Shop Owner

Plan ahead for open enrollment later this year
When open enrollment for insurance and other benefits starts for companies later this year, your shop can offer a new option for employees: a new health insurance plan. 
Jack Calabrese, director, NAPA Insurance Center, explains very simply that when you are able to...
Want more employees? Take a look at your insurance
When it comes to hiring new employees, you want the best for your business. From the potential employee’s view, they want certain things, too. And there are factors many potential hires take into consideration when looking at a lower-paying job. 
According to a...
What it takes to stand out in marketing
Every shop owner struggles with marketing at some point. Many, unfortunately, also are quick to cut this line of the budget when car count slows. 
That actually is the opposite of what should be done. And using some ideas outlined in this free webinar from NAPA...
Digital inspections as marketing? You bet!
If you aren’t using a digital vehicle inspection (DVI) of any kind, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to help your customers and position your shop as a trusted partner for people in your community. 
Don’t think that a DVI could provide you...
Your new job: Scan, solve problems and not introduce new ones
There is a simple reason why you need to be scanning vehicles in your shop: OEM procedures. 
With a majority of OEMs releasing position statements on pre- and post-scans, collision repair shops that are not performing vehicle scans quite likely are not repairing the...
From an owner: Why scanning can protect your shop
We find ourselves writing more and more about pre- and post-scans. But when one shop owner can share his story, it might be an even more powerful statement. 
Patrick Porter owns Porter’s Body Shop in Brookhaven, Miss., and spent time with ABRNand ALLDATA...
Making the investment in electric infrared technology can pay big dividends
Yes, investing in shop equipment is a big undertaking. 
Yes, having the space often is an issue. 
Yes, there can be other financial challenges to taking the big step to putting money into just one area of the shop. 
But when you consider a quick lane, all of...
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A structural labor rate is a must for collision repair shop success
Structural replacement is becoming more and more prevalent as advanced driver-assist systems are detecting and mitigating the potential damage caused in accidents, resulting in more repairable vehicles with a higher severity.
Structural replacement is demanding on a shop...
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Determine your own set of non-negotiables
We are an industry that, at least in the abstract, when we are thinking logically, seems to understand the need to follow the OEM collision repair procedures. But unfortunately, in day-to-day practice, there are those – shops, technicians and insurers ­– who...
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Offer employees clarity, input to achieve goals
Over my last two columns — “Finding the right people and the right place” and “It’s not about the money — it’s about great management" — I passed along tips for building a loyal and motivated work force and real-world...
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Daily planning can ensure optimum efficiency in the shop
Last month in "Time management amid growing admin burdens" I discussed the ever-challenging issue of how to balance all of our shop's administrative demands while still managing overhead. Although the simple answer is always adding more staff, this is not...
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Implementing non-negotiables can help set standards for your shop
I’ve read several articles lately debating who is in charge of a shop — the owner or the insurance company. I don’t think it is just between those two entities. There are a lot of moving pieces in shop operations and taking charge of all of them is...
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How proper repair documentation leads to proper payment
“Because I said so.” “Everyone knows you have to do it.” “Isn’t it obvious?” These are simple phrases to answer the constant question of “Why are you billing me for this?” We’ve all heard it — “You...
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Time management amid growing admin burdens: Part 1
With more and more tasks being assigned to the shop, we are faced with this question: How do we balance all the administrative demands while still managing overhead? The simple answer is always adding more staff. That may address the administrative demands, but the business...
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Panel of industry representatives discuss ADAS, worker shortage and sources of solutions
What are some of the current top concerns for independent collision repair shop owners – and what solutions are they finding to help address those issues? That was the focus of ABRN’s annual Collision Industry Roundtable, a panel (see sidebar, “Who Was At...
  • NAPA AutoCare
  • NAPA AutoCare
  • NAPA AutoCare
  • NAPA AutoCare
  • ALLDATA Automotive Intelligence
  • ALLDATA Automotive Intelligence
  • GFS Revo
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