The NOLN Podcast

In this episode of The NOLN Podcast, take a dive into the fast-paced work of electric vehicles. There has been a lot to cover in the news, and thankfully our colleagues over at ADAPT have it all covered. Staff writer Maraya King lays out all the big EV storylines in this special episode.

Don't wait to think about your taxes. With all the loan and grant programs flying around this year, it's even more important to make sure you know the rules for filing 2020 taxes. Brad Mewes, principal at Supplement Advisory, discusses the impact PPP loans could have on your taxes, as well as how he approaches the "puzzle" of shop taxes each year.

Amber Kossak and Crystal Mathews of Solid Start discuss how the company came to be, along with what makes Solid Start products stand apart from the rest.  

Carl Goede of Roadrunner Express shares how a little insight from McDonald's helped him structure his employee's pay and bonuses, while also coming up with his own unique structure that's tailored to his shop's goals.

Steve Pittman is the owner of PittStop 10 Minute Oil Changers in North Canton, Ohio. He joined associate editor Matt Hudson for a conversation about starting strong as a new operator. Pittman took over his location about three years ago, and he had some work to do to get his facility and his process to the position that he wanted. In hindsight, it was a great career move. In this episode, hear fro...

Want to elevate your marketing message but don't know where to start? Philipp Lomboy has got you covered. In this edition of The NOLN Podcast, Abby Patterson sat down with Lomboy, founder of Marami Marketing Group, on what you first need to address in your digital marketing tactics.

The latest additive from Kendall is poised to revolutionize the oil game.

Does your operation have some kind of business consultant? Is it specific to the quick lube industry? There aren't many services like that right now, but Kevin Davis wants to change that. Davis runs the Fast Change Lube and Oil chain, and he's a really active operator in organizations like the AOCA and in his own community. Now he's launching his own quick lube consultant service, which will have...

All too often in the industry, shops track meaningful KPIs, but have little idea how to interpret or make business decisions based off those numbers—especially when they fall short of set goals. In this episode, learn eight simple questions to ask when encountering a drop in either productivity or efficiency.

Hopefully your shop hasn't had to deal with a ransomware attack. You don't want your shop's digitally stored information to be stolen and held hostage. While that's an extreme case, the steps you can take to avoid these situations are also great guidelines for computer use in your shop.  Chris Deater is the team lead for technical support at Sage Microsystems, which is now part of the DRB Systems...

For a newer Jiffy Lube franchisee, Stonebriar Auto Services, they've ramped up their franchising since joining the Jiffy Lube family in June 2019. Now, they have seven different Jiffy Lube Multicare centers in five different markets around the United States. And within the next five years, Stonebriar is looking to open over 150 locations across the nation. So, what's their growth strategy being in...

You might remember Jason Nastasi from the November 2019 NOLN story,  in which he shared his dream for building an Express Oil Change and Tire Engineers shop in Oldsmar, Fla. Back then, he was in the middle of construction. Today, he's gone through a grand opening in the middle of a pandemic and has plans for a second shop.  To get all the details of his ground-up build, plus the challenges that we...

Associate Editor Matt Hudson speaks with Jim Oberhofer, who runs a Victory Lane Quick Oil Change in Plano, Texas. Prior to that, he was the team general manager and crew chief on NHRA driver Doug Kalitta’s top fuel drag car. He has some great stories about working in the racing world and how the lessons he learned during that time informed his current career as a quick lube owner. Plus, he's still...

Have you seen MPGe ratings and wondered what that little "e" is about? It doesn't stand for electric, but it does have to do with EVs.  In this episode, take a look at the development and calculations behind MPGe as an EPA rating. Plus, you'll hear about all the other ratings that will be important to consumers as more and more battery-electric vehicles are sold off the lot. For this extra episode...

Did you know there have been 20 updates—yes, 20—to the Paycheck Protection Program since it's release mid-March? That's all according to Brad Mewes, Principal at Supplement Advisory, an automotive advisory firm, who has been helping business owners across the country on the confusing and crazy process these past couple of months. Listen to Mewes sit down with staff writer Abby Patterson as they ha...

With the stay-at-home orders in most states being lifted, operators are finally able to get back to work. However, it's safe to say there's a new normal that all businesses will need to adhere to. To help navigate, staff writer Abby Patterson talks with Scott Wheeler, President of Automotive Consultants Group, Inc., on what operators should expect and how to adapt to new customer expectations.

Morris Clement is an interesting guy, and it's clear from listening to him that he's always working on ways to improve his shop. He's been in the quick lube business a long time, but when shutdowns happened amid COVID-19, he had thoughts like many did. “I was like a lot of owners. I was sitting there thinking, ‘You know, I want to sell this place and get out of this,’" he says. "But once I started...

With the coronavirus pandemic affecting businesses worldwide, quick lube operators are having to get creative. And the key to that creativity is preparing for anything that may come your way. That's why staff writer Abby Patterson sat down with Dwayne Myers, owner of Dynamic Automotive, to discuss ways he's switched up usual business practices to keep the business moving. Stay up to date with the...

This Top Trends episode of The NOLN Podcast is a bit of a preview for an upcoming magazine article. Associate editor Matt Hudson spoke with Brian Faulkenberry of NCM Associates, which operates one of the only quick lube 20 Groups in the country. If you're interested in 20 Groups or new to the concept, Brian shares some great nuts-and-bolts information about how members push each other toward succe...

This week, NOLN's news weekly podcast takes a look at an interesting new product that came out just as the new engine oil standards took effect. In addition, times aren't so rosy for big oil producers, but the podcast ends with some wise words of encouragement from a business expert. Tune in and check it all out here.

This last week took us from a new stimulus package proposal to the president's signature and execution of the final product. Plus, we've got robotic tire changers and an Air Force study that aims to save money through its oil change practices. Check out all that plus information about the ongoing awards nominations going on at NOLN.net/awards .

The future is here as Victor Darolfi describes his RoboTire invention. Hear about the development and abilities of this system right here. Plus, you can see a video of the RoboTire at work at this link.

The big news from the past week was the depletion of funds for the Paycheck Protection Program loans. But don't think it's all over. There are plans to jumpstart things again, and the AOCA is advocating for more changes. All that and some additional stories are in this week's news roundup.

This special extra episode of The NOLN Podcast features 10 Missions Media's top editors, Anna Zeck and Bryce Evans. Bryce and Anna recap the many conversations they've had with shop owners and industry stakeholders to present the very best tips, strategies and insights for successfully getting your shop through COVID-19. From workflow to financial assistance to leadership, learn the strategies wor...

It's mid-April now, and NOLN is back with a weekly news roundup. There's a bit of good and a bit of bad news in this edition. Check out some highlights from the magazine's survey amid the pandemic, as well as a local shop that was featured in their hometown newspaper. If you haven't yet, check out the webinar that NOLN hosted last week to talk about operations and resources during this time.