Whispering Loudly

Here Dean Evans joins the pod to discuss the critical importance of keeping score. Sure you can make your shop tick over but if you’re not  tracking key performance metrics, you cannot effectively manage your business or even know actually how great you could be! Dean helps you get a start on this and chats also about the significance of benchmarking against industry standards to drive...

It sometimes feels like a race to the bottom doesn't it? Everyone undercutting each other to get the customers rolling through the door. It's an age old technique but it's not necessarily an intelligent one. Rachel guides you through a tried method of attracting customers that doesn't include you working overtime for free and stretching your staff and your resources to the limit.  Whispering...

You're doing well, you've been progressing in baby steps ever since your shop opened and you're still open which is a testament to itself that you're doing a great job. You do watch competitors on socials however that just seem miles ahead, thriving and doing numbers that you feel at this stage you could only dream about. So what sets those people apart from the rest? Find out.  Whispering Lo...

You've built an incredible business, congratulations! Over years you've finally got your business to the point where it basically runs itself, rather smoothy. You may however have a creeping anxiety that stops you from booking those overseas trips because in the past whenever you've ventured too far or even slightly form the business things have blown up either in a small fashion or in a highly ve...

Workflow efficiency is so important but for so many we start out with good intentions and we think we have our ducks in a row then bang, something throws a spanner in the works pardon the pun, or many things throw a spanner in the works and we end up completely stressed out, behind schedule having to deal with cranky customers and cranky workplace staff. This can be so frustrating especially when...

When is the right time to expand my auto repair shop to a second location? This is the question asked by so many Auto Repair Shop Owners, here Rachel dives into what you need to weigh up to divide whether now is the right time to expand nor not. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly! Rachel discusses the need to create a solid foundation in the first business before considering expansion and the...

Running your workshop can be hectic for the owner and staff. Customers are demanding, staff politics can cause dramas, scheduling changes last minute can put extra stress on staff too. Here Rachel dives into strategy behind keeping your team happy and keeping them motivated whilst encouraging them to work at their optimum efficiency. Takeaways Health and wellness are crucial for long-term success....

Here, Rachel discusses essential strategies for Auto Repair Shop Owners, focusing on pricing, managing costs, and effective communication with customers. She emphasises the importance of setting fair prices that ensure profitability, the need for regular price adjustments, and how to communicate these changes to long-term customers without causing concern. We also dive into the significance of und...

In this episode of Whispering Loudly, Melanie Sargeant and Rachel Evans discuss the importance of embracing chaos in the automotive repair business, especially during challenging economic times. They emphasize the need for auto repair shop owners to make logical decisions based on data rather than fear, and to maintain their systems and processes to ensure business success. The conversation highli...

In this conversation, the hosts discuss the psychology of leadership, particularly in high-stress situations. They emphasize the importance of remaining calm and effective as a leader, the role of awareness and adaptability, and the significance of empowering team members to handle stressful moments. Techniques such as breathing exercises are suggested to manage stress effectively. Takeaways Suppo...

JFDI just F-ing do it is the theme for this episode. Rachael and her team talk to lots of business owners in the same boat day after day and some of the messaging she’s providing, she provides so often that she thinks she needs to emphasise it to the world.  This episode looks at encouraging owners to set boundaries and say no to requests that don’t serve their business or personal goals. Yes you...

In this episode of the Workshop Whisperer podcast, producer Mel and Rach discuss the importance of rest, setting boundaries, and avoiding burnout while balancing business and family life. They emphasize the need for trust in team members, the significance of creating new habits, and the benefits of a four-day work week. The conversation also touches on practical tips for managing time and responsi...

In this episode of the Workshop Whisperer podcast, producer Mel, Rach, and Dean discuss their experiences on the road, touching on hotel antics and the challenges of travel. The conversation then shifts to the topic of workaholic tendencies, exploring the impact of workaholism on personal and professional life. Dean shares insights on the identity issues tied to hard work and the addiction-like na...

In this day and age we're all going the extra mile to give our customers the best service possible both personally and on their vehicles but what happens when it all goes south and we're getting customers we can do without regularly, to the point where it's really affecting the day to day running of your workshop? Listen in Rach has some advice for you. She also delves into problematic technicians...

In this episode of the Workshop Whisperer podcast, producer Mel and Rachel discuss various challenges faced by auto repair shop owners, including how to handle clients who frequently ask for discounts and how to deal with late payments. They emphasize the importance of valuing one's work, setting clear terms with clients, and having systems in place to manage client expectations and payments effec...

Are you stuck in a cycle of anxiety with your business? Huge highs and low lows, cars coming in and going out and you seeing the money coming over the line riding the high times but then freaking out in those slower periods? That was Adele and Brook’s story but they put their hands up to do the work and change it so their day to day life was a lot less stressful and their business could ride out t...

Our Auto Repair Shops tend to develop overtime and our customers follow our processes and interact with us according to our rules but what if you responded to your customers directly in relation to the way that best suited them? Listen in to learn the four ways your customers buy and how you can adapt your practices to better suit them and their needs. Learn about how to understand your customers...

Scott Brown from Diagnostic Network joins us from California to talk about the lay of the land in America at the moment the challenges they've faced what they've learnt and how they've grown from it. He also gives you an insight into what the Diagnostic Network can do to help and grow your auto-repair shop.  Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor,  Mechanic...

As a busy workshop owner you juggle many different tasks and wear many different hats. You also trust in third parties when outsourcing different companies and people to do things for your business but what happens when they're taking you for a ride or even worse taking advantage of you. It's time to take stock of the people you're working with outside your business and pull out the weeds.  Whispe...

Craig Deakin dives straight into the worst enemies facing the independent shop owner in this day and age and the way forward. From technology advances to the way we’re educated, sharing of best practice and labour rates. This is a great episode to tune into, pardon the pun. Rate and review wherever you listen. Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor,  Mechan...

Marketing used to be easy, put an add in the newspaper or call up your local radio station or TV network and off you go. These days its all very confusing you’ve got social media strategists telling you to spend thousands with them to get a fine looking ‘feed’ and often it just all seems too much. Join Rach as she guides you through the quagmire of marketing confusion to discover an easy to implem...

We often point the finger at others but have you heard the age old saying that your life is a direct reflection of yourself? If you don't like the hand you're being dealt and what you're ending up with at the end of the day the person ultimately responsible for that change is you. Dean Evans delving deeply into the psychology of performance and how to be an elite business owner. If you’re trying t...

Gemma and Josh were up against it from their workforce calling in sick twice weekly to sabotage within the workshop of other people's work to all out fights breaking out amongst employees. It doesn't get worse really. Find out how they turned it all around.  Whispering Loudly, The Workshop Whisperer's Podcast. Thanks to Titanium Sponsor,  Mechanic Desk  and Diamond Sponsor  Ventavid . Find out mor...

There are some practices that need to go. Whether you've got your head in the sand or you just don't like change, with the market the way that it is you really need to step up. AI is upon us, people are using it to transform the way they work and workshops for the better to create more profit and more time with their families. If you're still stuck in the past using job cards listen into this epis...

How would you like to not only turn your business around but then accelerate your growth and your bottom line as well as growing your staff numbers. Here Rachael chats to someone who has been able to achieve this and also discusses how easy it is to get consumed in what you want to achieve next and not celebrate your wins. Glossing over big achievements is not the go, celebrating your wins is incr...