conversation also highlights the critical role of workplace culture and effective leadership in building a successful, ethical shop. 00:00 Advice for aspiring shop owners 09:04 Understanding fair pricing for clients 13:46 Recognizing the need for help 15:51 Red flags in job histories 24:19 Fair employee compensation discussion 30:04 Balancing personal values and money 32:43 Flaws in metro coaching models 40:49 Switching to a single software system 43:49 Benefits of using Shop-Ware 48:09 Focusing on personal interests 53:42 Importance of leadership in ownership 59:46 Long-term life planning advice

    1h 6m

  3. May 18

    Episode 269 - Lessons Learned From Custom Car Builds and Business Ownership With Sunny Massera

    Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTech Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros! Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros  In this episode, Lucas Underwood and David Roman are joined by Sunny Massera, a custom car and truck builder from Oregon. Sunny Massera shares the hard lessons he learned from business ownership, including the importance of choosing the right business partner and the unexpected realities of running a shop versus working for someone else. The conversation also covers the challenges of building custom and performance vehicles—from managing customer expectations to dealing with unreliable aftermarket parts. 00:00 Moving between New Mexico and California 04:19 From flat rate to custom cars 07:30 Realizing business complexities 09:46 Deciding not to work alone 13:05 Getting hired at second Bronco shop 16:22 Discussing how to fund a startup 20:36 Partner's role in business growth 23:18 Revamping old Broncos 28:11 Understanding the engine issue 31:14 Working at custom car shops 33:21 Learning through hands-on projects 36:45 Test driving vehicles before ordering 40:00 Restoring a 59 Ranchero 41:33 Future of classic car market 46:46 Challenges finding car parts 50:09 Troubleshooting transmission issues 53:35 Fixing ongoing installation issues 56:10 Tuning engine installations 59:15 Advice for young professionals

    1h 4m

  4. May 14 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode - Handling Customer Complaints and Raising Industry Standards in Auto Repair

    Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTech Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros! Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros  In this episode, David and Lucas discuss the challenges of handling difficult customer complaints, specifically a negative review following a diagnostic process and the denial of repair work. They dive into the importance of clear communication, setting expectations with consumers, and defending the value of professional diagnostic procedures. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the need for industry-wide improvement, highlighting how prioritizing quality repairs and properly educating both staff and customers can help move the automotive industry in a better direction. 00:00 Client disputes repair charges 04:23 Diagnostic process and repair decision 06:32 Challenges of Dealing with Customers 12:13 Discussing steak pricing strategies 14:11 Handling customer expectations 16:25 Discussing repair pricing strategy 22:10 Ensuring quality car repairs 24:46 Surrounding yourself with success 26:35 Frustrations in the auto repair business 32:03 Challenges of business growth 35:45 Focusing on quality and process 37:05 Why we started the show 40:35 Technician frustrations over pricing

    46 min

  5. May 11

    Episode 268 - Mastering Shop Management and Technician Relations in Today’s Auto Industry

    Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTech Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros! Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros  In this episode, Austin joins the Changing The Industry Podcast to discuss his journey from dealership technician to shop owner in South Carolina. Austin shares the challenges of buying a shop as a young technician, including navigating the SBA loan acquisition process and building a reliable team after early hiring struggles. The conversation covers practical strategies for technician management and compensation, as well as the importance of professional bookkeeping and mentorship as a shop grows. 00:00 Navigating industry-exclusive groups 08:31 Hiring the first technician 13:09 Starting the podcast idea 20:25 Cost transparency with manufacturers 23:02 ETI's role in tool manufacturing 27:38 Managing car programming and updates 34:15 Car's auto-braking false alarms 39:15 Quick and safe control arm repair 44:53 Building a strong technician team 52:07 Technician attendance and bonus policy 55:11 Dealing with difficult coworkers 58:51 Growing with business mentors 01:05:03 Evaluating business coach effectiveness 01:12:50 Importance of clean financial records 01:14:53 Wanting a strict accountant

    1h 20m

  6. May 4

    Episode 267 - Building and Scaling Auto Shops: Culture, Challenges, and the Drive to Grow With Arun Coumar

    Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTech Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros! Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros  In this episode, Arun Coumar joins Lucas Underwood and David Roman to discuss the challenges and rewards of multi-shop ownership. Arun highlights the critical role of shop culture and management in shop performance, emphasizing how the right team can make or break operations. The conversation also dives into the evolving automotive industry landscape, touching on consolidation trends and the necessity for adaptability in both business structure and mindset. 00:00 Implementing an alternative work week schedule 10:26 Considering leaving a job 13:46 Realizing success isn't easy 19:57 Logging mileage for efficiency 26:01 Focus on local expansion first 29:37 Considering sole ownership vs. growth 33:54 Finding purpose after life challenges 42:44 Creating and defining meaning 45:40 Talking about single life challenges 53:06 Choosing your life's challenges 58:51 Challenges in the parts distribution industry 01:00:58 Discussing future market changes

    1h 6m

  7. Apr 27

    Episode 266 - Building Shop Efficiency and Team Culture with Greg Miller of Figs Auto Repair

    Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTech Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros! Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros  In this episode, David and Greg dive into the realities of shop ownership, growth, and staffing challenges in the auto repair industry. Greg shares his journey from IT business owner to owner of Figs Auto Repair in Charlotte, highlighting the importance of adapting processes for efficiency and using tools like Shop-Ware. The conversation also covers practical hiring lessons, including the need to hire and fire quickly and the value of connecting technicians with the broader industry through training events to improve retention. 00:00 Blood draw complications 05:28 Comparing safety of substances 13:13 Navigating traffic delays 18:35 Challenges with new hires 24:24 Handling tough diagnostic jobs 29:03 Adjusting pay for evaluation tasks 36:10 Discussing car repair estimates 40:51 Learning from industry veterans 41:52 Community engagement in North Carolina 49:25 Improving employee efficiency 52:56 Customer communication and follow-ups 01:02:58 Cooking steak tableside 01:04:43 Discussing conference networking opportunities 01:10:37 Networking and local support connections

    1h 14m

  8. Apr 20

    Episode 265 - Modern Pay Plans and Efficiency Tips To Fix The Tech Shortage With Eric Svedberg

    Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTech Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros! Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros  In this episode, Lucas and David are joined by Eric Svedberg of European Autowerks. Eric shares his journey from starting in the gas station business at 16 to owning and growing a successful automotive shop. The conversation dives deep into the persistent technician shortage, with Eric outlining the challenges in attracting and retaining skilled talent and the evolving pay structures needed to stay competitive. The hosts and Eric also explore strategies for fair compensation, diagnostic testing systems, and the importance of shop culture and communication in bridging the divide between owners and technicians. 00:00 Starting at a gas station job 04:49 Rebranding to Automotive Specialists 09:29 Mac and cheese cart setup 11:26 Bellman warns about minibar sensor 15:40 Salary expectations for auto techs 18:05 Explaining the three-level system 21:04 Handling customer pushback 25:35 Technician pay discussions 26:54 Negotiating a technician's pay raise 30:33 Paying employees more than expected 34:26 Explaining the production bonus system 37:27 Growing demand for skilled technicians 41:53 Ensuring seamless parts distribution 44:01 Discussing social media dynamics 48:42 Dealing with unreliable workers 52:06 Understanding different industry perspectives 55:27 Dealing with technician issues 56:07 Discussing employee accountability

    1h 2m
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4.7
out of 5
81 Ratings

About

This podcast is dedicated to changing the automotive industry for the better, one conversation at a time. Whether you're a technician, vendor, business owner, or car enthusiast, we hope to inspire you to improve for your customers, your careers, your businesses, and your families.

Information

  • Creator
    David Roman & Lucas Underwood
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    329
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Changing The Industry Podcast
  • Show Website
    Changing The Industry Podcast

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