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PODCAST

Garage Grit Podcast

Welcome to the Garage Grit Podcast, hosted by Brad Hurlock from AA Shop Marketing. Join us as we tackle common stress points in the auto repair shop space, uniting owners for insightful conversations. Our mission is to guide your shop towards success. Tune in, be part of the conversation, and propel your business forward. Explore strategies, insights, and camaraderie needed to thrive in the competitive auto repair industry. Welcome to Garage Grit, where we shift your business into high gear, one

business management

All Episodes

01:29:05

“Your Front Desk Is the Face of Your Shop” — Josiah...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/11/13

When Josiah Martin bought Limitless Auto in rural Pennsylvania at age 25, he inherited more than a business — he inherited a legacy. Five years later, his transformation from technician to business leader shows how the right systems, training, and mindset can turn a local garage into a trusted community brand.Raised in a Mennonite family, Josiah didn’t follow a generational path into auto repair. He built his experience from rebuilding starters to running a full-service shop during the uncertainty

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01:52:01

“From EPA Fines to $7M Growth—How CDT Automotive...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/11/11

Thomas Andrews of CDT Automotive turned a four-year EPA battle into a story of resilience and reinvention. What began as a high-performance diesel shop evolved into a people-first repair business generating over $7 million a year. His journey from legal turmoil to leadership shows how to rebuild a business on purpose, community, and integrity.Starting as two best friends modifying trucks, Thomas and his partner Mike Liles transformed their hobby into a performance powerhouse. But an unexpected

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01:21:23

“Stop Doing Everything—Lead Your Team Like Pros” —...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/11/06

Second-generation owner Lou Cannata shares how saying no to distractions (towing, gas, used cars) unlocked the time to build people, processes, and profit. This episode leans into the shop-owner reality: you can’t grow sustainably if you’re still doing everything yourself.Lou’s origin story starts in a three-bay gas station and evolves into a 27–28k sq-ft operation with service and collision under one roof. His early years were hands-on in every profit center—until a mentor’s hard question shifted

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01:21:08

“Stop Working in It—Start Building It” — Tim Schaefer...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/11/04

Tim Schaefer grew up in his family’s shop, Dale’s Service Center, in Davenport, Iowa—starting as a tire kid before becoming owner. After years of doing it all himself, he hit a wall and realized that true growth meant stepping out of the day-to-day and building a business that could run without him.His story begins with a second-generation shop transition that could’ve easily gone sideways. Taking over from his father meant navigating family expectations, evolving technology, and the pressure of

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01:09:29

“Speed Up by Slowing Down: Announce the DVI” — Alex...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/10/30

A third-generation tire shop turns the corner by adding mechanical service—and learns the hard way that customer experience, workflow, and messaging must evolve together. In this episode, we dig into how clear communication and simple process changes lifted ARO while keeping trust high.Alex grew up in his family’s shop (founded in 1969), took over in 2021, and inherited a high-volume tire operation with extreme seasonality. Moving from “tires only” to a fuller service model forced new habits:

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01:09:33

“Stop Turning Wrenches—Build a Bench and Lead” —...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/10/28

Roger Kaufman went from dealership team lead to shop owner, learning how to step out of the bay and run the business. In this episode, he breaks down how he stabilized car count, rebuilt a fractured team, and created a hiring “bench” so staffing never blindsides him again.Starting from a three-lift unit in 2009, Roger grew Kaufman’s Auto Repair to 7 lifts plus an alignment rack, processing ~40–45 cars a week. He invested in office space and systems so he could shift from technician to owner—while

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01:13:35

“You don’t need every customer—value your time” —...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/10/23

Mobile can be your growth lever when bays are capped. In this Origin & Impact, Scott Blair shows how 2U Tire and Wheel built a concierge model that wins fleet work, protects margins, and feeds the shop with higher-trust customers.Scott started in operations—not as a line tech—and co-founded a Phoenix/Mesa mobile unit with an aviation-mechanic partner. The first van launched around Barrett-Jackson, and the team learned fast: fleets first, then retail. That playbook now spans Arizona and

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01:23:39

#044 Shadows of Bureaucracy: When Expansion Meets...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/10/21

In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock and a panel of auto shop owners share powerful stories about the hurdles they face dealing with local municipalities and regulations. Greg discusses his shocking battle with local authorities over improvements to his property, leading to felony charges for cutting down dangerous trees. Tom and Corey provide insights from their own experiences, highlighting the importance of community relations and strategic planning when expanding auto

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01:56:11

“Raise Your Hours Per Ticket, Not Your Bays” —...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/10/16

Kathleen Callahan built Xpertech Auto Repair from four bays to six over 21 years—but not by chasing volume. In this episode of the Origin & Impact series, she reveals how prioritizing quality over quantity transformed her profitability, culture, and sustainability.When she became sole owner in 2009, Kathleen learned operations on the fly. With coaching, process development, and team alignment, she evolved from a hands-on leader into a strategic architect of her business.The real challenge hit

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01:28:06

“Three Coaches Laughed When I Opened My Detail Shop”...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/10/14

When three coaches and twenty business owners told him not to open a detail shop, Kyle Davis proved them wrong. This episode dives into how Davis turned doubt into determination, growing his Virginia Beach shop beyond expectations and building a business that now fuels two thriving ventures.After years in the Navy and bouncing between shops, Kyle discovered his passion for leadership through hard lessons in culture, management, and faith. His journey from technician to multi-shop owner started with

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01:39:03

“How I Bought Out My Dad and Rebuilt the Shop” — Erik...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/10/09

What happens when the family business stops evolving—and you have to be the one to save it? In this episode of GGP, Erik Scheidt of Norwood Auto Service in Chicago, IL, shares how he bought out his father, overhauled operations, and turned a struggling legacy shop into a modern, data-driven business. His story is a blueprint for shop owners who want to build sustainable growth while reducing the daily pressure of running the shop.Erik didn’t grow up planning to run an auto repair shop. He learned

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01:12:00

“Everything before 1998 is ‘classic.’ After that,...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/10/07

Mercedes specialist Tyson Fisher breaks down how a 42-year family shop in Gainesville, FL thrives by niching hard, running in-house systems, and obsessing over quality and retention. Shop owners will hear practical ways to tighten invoicing, plan tools/training, and win profitable fleet and Sprinter work.Guests:Tyson Fisher — Star Import Service — Gainesville, FLWhat you’ll learn (shop-owner takeaways):Niche deep: Mercedes & Sprinter focus winsClassic vs. modern: how Tyson splits workflowWhy

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01:14:26

“We fix what actually needs to be done” — Alan &...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/09/30

A family-run collision & mechanical shop shares a trust-first playbook: transparent inspections, pushing back on insurers, and SOPs that keep quality high and customers loyal. Real tactics you can use tomorrow—without upselling games.Guests:Alan Austin — Austin Spencer Collision — Henrietta, NYShanley Austin — Austin Spencer Collision — Henrietta, NYWhat you’ll learn (shop-owner takeaways):Build trust by fixing only what’s essentialHow to advocate for customers vs insurersHandling total-loss

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01:05:36

“Dual pricing isn’t the same as surcharging” — Rob...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/09/27

Credit card fees are eating into shop profits, but how you pass them on makes all the difference. In this episode, Rob Davis and David Nacion explain the rules, risks, and real-world options for surcharging, dual pricing, and cash discounting in auto repair shops.Guests:Rob Davis — CardConnect / Fiserv — Philadelphia, PADavid Nacion — CardConnect / Fiserv — Philadelphia, PAWhat you’ll learn (shop-owner takeaways):Difference between surcharging and dual pricingWhy dual pricing covers debit cards

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01:03:11

Dual Pricing • Shop Fees • Customer Trust — Cannata,...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/09/23

Credit card fees are eating into shop profits, but how you handle them can make or break customer trust. In this panel, three operators compare dual pricing, bundling fees, and simply raising rates. They dig into state-by-state rules, POS limitations, and where transparency matters most. You’ll hear what actually triggers pushback and what keeps customers happy.Lou Cannata explains why he’s tracking card costs to the penny before changing policy. His shop averages roughly $15.26 per card transaction

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01:02:06

“Customers don’t trust shops—they trust people” — Max...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/09/16

Fourth-generation owner Max Blatt of Blatt Tire and Automotive shares how he took over the family shop in Center City Philadelphia, modernized operations, and is plotting new ventures like mobile tire service—all while balancing customer trust, employee loyalty, and his dad’s legacy.Guests:Max Blatt — Blatt Tire and Automotive — Philadelphia, PAWhat you’ll learn (shop-owner takeaways):Balancing tires vs. repair revenue streamsWhy speed + inventory win in the cityMobile tire service business model

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01:25:31

“DVI is the best thing since front pockets” — Mike...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/09/09

From service stations with gas pumps to today’s DVIs, Mike Scaglione of Kempsville Auto Care Center shares 45 years of lessons on running a shop, leading in Virginia, and why he believes inspections and charging what you’re worth matter more than ever.Guests:Mike Scaglione — Kempsville Auto Care Center — Virginia Beach, VAWhat you’ll learn (shop-owner takeaways):How service stations evolved into modern shopsWhy DVIs boost sales and protect your shopState inspections: burden or business

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00:46:37

“Dealership alternative? Not without loaners.” —...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/09/04

Loaner cars aren’t a “nice-to-have”—they’re a sales tool that closes RO’s, reduces chaos at the counter, and lets independents compete with dealerships. Laura Tierney from Shop Loaner breaks down how to do it safely and profitably.Guests:Laura Tierney — Shop LoanerWhat you’ll learn (shop-owner takeaways):Why loaners close higher-dollar repair ordersHow to structure a separate rental LLCInsurance basics and driver-first liabilityWhat your legal agreement must includeWhen to lease vs. repurpose lot

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01:13:04

“Growth Without Systems Will Break Your Shop” |...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/09/02

How do you scale a six-bay shop without burning out your team—or your customers? Elite Automotive Center’s co-owners share how they’re growing the right way: fill capacity first, lock in systems, and win with relationships (not transactions).Guests:Philip Korbel & Brian Teberg — Co-owners, Elite Automotive Center — Fargo, North DakotaWhat you’ll learn (shop-owner takeaways):Why an owner shortage (culture/leadership) beats a “tech shortage” narrativeCar-count math: 260–280/month now, ~360 before

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01:08:47

#032 Building Legacy: Succession Planning for Auto...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2025/08/26

In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock of AA Shop Marketing is joined by Mike from Grinnell Firestone, Steve Finzel of Finzels Master Tech, and Kelly and Lee Weatherby from Mesa, Arizona to discuss succession planning for automotive repair shops. The panel shares insights into transitioning business ownership, dealing with unexpected changes, and the importance of written procedures and systems. They delve into the challenges and strategies around training, customer service,

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91 results

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