As consolidation reshapes the automotive aftermarket, independent shop survival depends on investing in technician training, says Bob Cushing, Worldpac president.

“If you’re not providing a career path for your technicians, do you really think they’re going to stay? Unlikely,” he observes. Technicians will join companies investing in their training instead.

Small shops neglecting training will disappear. “The big guys are getting bigger and stronger. They embrace technology, invest in diagnostic tools, and build their capabilities,” Cushing notes.

Human Relationships Drive Success

Despite consolidation, the mechanical repair sector won’t follow the collision industry’s path: “There are too many independents who are fiercely independent.”

The automotive aftermarket remains fundamentally a people business. Prior experience and trust in the business are top reasons customers choose a shop. “When you lose the people who had the relationship with the customer, you have a problem,” Cushing warns.

Text credit : TD News Room 

Picture credit : ADOBE STOCK