Garage Grit Podcast

Trust in auto repair doesn’t start when the hood opens—it starts long before the customer walks through the door. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Mike Dent shares how decades of trust-building, customer communication, and relentless consistency turned his shop into a community institution in Ocean City, Maryland. Mike’s story starts early—working on cars as a child,...

Customer trust in auto repair is built long before a vehicle ever enters the bay. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Chris Whited of Community Auto shares how customer perception, communication, and consistency directly shape business growth in Fort Collins, Colorado. Chris walks through the origin of Community Auto and how the shop established itself in a growing Colo...

Trust in auto repair doesn’t start with the repair order — it starts with perception. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Josh Westendorp shares how customer trust is built through reviews, communication, digital inspections, and every touchpoint before the vehicle even enters the bay. Josh’s journey began inside Jamestown Automotive, the Michigan shop his father purcha...

What customers experience before they ever approve a repair often determines whether they trust your shop at all. In this Origin & Impact episode, Joshua Wahlstrom shares how Farmington Service and Towing transformed customer communication, front-desk workflows, and phone systems to create a more reliable and trust-driven shop experience. Joshua walks through the early foundation of the busine...

Most shops focus on fixing cars—but the real battle is won before the customer ever walks in. This episode dives into how perception, humor, and communication shape trust long before the repair even starts. Chris Hamann didn’t just build a shop—he built an experience. From launching Lakeland Auto & Marine in a small seasonal market to creating memorable customer touchpoints, his journey highli...

AI is changing how customers choose auto repair shops, but most shop owners are still trying to figure out where it actually fits. The real issue isn’t the technology—it’s how it impacts trust, communication, and ultimately booked work. In this Shop Owners Panel, experienced shop owners share how AI is showing up in their businesses and in customer behavior. These aren’t theories or predictions—th...

Most shop owners think marketing is about clicks. In reality, it’s about trust, perception, and getting the phone to ring. This episode breaks down what actually drives customer confidence before they ever walk through your door. Nick Yannessa shares his journey from working in a family shop to launching a brand-new business, Auto Ficina. Early on, customer perception wasn’t something that needed...

Trust isn’t built with sales tactics—it’s built through relationships. In this episode, Jonathon Grable breaks down how customer perception and communication directly shape retention, reputation, and long-term growth. Jonathon’s journey started in corporate repair environments where customers were treated like numbers. When he took over Grable’s Garage, he inherited not just a business—but a perce...

Launching a new auto repair shop isn’t just about fixing cars—it’s about earning trust before customers even walk through the door. In this Origin & Impact episode, Corey Mitrovic and Joey Kenville share how perception, reviews, and communication shaped the growth of their Colorado-based shop. Corey came from a sales and business background, while Joey spent decades turning wrenches. When they...

Trust in auto repair doesn’t start with a wrench—it starts with perception. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, John Starkey shares how relationships, visibility, and communication turned a struggling side hustle into a multi-million-dollar repair shop in Hawaii. John didn’t begin in auto repair. He started in tech sales and dealership finance before flipping cars just...

DescriptionTrust is the currency of every successful auto repair shop—but many owners unknowingly break it. In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast Origin & Impact series, Michael Mole explains how communication, authenticity, and real customer care shape how the public perceives your shop. Michael Mole didn’t start in auto repair. After leaving college and building a successful pressure wa...

Reputation can build a shop. But visibility is what sustains it. Rusty and Melissa Smith didn’t start with marketing systems. Smith Automotive in Pleasant Hill, Iowa grew on referrals, word-of-mouth, and community trust. No advertising. No tracking. No customer database. Just good work and loyal customers. But growth exposed a ceiling. As they expanded bays, added technicians, and eventually opene...

DescriptionTrust in auto repair isn’t built in the bay — it’s built through communication. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Tyler Mead shares how small shifts in customer interaction dramatically change perception, reviews, and long-term loyalty. As a third-generation owner at Ken’s Automotive & Transmissions, Tyler grew up inside the business but watched firstha...

Host Brad Hurlock (AA Shop Marketing) interviews three shop owners—John Starkey (Starkey’s Auto Repair, Honolulu), Daniel Jenkins (Jenkins Auto Repair, rural Tennessee), and Michael Mole (Integrity Auto Repair, Savannah)—about why good service can still produce bad reviews and how to manage reviews overall. John describes running a large Hawaii shop with state safety inspections that can trigger a...

Trust isn’t built through advertising alone — it’s built through everyday customer interactions. In this Origin & Impact episode, Ed Hajjar explains how reputation, communication, and consistency became the real marketing engine behind a 50-year independent repair shop. Ed Hajjar of S & H Auto Repair shares the origin story behind a family-connected shop that evolved into a long-standing A...

Building trust isn’t about flashy marketing — it’s about becoming the shop customers confidently recommend when something goes wrong. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Daniel Jenkins shares how perception, visibility, and customer confidence transformed a backyard operation into a growing independent repair business. Daniel didn’t start with a commercial location or a...

Trust doesn’t start when the car breaks down. It starts with how customers feel the moment they walk through your door. In Episode 074 of the Garage Grit Podcast, Joe Arnold shares how customer education and transparency shape perception long before a repair order is closed. Joe grew up inside Mike’s KARS, a third-generation shop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. When he stepped into ownership, he inhe...

Perception decides whether customers trust your shop before they ever meet you. In this Origin & Impact episode, Drew Camp breaks down how mismatched expectations—between what people claim and what they deliver—shape reputation, confidence, and long-term growth. Drew shares his path growing up inside a family-run operation in Midland, Texas, and how early exposure shaped how customers viewed c...

In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Jennifer Hazeltine of American Import Auto, Inc. talks about how being visible, personable, and present in the community built customer trust long before any formal marketing strategy existed. She explains why showing up — at local events, in neighborhood groups, and online — matters far more than clicks, ads, or banners. Jennifer cam...

Most shop owners don’t have a marketing problem — they have a consistency problem. When car count drops, spending spikes. When things get busy, marketing disappears. In this Vendor Insights episode, Tim Shaffer explains why this cycle quietly kills growth and how shops can break it. Vendor Context Tim works with independent auto repair shops nationwide, helping owners align marketing, front counte...

In this episode of Garage Grit Podcast – Origin & Impact, the founders of Performance Automotive Repair reveal how communication, culture, and clarity built customer trust and shop visibility in a rural market. From hiring challenges to refined messaging systems, you’ll hear how they shifted perception to grow and retain customers. Brandan and Kelsey Lancaster founded Performance Automotive Repair...

Crafting a Marketing Budget for Auto Repair Shops: Insights from The Garage Grit Podcast In this episode of The Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock from AA Shop Marketing is joined by three auto repair shop owners: Joe from Gettysburg, PA, Drew from Midland, TX, and Kevin from Shelton, CT. They delve into various marketing strategies tailored for auto repair shops, discussing practical ideas, i...

Most shops do not lose customers because of the repair. They lose them because the experience feels unclear, impersonal, or salesy. In this Origin & Impact episode, Kelly Michel breaks down how trust is built through what customers see, hear, and feel the moment they walk in. Kelly opened Kelly's Auto Repair & Service Inc. in Dunnellon, Florida after years of hands on experience, and learned early...

If your shop is doing the work but still feels stuck, this episode hits the real problem: customers do not buy repairs, they buy trust. Matt Bozarth breaks down what changed when he took over Advanced Auto Care and started treating visibility, communication, and team alignment like revenue drivers. Matt did not grow up as a master tech owner. He came from the parts side, watched hundreds of shops...

Most shops do not lose trust in the bay. They lose it at the counter. In this Origin & Impact episode, Julio De Brigard explains how customer perception, communication quality, and front desk discipline directly shape outcomes, trust, and long term growth. Julio’s story starts outside the U.S., landing in Florida and stepping behind the front counter of a shop he had never worked in before. Ea...