Confessions of a Shop Owner
Confessions of a Shop Owner
Podcast Description
Confessions of a Shop Owner is hosted by Mike Allen, a third-generation shop owner, perpetual pot-stirrer, and brutally honest opinion sharer. In this weekly podcast, Mike shares his missteps so you don’t have to repeat them. Along the way, he chats with other industry personalities who’ve messed up, too, pulling back the curtain on the realities of running an independent auto repair shop. But this podcast isn’t just about Mike’s journey. It’s about confronting the divisive and questionable tactics many shop owners and managers use. Mike is here to stir the pot and address the painful truths while offering a way forward. Together, we’ll tackle the frustrations, shake things up, and help create a better future for the auto repair industry.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes related to auto repair business management, industry best practices, and personal anecdotes from shop owners. Episodes delve into specific topics like leadership consistency, the four-day workweek, customer service challenges, and implementing new store concepts, highlighting struggles such as embezzlement, team dynamics, and pricing strategies.
Confessions of a Shop Owner is hosted by Mike Allen, a third-generation shop owner, perpetual pot-stirrer, and brutally honest opinion sharer. In this weekly podcast, Mike shares his missteps so you don’t have to repeat them. Along the way, he chats with other industry personalities who’ve messed up, too, pulling back the curtain on the realities of running an independent auto repair shop. But this podcast isn’t just about Mike’s journey. It’s about confronting the divisive and questionable tactics many shop owners and managers use. Mike is here to stir the pot and address the painful truths while offering a way forward. Together, we’ll tackle the frustrations, shake things up, and help create a better future for the auto repair industry.
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In this episode, Bryan and I are joined by Josh Rainwater, a shop owner from Louisville, Kentucky. He, like many of us, has spent the night at his shop a time or two. We’ve all been there at some point. Today, Josh confesses that he realizes something needs to change because that is not healthy for him, his family, or his business to require that much of him. What did we tell him? Find out today.
00:00 Leadership Coaching at NASCAR Technical Institute
03:47 Pandemic Job Loss to Uber
07:45 Booming Business Opportunities
11:37 HVAC Replacement: Charm and Decisions
14:29 “Hotel Lobby Recording Session”
17:06 Feet Pic Earnings Proposal
19:38 Elite Worldwide Custom Coaching
24:19 AI-Driven Appointment Bookings
26:26 Small vs. Large Shop Challenges
31:26 “QC Documentation Issue”
33:23 Handling Tricky Situations Efficiently
37:21 “Discount Demand After Order Error”
40:21 Unsustainable Work Habits
41:50 Balancing Commitments and Workload
46:41 Optimizing Labor and Parts Margins
50:44 “Planning to Hire Soon”
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