The NOLN Podcast

A successful independent shop owner from Polson, Montana, and an executive from a major national chain offer insights into each path for prospective operators. This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on Sep 28, 2026. Read by Brittany Duncan  *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice:  Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify

Brent Kilmer, owner and operator of Velocity Tire & Auto in Michigan and a business coach for Repair Shop of Tomorrow, explains why creating videos to market your quick lube shop is easier than you might think. Kilmer offers tips for getting started, including how often to post, whether operators should enlist the help of an outside marketing firm, and what kinds of content resonate best with...

Quick lube operators considering a sale of their business have several boxes to check before going to market. This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on Aug 17, 2026. Read by Brittany Duncan  *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice:  Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify

Shawn Gilfillan, owner of Automotive Magic and Magic Lube & Rubber, recently sat down with NOLN after presenting on the topic of leadership at the Mastermind: Repair Shop of Tomorrow training event in Cleveland. In this interview, Gilfillan, who is also a NOLN editorial board member, explains how “a technician who owns a shop” can become “a CEO who used to be a technician” by delegating tasks,...

The straightforward, tiered compensation structure for Toxaway Automotive Group, an Atlanta-based Take 5 franchisee, creates a clear road map for employee advancement, says company president Preston Willard. This article was originally published on NOLN.net on Aug. 18, 2026. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice:  Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify

Bill Snow, vice president of marketing and franchise development for Rad Air, explains why even though shop owners might have the best of intentions when they tell managers to “run it like you own it,” what they are actually doing in many instances is creating a recipe for confusion, stress, and burnout. In this interview conducted by Christine Schaffran, editor-in-chief of Ratchet+Wrench, Snow ex...

Advancements in key segments beyond the bays have transformed vehicle maintenance and service operations. This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on July 27, 2026. Read by Brittany Duncan  *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice:  Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify

With Valvoline Inc. set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in October, Linne Fulcher, the company’s chief operating officer, joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss how Valvoline grew from 42 service centers in 1986 to more than 2,500 Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations today. Fulcher also explains how Valvoline has continued to adapt its business model to meet the needs of modern vehicles while maint...

Executives from two leading quick lube brands share what makes an ideal candidate to own and operate their service centers. This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on July 28, 2026. Read by Brittany Duncan  *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice:  Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify

Earlier this summer, Stephen Spinelli, president of Babson College and the co-founder of Jiffy Lube International, spoke with NOLN for its “NOLN at 40” series about the journey he and his colleagues took from launching Jiffy Lube International in 1979 and building it into the nation’s first quick lube chain, growing to more than 1,000 locations. In this episode, Spinelli discusses how the industry...

As quick lube marketing has become a sophisticated, technology-driven discipline, its core principles have endured. This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on June 29, 2026. Read by Brittany Duncan  *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice:  Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify

David Lawes, CEO of the Lubricants Packaging Management Association powered by Interchange 360, returns to the NOLN Podcast to provide listeners with an update on the state of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws and how they will impact the quick lube industry. With lubricant packaging recycling being largely overlooked historically, Lawes discusses the launch of Colorado’s first automotiv...

As more auto service businesses are met with AI tools in the market, NOLN chats with the companies behind two leading platforms about what they seek to offer quick lube shops. One of the firms uses existing shop cameras to monitor vehicle entry, service times, and technician activity to boost efficiency. The other handles customer calls, texts, and emails, allowing technicians to focus on service...

Congress recently advanced legislation addressing Right to Repair, but the final language looks much different than what independent repair advocates originally sought. Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, recently spoke with Christine Schaffran, editor-in-chief of NOLN’s sister publication Ratchet+Wrench, to explain what made it into the bill, what was left out, what happe...

Dave Schedin, an auto repair shop success coach from CompuTrek Systems, recently spoke with NOLN about the potentially fatal flaw in OEM maintenance schedules, what shops should analyze in their data to set more accurate maintenance intervals, and how this information should be presented to customers to build trust and keep their vehicles on the road. This story originally appeared on NOLN.net on...

Scott Hempy, CEO of Oilstop Drive-Thru Oil Change and Happy’s Drive-Thru Car Wash, joins the NOLN Podcast to take a closer look at a topic covered in one of his recent columns for NOLN: how quick lube operators can maintain their margins even as their costs rise. In this conversation, Hempy explains why operators should focus on controllable factors, such as labor efficiency, bay times, and invent...

Vendors who work with quick lubes have evolved from suppliers and distributors to sage advisors and full-fledged partners. On this note, earlier this year NOLN caught up with representatives from Mighty Auto Parts and Service Champ, who explained why effective vendor partnerships involve understanding the specific needs and challenges of quick lube shops, including inventory, training, and service...

Ellie Pentland, partner at Throttle Muscle, joins the NOLN Podcast to offer insights on how quick lube operators can develop effective employee training and goal-setting initiatives. Pentland, who has spent more than 25 years in the industry, explains the value of clearly defining objectives and creating measurable outcomes, and she also discusses the why operators should focus training on individ...

With the United States and Iran reaching a peace agreement that is expected to be signed later this week, RBC Capital Markets analyst Steven Shemesh joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss the ramifications for quick lube operators. In this interview, Shemesh explains why although the reported peace agreement between the United States and Iran is a positive development, operators should expect lingering...

Increasing average repair orders starts with consistency, communication, and preparation. In this episode of the NOLN Podcast, Matt Shaw, vice president of sales at Mighty Auto Parts, discusses how thorough inspections, faster advisor communication and well-managed inventory programs can help shops identify more service opportunities, improve close rates and create a better customer experience wit...

Oil Express, a 44-year-old business 20 miles north of downtown Cincinnati in West Chester, Ohio, has emphasized customer-oriented service packages tailored to working-class drivers, including discounts on oil changes, filters, and fluid services to increase revenue. District Manager Robert Gallatin recently shared with NOLN the five straightforward considerations Oil Express works from to craft it...

Adam Miller, owner of four Grease Monkey franchise locations in Washington state, explains how implementing an online scheduling system has helped attract new customers to his stores. Miller explains how customers book appointments online, how his Grease Monkey shops balance wait times for drive-up customers vs. those who scheduled in advance, and lessons he has learned after a year of offering th...

As AI-driven search engines increasingly aggregate reviews, proactive online reputation management is a critical tool for quick lube shops of all sizes. Adam Alfia, founder and managing director of Real Time Feedback, and Scott Rider, founder and CEO of the Rider Group, join the NOLN Podcast to explain how a proactive engagement strategy can boost retention, improve online ratings, and ultimately...

Cybersecurity leaders explain why smaller, independent automotive shops can be prime targets for hackers. They also offer practical advice for protecting sensitive information, including customer and financial data, and developing an incident response plan that can prevent an attack from destroying a business. This article was published on NOLN.net on March 9, 2026. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podca...

Paul Elliott, group vice president of franchise marketing for Midas, joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss the company’s recent 70th anniversary celebration, as well as the company’s emphasis on innovation, customer service, using AI as a support tool rather than a replacement for employees, and strong franchisee partnerships. Elliott also dives into Midas’ new marketing campaign featuring actor Willi...