Heads up, shop owners: Advance Auto Parts just announced plans to close 700 stores and four distribution centers by mid-2025, alongside posting a third-quarter loss of $6 million. The culprit? Weak consumer demand for car parts as inflation and economic pressures take a toll. If fewer customers are willing to spend on DIY repairs, this might trickle down to independent repair shops like yours. The numbers don’t look great. Despite narrowing its loss from last year's $62 million deficit, the company missed Wall Street’s expectations big time, and sales slid 3% to $2.15 billion. CEO Shane O'Kelly is doubling down on a new three-year game plan to boost efficiency, but with shares at 15-year lows and competition ramping up from low-cost Chinese automakers, it's a bumpy road ahead. All this raises the question: Are you seeing slower business in your shop? Have customers been holding back on repairs due to rising costs? We’d love to hear what’s happening on the ground. Drop your comments below or shoot us a message—your insights are invaluable as we all navigate these choppy economic waters. Here's a link to the original article: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/advance-auto-cuts-outlook-prepares-700-store-closure

Today, I want to share something that's been on my mind lately, and it's all about creating an environment where your technicians can truly thrive. A few months ago, I had a conversation with @Eddie Lawrence, a diesel shop owner in Colorado Springs, CO who we had recently helped find some techs. His words really struck a chord with me. He said, "You know what really changed things for my business? It was when I realized that what was missing from work is life. Life was missing from work." After that realization, triggered by a dramatic life crisis that he describes in his upcoming book, Eddie developed Life Calibration: a simple life calibration tool for overextended small business owners, shop owners, and their employees to help them gain more fulfillment, clarity, and perspective. His commitment to his team isn’t just talk. Eddie implemented Life Calibration with his team and demonstrates with actions that he cares about his employees and wants their lives to work inside and outside of the shop. He’s attracting more of the right team members to his shop, they are growing personally, they are growing professionally and they are staying. Best of all, they are thriving! This got me thinking about how many talented techs out there might be feeling the same way. They're skilled, they're dedicated, but something's missing. And that something could be the key to attracting and retaining top talent in your shop. Here's the thing: in today's competitive market, it's not just about the paycheck (though that's important too). It's about creating an environment where techs feel supported, valued, and able to grow. Let me break it down for you with more examples: 1. Keep Your Equipment in Top Shape: Recent hires we’ve worked with have mentioned that their previous shops weren't maintaining equipment properly. This left them feeling unsupported and frustrated. By keeping your diagnostic tools and other equipment in excellent condition, you're sending a clear message: "We aren’t afraid to spend money to make sure you have the tools you need to do your best work." 2. Provide Guidance and Support: Top techs want to know they have a path forward. Show them they have a bigger future with you than where they are now. This could mean mentorship programs, skill development opportunities, or clear career paths with advancement. 3. Recognize and Reward Performance: One shop owner I know hands out $100 bills to techs who beat their average performance for the previous 6 weeks. It's not just about the money - it's about acknowledging great work in front of the team. This kind of recognition can be incredibly motivating. 4. Create a Positive Culture: As one shop owner put it, "There's a lot of pessimism in the industry, but I focus on solving problems. I wake up every day and try to be a better human than I was yesterday." This attitude is contagious and can transform your shop's culture. 5. Offer Work-Life Balance: Many techs are tired of working weekends or dealing with the politics of larger operations. If you can offer a better schedule or a more straightforward work environment (fair dispatching / no pet techs getting the gravy work, etc.), make sure potential hires know about it.

Shout out today to Craig's Car Care! Their shop in Lucas, TX is now fully staffed! Congrats @Craig Zale !!

Know any diesel shops that work on driveline repairs? I just got off the phone with a client (HD Repair) that is about to purchase a local HD driveline repair business and they would like to talk to someone who has been there and done that. Specifically they need to know what questions they should ask, pitfalls to be aware of, where they can get education/training, etc. These are good folks and I'd really like to help them out. Any leads I can pass along would be greatly appreciated.

In order to get acquainted and and help fellow community members, please share: 1. The name and location of your shop. 2. Your biggest frustration with finding techs. 3. How you found your last tech.