Garage Grit Podcast

Trust is built long before the invoice is printed. In this episode, Tad Benda explains why customer perception, communication, and consistency are the real marketing advantage for independent shops competing against chains. Tad shares his origin story, moving from the restaurant industry into ownership at Tinley Tee Tire Company in Deming, New Mexico. Early on, the shop was known locally but opera...

Most shops think marketing starts online. Jarrod Michalak explains why it actually starts at the front counter. In this episode, we break down how customer communication, trust, and consistency determine whether your marketing dollars turn into real car count or wasted clicks. Jarrod grew up in his family’s shop and eventually took over the business, expanding to a second location in Pennsylvania....

Most shops spend real money to get found online, then lose the sale on the first phone call. In this Vendor Insights episode, Rena Rennebohm breaks down how the front counter either converts your marketing or quietly cancels it. Rena is the CEO of Empowered Advisor, a service advisor coaching and training company. She shares how weekly, call based coaching reveals the exact gaps between what your...

Dale Donovan shares how shop owners can improve visibility and trust by marketing the real experience of their shop, not just the services they sell. From recruiting to retention, this episode connects culture, customer experience, and positioning in a way that drives growth. Dale grew a family operation into multiple locations by borrowing proven ideas, building local relationships, and staying f...

Front of Shop Strategies and Improving Customer Experience | Garage Grit PodcastIn this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, we dive into the essential dynamics of the front of shop and how it impacts the overall performance of an auto repair business. Kathleen Callahan from Expert Tech Auto Repair and Phillip Corbel from Fargo, ND, share their insights on common challenges faced in hiring efficien...

"If it needs to be done, it's going to be done" — Kory Rozema | GGP #060

Fleet work, pickup and delivery, loaner cars, DVIs, and ADAS aren’t just operations choices—they’re marketing decisions that shape how customers see your shop, how often they return, and who they refer. In this Origin & Impact episode, AAPEX 2025 Shop Owner of the Year Tom Palermo of Preferred Automotive Specialists in Philadelphia, PA breaks down how convenience and communication built a bran...

Customers don’t come back just because you fixed the car—they come back because of how you treat them, how you show up in the community, and how your shop feels when they walk through the door. In this Origin & Impact episode, Kevin Reichelt from Steller’s Garage in Shelton, CT unpacks how people-first decisions—flowers at the counter, favorite nurse giveaways, and smarter time off—end up driving...

When customers don’t trust shops, they don’t trust your marketing either. In this episode, we look at how F & L Tire and Service built a female-friendly, family-first brand experience that keeps customers coming back—even when the township puts a hard cap on physical growth. You’ll hear how intentional communication, paid inspections, and a clear value story turn everyday visits into long-term...

Is your shop competing on price or value? Many shop owners struggle with customers who nitpick invoices and price-shop parts, driving margins down. To combat this, Jeremy McQueen implemented a "Bid Shop" model—offering a single price for the total job rather than an itemized breakdown. This marketing and sales strategy shifts the customer conversation from the cost of a water pump to the value of...

Customers today make decisions based on trust—who communicates clearly, who feels local, and who treats them with honesty. In this episode, we break down how a shop can outperform franchises simply by showing up as the neighbor customers want to support. Renton Garrett of Gold River Automotive in Gold River, CA shares the origin of his family-run shop, why leaving the franchise model unlocked thei...

In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock and a panel of auto shop owners discuss the importance of documenting processes to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability in running their businesses. The conversation covers several key areas including the advantages of using explicit phone scripts, the benefits of regular staff meetings, and the concept of leveraging AI tools...

Google visibility isn’t luck — it’s strategy. In this episode, you’ll hear how Bayer Motor Works dominates search rankings in a competitive metro market and how their European niche allows them to pull customers from 30–50 miles away. This conversation breaks down how SEO, reputation, and smart targeting turn a specialty shop into a destination shop. Sean Beardsley brings a dealer-level perspectiv...

Growing a shop starts with staying connected to the people who already trust you. In this Origin & Impact episode, Steve Finzel explains how communication, CRM systems, advisor training, and a consistent customer experience became the backbone of his growth. His story gives shop owners a clear roadmap for turning better communication into real marketing momentum. Steve began his career as a te...

When Josiah Martin bought Limitless Auto in rural Pennsylvania at age 25, he inherited more than a business — he inherited a legacy. Five years later, his transformation from technician to business leader shows how the right systems, training, and mindset can turn a local garage into a trusted community brand. Raised in a Mennonite family, Josiah didn’t follow a generational path into auto repair....

Thomas Andrews of CDT Automotive turned a four-year EPA battle into a story of resilience and reinvention. What began as a high-performance diesel shop evolved into a people-first repair business generating over $7 million a year. His journey from legal turmoil to leadership shows how to rebuild a business on purpose, community, and integrity. Starting as two best friends modifying trucks, Thomas...

Second-generation owner Lou Cannata shares how saying no to distractions (towing, gas, used cars) unlocked the time to build people, processes, and profit. This episode leans into the shop-owner reality: you can’t grow sustainably if you’re still doing everything yourself. Lou’s origin story starts in a three-bay gas station and evolves into a 27–28k sq-ft operation with service and collision unde...

Tim Schaefer grew up in his family’s shop, Dale’s Service Center, in Davenport, Iowa—starting as a tire kid before becoming owner. After years of doing it all himself, he hit a wall and realized that true growth meant stepping out of the day-to-day and building a business that could run without him. His story begins with a second-generation shop transition that could’ve easily gone sideways. Takin...

A third-generation tire shop turns the corner by adding mechanical service—and learns the hard way that customer experience, workflow, and messaging must evolve together. In this episode, we dig into how clear communication and simple process changes lifted ARO while keeping trust high. Alex grew up in his family’s shop (founded in 1969), took over in 2021, and inherited a high-volume tire operati...

Roger Kaufman went from dealership team lead to shop owner, learning how to step out of the bay and run the business. In this episode, he breaks down how he stabilized car count, rebuilt a fractured team, and created a hiring “bench” so staffing never blindsides him again. Starting from a three-lift unit in 2009, Roger grew Kaufman’s Auto Repair to 7 lifts plus an alignment rack, processing ~40–45...

Mobile can be your growth lever when bays are capped. In this Origin & Impact, Scott Blair shows how 2U Tire and Wheel built a concierge model that wins fleet work, protects margins, and feeds the shop with higher-trust customers. Scott started in operations—not as a line tech—and co-founded a Phoenix/Mesa mobile unit with an aviation-mechanic partner. The first van launched around Barrett-Jac...

In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock and a panel of auto shop owners share powerful stories about the hurdles they face dealing with local municipalities and regulations. Greg discusses his shocking battle with local authorities over improvements to his property, leading to felony charges for cutting down dangerous trees. Tom and Corey provide insights from their own exper...

Kathleen Callahan built Xpertech Auto Repair from four bays to six over 21 years—but not by chasing volume. In this episode of the Origin & Impact series, she reveals how prioritizing quality over quantity transformed her profitability, culture, and sustainability. When she became sole owner in 2009, Kathleen learned operations on the fly. With coaching, process development, and team alignment...

When three coaches and twenty business owners told him not to open a detail shop, Kyle Davis proved them wrong. This episode dives into how Davis turned doubt into determination, growing his Virginia Beach shop beyond expectations and building a business that now fuels two thriving ventures. After years in the Navy and bouncing between shops, Kyle discovered his passion for leadership through hard...

What happens when the family business stops evolving—and you have to be the one to save it? In this episode of GGP, Erik Scheidt of Norwood Auto Service in Chicago, IL, shares how he bought out his father, overhauled operations, and turned a struggling legacy shop into a modern, data-driven business. His story is a blueprint for shop owners who want to build sustainable growth while reducing the d...