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Don’t Build a Shop. Build a Destination.James Scotto didn’t rebuild his shop.He rebuilt the perception of the industry.H...
06/17/2026

Don’t Build a Shop. Build a Destination.

James Scotto didn’t rebuild his shop.

He rebuilt the perception of the industry.

His goal?

“When you walk in… it looks like a spa.”

Let that sink in. Not chaos. Not “good enough.”

Intentional.

Then he did something even smarter: He put a DeLorean "time machine" out front.

8 feet in the air.

Why?

Because 70,000 cars pass that road every day.

He didn’t just build a shop. He built a landmark.

Here’s the lesson: Most shops try to blend in. The best ones are impossible to ignore.

Branding isn’t your logo. It’s the story people tell about your shop.

Read James's remarkable story in Issue 25.

06/17/2026

Burnout gets dangerous when the mission becomes too small.

Just survive the day.

Just make payroll.

Just get through the week.

That’s why Michael Rosenberger said the “all in” mindset matters so much.

Because it gives people something bigger to attach to.

A reason.

A mission.

A direction.

Something beyond just stress and survival.

And sometimes that shift alone changes everything:

“Wait … this is bigger than just me.”

That’s what pulls people forward when motivation runs out.

The strongest teams aren’t just working hard together.

They believe they’re building something together.

| Shop Fix Academy

06/17/2026

Why waste a drive when you can turn it into new business? 🚐 Bryan Kauffeld’s ADAS techs doubled as a marketing team—stopping at shops along their routes, introducing themselves, and leaving info. The result? Growth fueled by technicians in clean, branded vans who became the face of the business.

Today’s Tip: The Manager MultiplierMost shop owners look at growth the same way:More bays. More techs. More marketing.Lu...
06/17/2026

Today’s Tip: The Manager Multiplier

Most shop owners look at growth the same way:

More bays. More techs. More marketing.

Luke Hatanaka saw something different.

Same shop. Same team. Same equipment.

One month: $100K.
Next month: $215K.

What changed? One leader.

“You’re one leader away from huge, huge profits.”

The difference wasn’t a new process.

It was:

-A higher level of urgency
-Daily motivation and accountability
-A culture that pushed performance

The pace changed—and everything followed.

Advisors moved faster. Techs stayed productive. The team took pride in being busy

Because leadership doesn’t just manage the business. It sets the standard for how the business runs.

The takeaway: If your shop feels stuck, it might not be a capacity problem.

It might be a leadership one.

Read about Luke’s hiring strategies and process in Issue 25 (available as a digital edition).

Being Nice Isn’t CultureA lot of shop owners think culture means:- Being nice- Avoiding conflict- Keeping things comfort...
06/16/2026

Being Nice Isn’t Culture

A lot of shop owners think culture means:

- Being nice
- Avoiding conflict
- Keeping things comfortable

It doesn’t.

Strong culture requires:
- Clear standards
- Consistent expectations
- Fast correction

Because when someone operates outside those standards, and nothing happens? That becomes the new standard.

Addressing issues early isn’t harsh. It’s respect. For the person. And for the team.

Read more in Issue 26.

06/16/2026

Most shops don’t have a people problem.

They have a bottleneck problem.

We built Shift to sit on top of your existing workflow and remove the tasks that take the most time with the least return.

Same outcome. Less effort.

See where our shops are getting time back.

| Shift Automotive

06/16/2026

Customer service isn’t complicated—it’s the little things. 🚗 Robert Ohlmann says it best: ‘Be easy to do business with.’ Attention to detail, going the extra mile, and making the process smooth is what keeps customers coming back.

Belief follows proof. Show up long enough and doubt begins to shrink.
06/16/2026

Belief follows proof. Show up long enough and doubt begins to shrink.

Why Customers Talk About YouMike Winter doesn’t compete on price.He competes on experience. His rule?“Treat every custom...
06/15/2026

Why Customers Talk About You

Mike Winter doesn’t compete on price.

He competes on experience. His rule?

“Treat every customer like it’s your grandmother walking through the door.”

So what does that actually look like?

• Shop tours (yes, they bring customers into the shop)
• Showing them exactly what’s happening with their vehicle
• Small touches—hats, sweatshirts, handwritten notes

Result?

“We would have given them 100 stars if allowed.”

That’s not marketing. That’s engineering referrals. Most shops are trying to out-price competitors.

The best shops? They make customers feel something.

And that’s what gets talked about.

Read Mike's story in Issue 27—out now and available to members on the Hub.

06/15/2026

Most shop owners say they want accountability.

But accountability without data usually turns into opinions.

David Askwith shared a perfect example of this.

He pulled advisor performance data for the first two months of the year and made the expectation clear:

If your ARO wasn’t above $800…

You were going into training.

Not punishment. Not embarrassment.

Development.

The advisors above the mark?

Great job. Keep going.

The advisors below it?

Additional coaching. Sales training. Audits. Support.

That’s what real leadership looks like.

Because strong operators don’t use data to shame people.

They use it to:

- Identify gaps
- Coach intentionally
- Create clarity
- Help people improve

And the team benefits too.

When expectations are measurable and transparent…

People know where they stand and what growth actually looks like.

That’s the power of good systems and clean data:

They remove guessing from leadership.

| Shop-Ware - Shop Management Software

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