The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence

🎃🏴☠️ Ahoy, and Happy Halloween from The Institute! 🎃🏴☠️ Our Dead Men Drink No Rum Pirate-Themed Murder Mystery was a major success! Great food, spooky tales, and a whole lot of pirate mischief! 🍖🍻 Special shoutout to Winky McBlinky, Pop DeKegg, and the infamous Captain “Lefty” Loosey for making it a night to remember! 🦜💀 The Bouncing Barnacle docked in Santa Tortuga, setting the stage for a night of revelry... until Pop DeKegg was found drowned in his own rum! Was it for his treasure map, or meant for his lookalike cousin, Lefty? 🕵️☠️ Thanks to everyone who joined us for this haunting adventure. We can’t wait for more ghostly gatherings and pirate tales to come. Until then, keep your treasure close, and beware the shadows! 🍺👻

Come join us in Las Vegas for another exciting year at AAPEX! 🌟 We’re thrilled to be back November 5-7, bringing top-notch training and the expertise of The Institute’s own Cecil & Kent Bullard, along with Michael Smith, directly to you. Each year, AAPEX is an opportunity to dive deeper into what it takes to thrive in the ever-evolving automotive aftermarket industry. Our team has been coming to Vegas for years, and it’s always a highlight to share the latest strategies, tools, and insights that empower shop owners to make meaningful, lasting improvements in their businesses. 🔧 This year is no different, and we’ve packed our sessions with powerful, actionable content designed to elevate your shop's performance. 📍Event Details Location: AAPEX, Las Vegas Booth: 8514 (right next to Joe's Garage) Dates: November 5-7 Mark your calendar, bring your questions, and get ready to make this AAPEX unforgettable!

To build a thriving automotive shop, it all starts with leadership. In Episode 14, we discuss the essential role leadership plays in creating and sharing a clear vision, one that motivates and aligns your entire team. Great leaders inspire purpose and set ambitious goals – but it’s not just about profit. It’s about defining who you want your shop to be and what reputation you want to establish, both in the community and the industry. From establishing goals like becoming the top shop in your area to ensuring your business is a place where employees and clients both feel valued, leadership is about the why behind your work. A strong vision brings everyone together, setting the stage for a profitable, efficient, and positive workplace. Tune in as we dive into the first component of a successful business – and stay tuned for upcoming episodes, where we’ll cover management and supervision in creating a well-rounded, effective team. Click here for more pro tips! https://lnkd.in/g429WxMB

🚨 Webinar starts in less than an hour! 🚨 Unlock the power of call coaching by using call recordings to turn every customer interaction into a growth opportunity. Join us as we hear from shop owner and coach Aaron Woods from The Institute, and David Boyd from Inbound Communications. They’ll share how to leverage recorded calls to lead your team to success by recognizing Champion Calls—perfect examples of best practices—and identifying Coachable Calls where improvement is needed. You’ll also learn how to structure coaching sessions that empower your team and ensure meetings are productive, encouraging, and free from the dreaded “Company Beatings.” Consistent weekly coaching sessions are key to driving improvement. In this webinar, you'll discover how to implement this Best Practice and foster a positive learning culture rather than one of criticism. Whether your focus is on increasing appointments, avoiding pricing over the phone, or boosting your Average Repair Order (ARO), you’ll walk away with actionable strategies to enhance team performance through effective call coaching. https://lnkd.in/g-RZDd89

🌟 We have the BEST clients! 🌟 Thank you, Scott, for the amazing feedback! We’re so glad to hear that we are making an impact on your business. It’s our mission to help elevate the automotive industry, one shop at a time, and we’re proud to have you with us on this journey. Keep up the great work! To all of our clients, your success is our success, and we are proud to be part of your journey! 🚗

Hiring the right person isn’t just about qualifications – it’s about ensuring they’re a good cultural fit for your team. In this episode, we dive into two powerful methods to evaluate whether an applicant truly aligns with your business: the team interview and the working interview. Both offer unique insights and help uncover what a traditional interview might miss. We’ll show you how to involve your most engaged team members in the interview process, ensuring those who are deeply committed to your company’s vision, mission, and culture help evaluate new hires. This not only gives the team a voice but also allows the candidate to ask questions and gain a true understanding of what it’s like to work at your business from their future peers. Next, we explore the working interview, a practical test that puts candidates in real-world scenarios, such as answering phones or writing estimates. You’ll learn how this hands-on experience can help assess their skills, teamwork, and adaptability, giving you and your team a better understanding of how they might fit in day-to-day operations. These methods offer a well-rounded approach to hiring, allowing you to spot potential red flags and avoid costly hiring mistakes. Don’t rely on gut feelings alone – let your team help you find the right person who not only performs well but also enriches your company’s culture. Tune in for tips and strategies to make your next hire a perfect fit! If you need any assistance please reach out to us! https://lnkd.in/gCtT-z_Q+Social

We’re thrilled to welcome Inbound as our official Platinum Sponsor for The Institute Summit 2025. Their commitment to excellence in the automotive aftermarket industry aligns seamlessly with our mission to empower shop owners and drive progress across the industry. 📞 Inbound has set the bar high, not only through their sponsorship but also with their exceptional phone services, which we can personally vouch for as their clients. Their team has transformed the way we connect with our customers, helping us stay efficient, responsive, and focused on delivering value. Together, we’re excited to make a lasting impact and set new benchmarks for success in the industry. Here’s to a powerful partnership and an unforgettable event ahead! https://lnkd.in/gJkBvx9H https://lnkd.in/gnWMwqYy

🚗💡 Shop Owners – Hiring is just the start; the real work begins with a successful launch! Many businesses focus on hiring but overlook critical next steps like onboarding and training. In Episode 12 of the Leading Edge Weekly, we reveal a major red flag with new hires and show how a lack of detailed planning can set them up for failure right from the start. Here's what you'll learn: The importance of thoughtfully prepared training steps from day one 🗓️ How to provide essential resources and set clear expectations ✅ Practical strategies for skill-building, mentorship, and certification prep 📚 This episode is packed with insights on creating a structured, supportive onboarding process to help your new hires thrive and contribute meaningfully to your team. 👉 Subscribe to our channel for more weekly tips: The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence: https://lnkd.in/g429WxMB

🚨 Our webinar starts in just 30 minutes! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to elevate your follow-up game and boost your shop’s success. What You Will Learn: 1. Maximizing the Value of Your Existing Customers – Discover how to nurture and retain the customers you've already invested in. 2. Building Strong, Long-Lasting Customer Relationships – Learn strategies to transform one-time buyers into loyal, repeat customers. 3. Leveraging Follow-Up for Business Growth – Master techniques to convert leads and increase the lifetime value of your clients. Get ready to learn from the best and turn your follow-up approach into a powerful asset. See you soon! 👉 Join us now! https://lnkd.in/gAQZCVEC

🚗 A big shoutout and special thanks to Dan Vance and the incredible team at Shop Dog Marketing for being a Platinum Sponsor of The Institute Summit 2025! Your unwavering support means so much to us as we gear up to bring the automotive aftermarket industry together for an unforgettable event. With Dan and his team's expertise and passion, we’re excited to empower shop owners and drive the industry forward. Here’s to making a lasting impact and reaching new heights together! 🚀