Looking back is always easier than looking forward. And last year was a good year for autocatalyst recycling. And for 2019 the outlook remains positive. The strong demand for autocatalyst, increased vehicle recycling, and a short supply continues to push the Palladium price higher. Lower demand from the … Read moreAutocatalyst Recycling Outlook for 2019
When our family first took over Bill’s Auto Parts, we always seemed to find ourselves doing work-arounds to get things done. I called it “Fire, Ready, Aim.” It was like a game of Chinese Checkers where we needed to take steps backward in order to move forward. The old school nature of the operation (founded … Read moreLet’s Talk Recalls: What is Your Process?
There are several significant saving opportunities present on nearly every FedEx® and UPS® invoice. They relate to guaranteed service quality and billing accuracy. Guaranteed Service Quality FedEx® and UPS® absolutely, positively guarantee that your package will arrive at its destination on time – or your money back! If it’s more than one-minute late, you are … Read moreHaving a grip on your shipping costs is a critically important part of your eCommerce success. If you ship with FedEx® or UPS®, you need an “A” game.
Last year while attending the ARA Convention and Exposition in Florida, I discovered that Marty Hollingshead was to be confirmed by the Board of Directors as the next Association Secretary. As an outstanding individual himself, Marty will be joining an outstanding team. While seated in the audience listening to the award winner announcements, my mind … Read moreAs Proud As I Can Be
A recent Profit Team Group meeting was hosted by Arizona Auto Parts in Phoenix. The meeting was attended by family patriarch and third generation auto recycler, Mike Pierson Senior. During the opening statements we were informed that it was the 100th anniversary of Arizona Auto Parts as they opened in 1919. Michael Pierson Junior is … Read moreArizona Auto Parts is 100
Why? Because it Will Cost You Less to Hire Today A strong economy, more and more jobs, manufacturing on the rise, high employment rate, low unemployment rate, higher wages, bonuses, health care and benefits, low interest rates, baby boomers retiring – what does that mean? A competitive and very tight hiring market. Currently, the US … Read moreHire and Hire Now!
The New Year is upon us. Do you have a plan in place to make 2019 a better year than 2018? Could you set some new sales and even better profit records in the coming year? Some of the things that you should have done by now include your annual SWOT assessment. What is a … Read moreDo You Have a Plan?
In the automotive sector, prospective revenue streams can be achieved by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that embrace greater value-retention practices for parts utilization beyond traditional service lifecycles. The basic tenants of value-retention found in circular economy principles seek to recover all products, components and materials at their highest utility and value. New revenue opportunities for … Read moreAutomotive Sector can Harness New Revenue Through Parts Lifecycle Value-Retention
As we head into the new year, it’s a great time to make sure that your recycled auto parts sales team is consistently executing on sales fundamentals. After training and coaching hundreds of sales teams, I know it’s just as easy for a veteran salesperson to slip away from basic techniques as it is for … Read moreMake Sure Your Sales Team is Executing on Fundamentals in 2019!
Here it is again, another New Year. For that, we need new learning skills and a larger appetite for learning. All of us know something about the great, business person, Sam Walton. Here are some facts that I know about Sam Walton. Sam was very inquisitive and eager to learn. In fact, there was nothing … Read moreTell Me About Sam Walton
The “Let’s Talk” Series is designed to help recyclers understand defective Takata Airbag Recalls and make good business decisions. We are constantly working on tools to help Recyclers be compliant with Recall-related laws, while also maximizing Bounty revenue. We are unleashing a simple to use App to help recyclers streamline their airbag process. What would … Read moreLet’s Talk Recalls: Introduction of Yard App for Airbag Recovery
Let me know if this scenario sounds familiar: You have a plan for the day that you know needs to get done, and you may even have your day mapped out to the hour. But then you get a phone call with more work that needs addressed, your co-worker comes to you with a problem … Read moreWhat can Stress do for You?
With all of the questions I have been getting recently about eBay, I thought we should look at some of the tips and tricks that I use with my customers to increase their eBay sales. Even if you don’t sell on eBay, these tips will help with your inventory process! 1. Use keywords. eBay does … Read moreTheresa’s Top 5 Tips for Ebay
I get a few calls a month from “I want to be an entrepreneur, and this is my business idea.” My investor friends tell me that the world is full of great ideas, and the world is awash with money to fund them. There are very few people that can connect the ideas and the … Read moreOn Your Mark, Get Set, Don’t Go!
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreIt’s a Noisy World – Why Should Anyone Notice You?
It’s hard to look forward to 2019 without a quick review of 2018. Thanks to Auto Recyclers across North America, tens of thousands of defective Takata airbags have been removed from the Auto Recycling Industry in 2018. As an industry, we have stepped up our game to remove defective Takata airbags from resale inventory thereby … Read moreLet’s Talk Recalls: 2019 – Year of the Bounty Hunter
Congratulations to the Executive Committee of the ARA Annual Convention. That convention was one of the best I’ve witnessed. The association elected Jonathan Morrow as President of ARA at this convention. Jonathan and family owns M&M Auto Parts located in Virginia. Jonathan completed his master’s degree in business administration from Liberty University. Jonathan succeeds David … Read moreCongratulations!
I’m sure everyone has those experiences in their lives- trying something for the very first time. Whether it’s a new food, a unique experience, we have a reaction to all of it. For me, that first experience was two-fold…traveling to Florida and attending the 75th Annual ARA Convention and Exposition. This being my first trip … Read moreA First Time for Everything
In Counts Business Consulting we have spent a great deal of time thinking about and researching the issue of employees. Much of that has been on how to best measure, train and improve performance. The last couple of years we have increasingly been focused on hiring and retaining employees. We have a vacancy – Why? … Read moreGain and Retain Employees
A long 35-year career in the precious metals industry has taught me many invaluable lessons. I’ve learned that you cannot over-react to the many market changes we have seen during my long time in the business. I’ve come to know that all precious metals bearing material has value that is re-claimable. I have found out … Read moreComing to Terms! Are Competitive Terms the Real Terms?
If you visit most any auto recycler you will find that they all have a few things in common. They all have vehicles waiting to be dismantled, vehicles that have already been dismantled and parts that have been removed and placed in some type of warehouse or storage facility. The collection of these three is … Read moreHow Much Inventory do I Have to Sell?
How can you get the most for your converters with a process you can trust? At United Catalyst Corporation, we believe in the benefits of assay-based selling. Since no two converters are the same, and each converter must go through the same refining process, it makes sense to us that recyclers sell converters based on … Read more5 Criteria for Choosing a Converter Recycling Company to Work With
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreUnderstanding your Profit and Loss Statement
It has come to our attention that there is a misunderstanding regarding defective Takata airbags. The issue revolves around a perception that the OE Buyback program run by RAS is essentially the only program a recycler needs to be aware of and act on. Our focus in this article is to clarify the role and … Read moreLet’s Talk Recalls: Defective Takata Airbags – Buyback vs. Non-Buyback
I write a lot about training and trade shows. I received a lot of great feedback after one of my articles. Here’s one email that stuck out to me (I’m sharing with permission): “Whenever I get back from a trade show or conference, I usually have a specific list of things to focus on. But … Read moreIs Business Bad Everywhere?
For those of us who travel to conferences and trade shows with recyclers, it is one of the busiest times of the year. It is also the time when we get to do the most educational training sessions. Personally, if I could, I would travel all year educating recyclers on developing a profitable converter recycling … Read moreSelling Basics and Advanced Principles
It was a great turnout for Nordstrom’s 2.0 open house that was held September 7th and 8th at their home office location in Garretson, South Dakota. A large crowd of 500 people came out on Friday and an even bigger crowd of 900 toured their new facility on Saturday. Many inquisitive folks came to see … Read moreNordstroms 2.0 – Open House
Often times we like to think of superior sales people transactionally. Dominant closers and persuasive at the close of sales. While this is certainly true on a call by call basis, there is something equally, if not more important, to the long-term growth and development of any salesperson in this industry. What separates the truly … Read moreExceptional Customer Service
Sales management is a really big thing. The need for a sales manager depends on the organization and size but that does not change the need for sales management. I was recently asked to help a Pinnacle site with this subject and wanted to share with you what we came up with. While this is … Read moreGetting the Most From Your Reports
We have written extensively about the importance of Auto Recyclers recognizing their corporate responsibility regarding recalls. As small business owners, we often feel like we are immune to the outside world due to our size with thoughts like “We’ll skirt this” or “If we ignore it, it will go away.” That couldn’t be further from … Read moreLet’s Talk Recalls: Corporate Responsibility and You
FORT WRIGHT, Kentucky, July 25, 2018 – Car-Part.com is happy to announce that Checkmate is the #1 management system on Car-Part.com, with more recyclers in its recycled parts marketplace running Checkmate than any other management system. Checkmate is designed to maximize recyclers’ sales on CarPart.com (the #1 recycled parts marketplace). The Checkmate inventory management system … Read moreCheckmate Top Management System for Car-Part.com Recyclers
I made a choice to make a big change in my life recently and that change has allowed me to see things from a different perspective at times. An example of this different perspective is staffing a sales department. I want to go ahead and put a disclaimer out there that I am guilty of … Read moreStaffing our Sales Department
I was doing some research for a class that I was teaching last month at a trade show. I came across some new statistics for Facebook. The last time I gave a class on the subject of social media, the numbers were much lower than they are now, so I thought I would share some … Read moreTheresa’s Top Five Fun Facts About Facebook
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreThe Pie Conspiracy
Last month, three friends of mine received three different awards. It’s my privilege to give each of them accolades and to reveal why they’re deserving of their awards. First person is none other than Jeff Schoeder, CEO of Car-Part.com. Jeff received the NACE Automechanika at the Expo held in Atlanta, Georgia this past August. The … Read more3 Awards to 3 Friends
We all want the W at the end of the game. When it comes to a hiring “Win” it starts with a few other W’s first – Who, What, When, Where, & Why. The “Who” comes last in this situation, but the prep work needed is key to making sure it is a success. … Read moreHow to Win When Hiring
LUXEMBURG, Wis.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Builtrite Holdings, LLC announced the appointment of Adam Lindley to serve as President of its subsidiary, SAS Forks, located in Luxemburg, WI. Adam previously served for fourteen years as Manager, Sales and Marketing at SAS Forks, and is the first non– family member to lead the company since it was formed in 1972. … Read moreAdam Lindley Appointed New President at SAS Forks
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreTools for Success: Master Blocking and Tackling
There have been a lot of changes recently with ARA, our National Association. ARA and its leadership are focused on how to better serve its members, and the biggest need as I see it is in training and education. ARA is reinventing itself, and more importantly, each and every Recycler in this industry must participate, … Read moreThe ARA (Peer to Peer) Mentoring Program
It is critical that Recyclers establish an Early Warning System to detect defective Takata airbags in their inventory. A recycler would want to do this for several reasons. First, it sends a message to your employees that you are serious about playing a part in the removal of defective Takata airbags. Second, it gives the … Read moreLet’s Talk Recalls: Do you have an Early Warning System for Defective Takata Airbags?
In my last month article, Leadership from Within, I referenced two leaders, Jim Butler and Shannon Nordstrom from our industry. Jim Butler of Butler’s Auto Parts is in Pensacola, Florida and their newest yard is in Milton, Florida. The Milton location used to be an old Lumber 84. I met Shannon Nordstrom many years ago … Read moreLeadership From Within – Part II
A Strong First Impression I’ve always been someone who works hard at making a great first impression. Do I look professional? Did I bring everything to this event I need to have? Am I prepared to meet the right people? Those are just a few of the many questions that run through my head while … Read moreA Strong First Impression
In the last few years, we have had the chance to train auto parts sales reps from across the country. We hone sales pitches, learn to deal with customer objections, and work to always move towards a close. Regardless of their location, there are some common sales training roadblocks that every sales manager will have … Read more3 Common Roadblocks to Effective Sales
I was recently asked which reports are the best to look over every month. One of the things that you need to do to continue to develop as managers and motivators of people, is create good habits and routines. As the leaders of the business you need to get your own routine in place of … Read moreMonthly Recap for Managers and Owners
Two years ago, we were part of an auto catalyst technology seminar, held in Atlanta, GA, with 104 delegates and where 18 presentations were given by industry leaders in the field of automotive exhaust catalyst. One of the greatest take-aways from that seminar was a presentation by Peter Duncan, General Manager of Market Research for … Read moreKeeping it Simple May Not be so Easy with the Cats of the Future
I posed this question to some of my customers and on social media recently: Are you attending the ARA convention in Orlando this year? Several people said, “Yes, I never miss it!” A few said it was too far this year or had other commitments. Some said that they could not afford to take the … Read moreShould I go to Tradeshows?
My articles this month and next are about Leadership. In these articles, I’ll reference two locations. This month’s article is about the leadership of Jim Butler, GM at Butler Auto Recycling located in Pensacola, Florida. It’s a family-run, family-owned, second generation business. Next month, I’ll show-case the leadership of Shannon Nordstrom from Nordstrom Automotive located … Read moreLeadership from Within
All companies should always be looking to the future in such a way as to be prepared for what is to come. This forward look should include: Sales People Facilities Sales All facilities are looking for more sales. Trying to navigate the future with the same revenue is a slow way of going out of … Read morePreparing the Future
We have a quarterly cycle involving the peer groups that we work with. We have just finished the latest round and it never ceases to amaze me how themes develop with common issues and problems that the recycler is battling. This round of meets saw us spending a lot of time discussing delegation. Delegation has … Read moreDelegate
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreTools For Success : Pulling People Through Keyholes