Service Providers 10
Master Service Pricing to Stand Out on the Openbay Marketplace
Openbay vehicle owners consider several factors when deciding whether to book service at your business, including location, ratings and reviews, amenities, and, of course, price. Today we’re going to take an in-depth look at how service pricing works on the Openbay marketplace. Nobody knows your auto service business better than you do. That’s why Openbay […]
Marketing Strategies for Auto Repair Shops: Blogging, Social & Co-Marketing Tips
Hubspot, the two-billion-dollar ‘inbound marketing’ company, recently hosted its massive INBOUND conference here in Boston. We joined, with an eye toward learning some useful marketing strategies for auto repair shops, so we could share with our community of service providers. The focus of INBOUND was — appropriately — “inbound” marketing, or creating content — blogs, social […]
Meet Lauren Fix, The Car Coach
There’s $62 billion of undone automotive maintenance each year, and Lauren “The Car Coach®” Fix is on a mission to change that. The aptly named Lauren “Fix” is an ASE-certified automotive technician. She regularly appears in a host of national media outlets, giving car-care tips as a spokesperson for the nonprofit Car Care Council. In addition, […]
Social Media Tips for Small Businesses: Get Started Today
You know your shop needs to be on social media. After all, it’s where your customers are — 75% of adults in the U.S. who are on the internet are also on Facebook. And, according to Ratchet & Wrench, 53% of shops making $2.5 million or more per year are on Twitter. You’re just not […]
What is a Mobile Mechanic? Profile of a Young, Boston-Area Entrepreneur
Mobile mechanics tend to do well on Openbay’s platform. This is due in large part to the convenience factor — mobile mechanics travel directly to the vehicle to fix it. Their customers never have to leave their homes or offices to have their cars maintained or fixed. Distance is the #1 reason Openbay users select a service […]
Shop Owner, Frank Leutz, on His Journey & Two Auto-Care Industry Challenges
We’re always on the lookout for interesting repair shop owners and operators to interview, and anyone who knows Frank Leutz knows he fits the bill, and breaks the mold. Leutz (above, in fedora) is the owner of Desert Car Care in Chandler, Arizona, which just won “Small Business of the Year” via the Chandler Chamber […]
Things You Shouldn’t Say to Your Mechanic
Before you head off to your automotive technician, make sure you don’t run afoul of some basic ‘service lane etiquette.’ We spoke with some technicians (or mechanics), shop owners and managers to get their take on how to talk to a mechanic. You may be surprised by the things you should stop asking, as well […]
This Repair Shop Owner's Unconventional Response to the Recession
If you’re working in the auto care industry and haven’t yet come across Audra Fordin, you might be living under a rock. Audra’s a rare breed – she’s a female mechanic who owns her own shop, Great Bear Auto Repair, in Flushing, NY. Her “Women Auto Know” program, to empower women drivers, has earned Audra […]
Challenges & Trends in the Future of the Automotive Aftermarket
Today, the Auto Care Association hosted a fascinating teleforum on the auto care industry called “Top Business Challenges for 2016 and How to Solve Them” with the following panelists: John Washbish, MAAP, President & CEO, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. Mark Seng, MAAP, Global Aftermarket Practice Leader, IHS Automotive Malcolm Sissmore, Sales Director, Delphi Products & […]
Secret Sauce for New Openbay Service Provider’s Success is Revealed, After 3,000-Mile Journey
The Openbay office was abuzz last night when Big Mike, in partner development, received a small package in the mail. It had traveled nearly 3,000 miles, from Chino, CA to Cambridge, MA, and was sent by a new service provider Mike had recently signed up – Gabriel’s Auto & Towing. We were excited to have […]
