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Articles Written By Michael Anderson:
American Honda increases breadth, availability of parts through daily-replenishment program (September 2008)
Complete teardowns reveal 'blueprint' for proper repairs, says manager of Rickenbaugh Collision Repair Center (September 2008)
Denver -- Imagine trying to reach a destination without knowing how to get there. Trying to write a complete estimate on collision-damaged vehicle without a complete teardown is no different, said Ed Hunglinger, manager of Rickenbaugh Collision Repair Center. He said a proper repair begins with a thorough teardown, which creates a "blueprint" for the repair.
Edgewater Jeep Repair owner says trust still the main factor in selling repair jobs (September 2008)
Denver -- Rather than commit to years of new-car payments, many people are maintaining their vehicles during these uncertain economic times. However, trust still plays the main role when selling a job at the counter, said Jimmy Olson Jr., owner of Edgewater Jeep Repair, an independent American 4x4 repair specialist.
Monitoring KPIs keeps bottom line healthy for Don's Auto Body of St. Charles (September 2008)
St. Charles, Mo. -- Dave Tritz, AAM, is the first to admit that he was an average body technician when he worked for his father, Don Tritz, founder of Don's Auto Body. Tritz, who now owns the shop, said he's learned to work on the business, rather than in it. He's able to do so because his son, Adam, has joined the family business.
Mountain Region September People & Places (September 2008)
New Mexico Parts Express dealers name new courier, add aftermarket parts distributors (September 2008)
Owner of Trucks Unique in Albuquerque finds niche 'upfitting' commercial trucks (September 2008)
Import Auto Body of Fort Collins makes the switch to waterborne (August 2008)
Fort Collins, Colo. -- Pete Weeks said he knows that many Colorado residents are environmentally conscious. He is also acutely aware of a mandate in California that now requires collision repair facilities in certain counties to use a waterborne basecoat, so he made the switch from solvent-borne to waterborne paint in May.
Mechanical engineer's career comes full circle with shop purchase in Castle Rock (August 2008)
Castle Rock, Colo. -- It was a love of working on cars that drove John Manka to seek a career as a mechanical sales engineer. After spending a nearly a quarter century engineering wire rope for the ski and mining industries, Manka said his heart led him back to automotive repair, this time as a shop owner.
Mile Hi Truck Transmissions moves forward despite mounting diesel prices (August 2008)
Mountain Region August People & Places (August 2008)
River Valley Region August People & Places (August 2008)
Small-town dynamics play a big role at Andy's Auto Body of Chester (August 2008)
Chester, Ill.--A life-size portrait of Popeye holding a paint gun and hammer adorns the entrance of Andy's Auto Body of Chester. Like many other small businesses in the area, Owner Dan Geisen, AAM, uses the cartoon character and his cronies to market his business in honor of Popeye's inventor, cartoonist E.C. Segar, who hailed from Chester.
Community involvement fosters customer loyalty for Auto Art of St. Louis (July 2008)
St. Louis--If you were to ask Bill Anselmo the reason for his collision repair facility's longevity, he would tell you it's his involvement in St. Louis' "The Hill" Italian neighborhood, where he was born, raised, lives, and has conducted business for more than a quarter-century. However, he said current market conditions have forced him to make some changes to his longtime shop, Auto Art Inc., in order to stay afloat in a rapidly changing industry.
Cruickshank adjusts University of the Aftermarket to industry demand (July 2008)
Midland, Mich.--It's critical for any organization to adapt to the needs of the marketplace, but it requires experience and insight. Brian Cruickshank, longtime Counterman editor, said he brings those strengths to Northwood University's University of the Aftermarket.
Exile Auto Body joins Carstar network to boost DRP work, changes name to Main Street Carstar (July 2008)
Littleton, Colo. -- Being a part of a well-known business network has its advantages. For the owners of southwest Denver's Exile Auto Body, that meant aligning their independent shop with a group that is trusted by many insurers' direct repair programs (DRPs).
Fourth generation prepares to take reins of Telle Tire & Auto Service (July 2008)
Richmond Heights, Mo.--It's not often that a young man can begin his career in the same business that his great-grandfather founded, but Aaron Telle is doing just that. As his uncle, Mark Telle, vice president of Telle Tire & Auto Service, prepares for retirement, he is also teaching his nephew the finer points of the family business that spans nearly seven decades, the younger Telle said.
Japanese Connection owner diversifies to maximize profits (July 2008)
Colorado Springs, Colo.--The mantra of many niche independent shop owners is to do one thing and do it well. Many do so, however, knowing that they're passing up business that may already be in their door, said Kraig Hermes, general manager and owner of Japanese Connection Inc.
Mountain Region July People & Places (July 2008)
NAPA Auto Parts of Boulder owner follows GPC family footsteps (July 2008)
River Valley Region July People & Places (July 2008)
Stone Wheel Inc. opens Chesterfield warehouse, increases service to West County (July 2008)
Bandimere resurface sets stage for '08 Rocky Mountain racing season (June 2008)
Bandimere Speedway accents 50th anniversary with high-tech upgrades (June 2008)
Morrison, Colo. -- Although there are thousands of variables that give drivers a competitive edge, when they pull up to the starting line, they're thinking about two things -- surface conditions and the timing system, said John "Sporty" Bandimere III, who manages the quarter-mile strip his grandfather founded in 1958. Read Full ArticleBandimere Speedway accents 50th anniversary with high-tech upgrades (June 2008)
Morrison, Colo. -- Although there are thousands of variables that give drivers a competitive edge, when they pull up to the starting line, they're thinking about two things -- surface conditions and the timing system, said John "Sporty" Bandimere III, who manages the quarter-mile strip his grandfather founded in 1958.
Although the location of the strip has never changed, the complex had a renovation in 1988 and a major track resurface that began in 2007, Bandimere said.
Read Full Article
Car Crafters of Albuquerque adapts to demands of mega-shop environment (June 2008)
Dealership loyalty brings customers to Auffenberg Auto Body Shop (June 2008)
Belleville, Ill.--Brand preference can play a huge role in where customers decide to take their collision-damaged vehicle for repair. Many vehicle owners are extremely loyal not only to the brand they drive, but to the dealership where they purchased the vehicle, said Jerry Bruns, who has managed Auffenberg Body Shop for more than 25 years.
Industry participation pays dividends for St. Louis repair shop (June 2008)
St. Louis--Mike and Linda Silva are not the type to sit idly and maintain status quo as repair shop owners. The couple said they take a proactive approach when it comes to managing Advanced Auto Service, the family repair shop that Mike's father, Hank Silva, opened more than five decades ago at 6123 Gravois Ave. Read Full ArticleMountain Region June People & Places (June 2008)
Toy Auto Masters reinforces Toyota brand loyalty by framing the customer experience (June 2008)
Englewood, Colo.--Motorists' opinion of their vehicles largely depends on their service experiences over the life of the vehicle, said Dave Watson, owner of Toy Auto Masters, an independent repair shop specializing in Toyota, Lexus, and Honda repair. This experience continues long after their warranty has expired.
Economy drives increase in totaled vehicles, cut in auto recyclers' inventory (May 2008)
Economic pressures have converged on the automotive industry to create a condition that's difficult to swallow for many recyclers and collision repairers. Expensive vehicle technology, an increasing number of foreign repairers, and the rising cost of scrap metal add up to more totaled vehicles, said John Fischl, a longtime automotive recycler in Phoenix and a participant in the United Recyclers Group (URG) and Premium Recycled Parts (PRP).
Industry know-how, coupled with Goodyear moniker, bodes well for Complete Automotive Repair & Service owners (May 2008)
Aurora, Colo. -- What's in a name? For an automotive repair shop, brand recognition with motorists can be a great way to attract new business. That, coupled with decades of industry know-how and an ability to build trust with customers, is a recipe for success, said Glenn Gow, who co-owns Complete Automotive Repair & Service, a nine-bay Goodyear Gemini shop on East Iliff Avenue, with his longtime colleagues Chris Weinreich and John Franceschi.
Longevity, reputation buoy Lonero's Auto Body in down market (May 2008)
Mountain May People & Places (May 2008)
Sullivan Tire focuses on building customer trust, education (May 2008)
Florissant, Mo. -- Perception is reality. When it comes to motorists' understanding of their vehicles, there are often misconceptions. A shop's service writer is usually the bearer of truth, turning the shop counter into a classroom, conveying reasons for maintenance or repair. Without trust, that can be an arduous task, said Gilbert "Gil" Sullivan, owner of Sullivan Tire & Service.
Training draws a crowd at ASA-CO's spring expo (May 2008)
Custom-paint sideline evolves into solo business for Pearl Auto Body owners (April 2008)
Golden, Colo.--Motorcycle gas tanks and fenders, sporting everything from skulls to flames, are neatly aligned in the shipping and receiving area of Gunslinger Custom Paint. They await shipment while their plain, black brethren are staged to receive a colorful paint scheme.
Independent Motor's owner learns to balance customers, employees, business (April 2008)
Boulder, Colo.--It's often been said that a company is like a three-legged stool, supported by customers, employees, and the overall health of the business. If any one of these three legs falters, the business can topple. After 25 years of running Independent Motors, a foreign repair specialist, Owner Bill Bender said he's learned to find an appropriate balance among the three.
Mountain April People & Places (April 2008)
Sales effort leads to extra work for Autoworks International (April 2008)
Sharp sales growth spurs Rocky Mountain CFC expansion (April 2008)
U.S. Oil completes acquisition of T-K Distributors and Pam Oil, renames them U.S. AutoForce (April 2008)
AutoNation dealers bridge technology gap with mobile reflash service (March 2008)
AYES brings together Colorado dealerships and automotive students (March 2008)
Buchtel Motors owner pleased at return of ASA-CO spring expo (March 2008)
Concept Auto Body assimilates best shop practices, reducing cycle time, errors (March 2008)
Littleton, Colo.--When Tom and Sheila Reagan decided to open a collision repair facility three years ago, they said their main objective was to focus on quality repairs. The couple soon realized, through a major direct repair program (DRP) relationship, that they would also have to pay close attention to repair cycle time and customer service indexes (CSI). They said they have been able to balance the two in their family shop, Concept Auto Body.
Mountain March People & Places (March 2008)
Vahsholtz reputation for racing excellence boosts repair businesses (March 2008)
Woodland Park, Colo. -- It's hard to ignore the snow-capped mountaintop that forms the skyline near the two Vahsholtz family automotive repair shops. For Clint and Leonard Vahsholtz, Pikes Peak serves as a constant reminder of what their shops stand for and what customers have come to expect of them. Read Full ArticleVW's '08 R32 strikes a perfect balance between power and handling (March 2008)
Warren Tech opens in-school CARQUEST jobber store (March 2008)
Warren Tech opens in-school CARQUEST jobber store (March 2008)
ASA-CO to hold spring expo at Denver Museum of Nature & Science (February 2008)
Clint Hurdle discusses life, business, and baseball at NAPA Denver conference (February 2008)
Westminster, Colo.-Many parallels can be drawn between business and sports. For Clint Hurdle, the manager of the Colorado Rockies baseball club, success starts and finishes with people. Hurdle echoed that sentiment as he relived the trials and tribulations of Rockies' journey to the '07 World Series during the recent NAPA Denver Marketing Conference, held Jan. 12 at the Westin Hotel in Westminster. Read Full ArticleColorado Classic Cars owner turns hobby into custom build and restoration business (February 2008)
Westminster, Colo.-Duke Altschuler collects rare vintage vehicles the same way many boys collect Matchbox cars or Hot Wheels. Unlike the 1:43-scale versions, the problem with collecting the real ones quickly becomes storage. That led oil businessman Altschuler and his wife, Melisse Perre, to purchase a Westminster warehouse in April 2006, which he said eventually led the couple to start a bona fide restoration shop and dealership, Colorado Classic Cars. Read Full ArticleEPA aims to enforce mobile A/C compliance in Mountain states (February 2008)
Hybrid proliferation builds a business case for independent shop owners (February 2008)
Las Vegas - As hybrid vehicle registrations continue to swell, so does opportunity for the aftermarket to service them. Craig Van Batenburg, owner of Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC), a hybrid-service training organization, emphasized that during a seminar at the Automotive Aftermarket Product Expo (AAPEX) .
Mountain February People & Places (February 2008)
Swis Automotive & Truck Equipment adds service division, is named master distributor for Chief Automotive Technologies (February 2008)
AAPEX says advancements in vehicle technology amplify importance of form, fit, and function (January 2008)
AAPEX seminar examines the 10 most common repair shop blunders (January 2008)
Las Vegas -- It's a fact that business owners make mistakes. The key is to learn from those mistakes. Mitch Schneider, a fourth-generation shop owner who operates Schneider's Automotive Service in Simi Valley, Calif., revealed the 10 most common blunders he and many other shop owners commit during a recent seminar at Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX).
CARS to carry forward fundamentals under new format in '08 (January 2008)
Galaxie Auto Body values affiliation with Fix Auto Network (January 2008)
Denver -- A lot can be learned in the business world by networking with peers. That is what motivated Ken Reynolds, owner of Galaxie Auto Body Inc., to join the Fix Auto network, a national group of independent collision repair facilities with 14 locations in Colorado. Small ideas gleaned from other Fix shop owners, such as limiting waste, have improved Reynolds' operation.
Mountain January People & Places (January 2008)
Star Automotive Warehouse gains momentum under ADN umbrella (January 2008)
Denver -- Over the last few years, consolidation has affected nearly every corner of the aftermarket. Program distribution, arguably the backbone of the aftermarket, is not immune to that trend. Star Automotive Warehouse of Denver has emerged from a storm of change for the better, said Star General Manager Dennis Smit, who manages the full-service parts warehouse that is now a part of the Automotive Distribution Network (ADN).
ASA-CO appoints new executive director, restructures (December 2007)
Carstar's efficient business systems enable Colorado shop owner to open second location (December 2007)
Eagle Automotive owner melds dealership experience with aftermarket know-how for a winning combination (December 2007)
Littleton, Colo.--Aftermarket service dealers now keep more than two thirds of the motoring public on the road. That situation is beginning to change, however. The gap between new vehicle technology and traditional aftermarket repair capability is widening, said Brian Bates, co-owner of Eagle Automotive Service. Read Full ArticleMountain December People & Places (December 2007)
Concours Collision Center's owner makes smooth transition from employee to entrepreneur (November 2007)
Diversification buoys Western Engine Supply in a changing market (November 2007)
Denver--Terry Bunker said he can recall the number of local machine shops that have closed their doors since he opened his 18 years ago. Many of those shops machined and rebuilt carryout engine parts, focusing on their niche and leaving the assembly and installation to repair shops. As that specialty business dropped off, so did they, said Bunker, president of Western Engine Supply Inc. Read Full ArticleDrive Train Industries combats counterfeit parts with Bendix (November 2007)
Genuine Parts Co. opens heavy-duty truck parts store in Denver (November 2007)
Mountain November People & Places (November 2007)
Brighton Auto Body boosts efficiency, profits with mechanical repair shop (October 2007)
Mountain October People & Places (October 2007)
Parts distributors share online success stories at eForum (October 2007)
Peerless Tire opens new store in Wheat Ridge, part of larger expansion (October 2007)
Second-generation B&F Tire still going strong (October 2007)
Wheat Ridge, Colo.--Seldom do you walk into a shop where you're greeted by an enthusiastic 81-year-old owner. Frank "Hank" Stites mans the counter at his shop with nearly the same vigor as he did in 1954. B&F Tire Co. continues to flourish under the guidance of Stites, who gets a helping hand from his son and co-owner Mike Stites.
Aftermarket eForum examines competitive realm of online parts retailing (September 2007)
EPWI names S.A. Gear 'Vendor of the Year,' Dick Niemi 'Representative of the Year' (September 2007)
G&G's Import Auto Clinic adds to profits with performance sideline (September 2007)
Mountain September People & Places (September 2007)
Murray Motor's collision repair shop off to a good start (September 2007)
Race fans in and around Colorado still have much to cheer about in '07-events schedule (September 2007)
Small-cargo management leads to big business for Let's Go Aero of Colorado Springs (September 2007)
Constant improvement drives second-generation Rocky Mountain Paint & Body (August 2007)
Longmont, Colo.--There are many areas in the collision repair process where a shop's personnel can falter. Astute operators have the ability to pinpoint problem areas, implement solutions, and streamline operations. Read Full ArticleDetroit Transmission avoids costly comebacks through quality rebuilds (August 2007)
Jasper Engines & Transmissions relocates Denver-area branch as it marks 65th anniversary (August 2007)
Matthews Automotive owner leaves high-tech career to fulfill dream of entrepreneurship (August 2007)
Mountain August People & Places (August 2007)
Mattocks brothers focus on family tradition in a competitive marketplace (July 2007)
Mountain July People & Places (July 2007)
NAPA completes expansion of Denver distribution center (July 2007)
Denver--A computerized conveyor belt snakes through the 214,000 square feet that now make up the NAPA Denver Distribution Center. The $800,000 conveyor belt system is part of a recently completed $3.7 million project to improve the efficiency and capacity of the NAPA Denver Distribution Center, said David Stauber, operations manager. Read Full ArticleStrasburg shop expands into retail parts to better serve repair customers (July 2007)
ATRA holds Mountain region '07 Technical Seminar in Sheridan (June 2007)
Audi certification gives Prestige Imports Collision Center a competitive advantage (June 2007)
Industry support for '07 Colorado SkillsUSA collision competition is strongest ever, chairman says (June 2007)
Jeno's Auto Service retains customers with one-stop service (June 2007)
Mountain June People & Places (June 2007)
Pikes Peak Community College hosts Colorado SkillsUSA competition (June 2007)
Automakers focus on alternative power at Denver Auto Show (May 2007)
Colorado Auto Body bounces back from near closure to add off-site estimating office (May 2007)
Midwest venue bolsters attendance of Showpower, an undercar trade show (May 2007)
St. Louis--A man grips a muffler with determination in his eyes. The crowd cheers as the muffler comes to a halt after he skids it across the floor. Its distance traveled is carefully measured.
Each year, the North American Muffler Sliding Championship signifies the final day of Showpower, an undercar and transmission expo held each March by MD Publications Inc., publishers of Undercar Digest and Transmission Digest.
Read Full Article