KUKUI

5 AI Prompts That Actually Help Your Shop

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:04:21 GMT

The right tools for the right job.

In our first two posts AI Is A Flashlight, Not a Map and What AI Gets Wrong About Your Shop — And Why It Looks So Right , we covered where AI gets it wrong. The URL myth. The demographic data problem. The competitor comparison gap. And the confidence problem: the fact that wrong answers look identical to right ones.

That was the foundation. Now let’s talk about where AI actually helps.

Below are five prompts you can copy, paste, and use today. Each one is designed for a real task that shop owners face regularly. And each one includes what to expect back and what to watch for, so you’re not just getting output. You’re getting output you know how to evaluate.

If you’ve read The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing , you’ll recognize a couple of these. The guide has six sample prompts with a full framework for crafting your own. This post pulls from that and adds new ones.

One rule before we start: every prompt below includes built-in constraints. That’s intentional. Telling the AI what not to do is just as important as telling it what you want. It’s the difference between getting a useful draft and getting a confident guess.

1. Evaluate a Service Page

You have service pages on your website. Are they actually good? AI can help you see them through a customer’s eyes.

But first, a quick reality check from what we talked about in our second post What AI Gets Wrong About Your Shop — And Why It Looks So Right : not every AI tool can actually read a URL you paste in. And even the ones that can, don’t always do it. So this prompt comes in two versions.

Prompt 1a: With a URL

"Review this page [URL] as if you’re a potential customer looking for [service]. Is it clear what the shop offers? Does it answer the questions I’d have before booking? What information is missing? Base your evaluation only on what’s on the page. If you’re inferring anything, say so."

After you get the response, test it. Ask: “Did you actually access the URL I provided, or are you basing this on general knowledge?”

If the tool accessed it, you’ll typically get a direct answer like “Yes, I visited the page and can see that your headline says...” with specific details from your actual site.

If it didn’t, you’ll get something more hedged: “Based on common practices for auto repair websites...” or “I wasn’t able to access the URL, but based on typical service pages...” Sometimes it won’t volunteer this at all, and the response will just sound generic. That's your signal.

If you're getting generic output, or if you’re not sure, use Prompt 1b instead.

Prompt 1b: With pasted content

"I’m pasting the text content from my [service] page below. Review it as if you’re a potential customer looking for this service. Is it clear what the shop offers? Does it answer the questions I’d have before booking? What information is missing? If you’re inferring anything, say so. [Paste your page content here]"

A note on what to paste: copy the visible text from your page. The words your customers actually read. Headlines, descriptions, calls to action, any bullet points, or service details. You don’t need to include the code, the layout, or the design. AI can’t evaluate how your page looks visually. It can evaluate whether the words on the page are clear, complete, and convincing. That’s what you’re after.

What you’ll get back:

A customer-perspective review of clarity, completeness, and calls to action.
Specific suggestions for what’s missing (pricing context, process explanation, trust signals).

What to watch for:

With Prompt 1b, the AI is only seeing words. It doesn’t know if your page has strong visuals, trust badges, a click-to-call button, or a scheduling widget. It’s evaluating the copy, not the experience. That’s still valuable, but it’s not the whole picture.
Ignore any SEO recommendations that come back unprompted. You asked for a customer perspective, not a technical audit.

2. Draft Review Responses

Responding to every review matters. But writing unique, thoughtful responses takes time, especially when you’re doing it every day.

Shameless plug: we built a tool for this. KUKUI’s AI Review Responder generates personalized responses to your Google reviews directly inside our platform. If you’re a KUKUI client, you already have access.

If you’re not, or if you want to do it yourself in ChatGPT, here’s a prompt that works:

"I own an auto repair shop called [name]. Write 3 different responses to the following Google review. Tone should be [professional/friendly/warm]. Thank the customer specifically for what they mentioned. Keep each response under 75 words. Here’s the review: [paste review]"

What you’ll get back:

Three variations you can choose from or blend together.
Responses that reference specific details from the review, not generic “thanks for your feedback” language.

What to watch for:

Read every response before posting. AI occasionally adds details that weren’t in the original review. If a customer said “great service” and the AI response says “we’re glad we could help with your transmission,” that’s a fabrication.
Adjust the tone to match your shop. AI tends to run slightly more formal than most shop owners actually talk.

3. Brainstorm a Seasonal Promotion

You know you should be running seasonal promotions. Coming up with fresh ideas every quarter is the hard part.

The prompt:

"I own an auto repair shop in [city]. My top services are [list services]. Create 5 promotion ideas for [season/month] that I could use in email marketing and social media. For each idea, include a subject line, a brief description, and a suggested call to action. My typical customer is [describe target customer]."

What you’ll get back:

Five structured promotion concepts with subject lines and CTAs ready to adapt.
A mix of approaches (discount-based, educational, urgency-driven, community-focused) depending on how you describe your customer.

What to watch for:

AI doesn’t know your margins. A promotion that sounds great in theory might not make sense for your business. Run the numbers before you commit.
The more context you provide about your customer base, the more relevant the ideas. That [describe target customer] field in the prompt is doing a lot of work. "Families with older vehicles who prioritize safety" will get you very different results than "budget-conscious commuters." Be specific.

4. Declined-Service Follow-Up Call Script

A customer came in for an oil change. Your tech recommended brake work. They declined. Now what?

Most CRMs already handle the email side of this. If yours sends automated follow-ups for declined services, that’s covered. But what happens when your service advisor actually picks up the phone?

That call is where the real conversion happens. And most advisors wing it.

The prompt:

"Write a brief phone call script for a service advisor following up with a customer who declined a recommended [service] at their last visit. Tone should be [helpful/conversational/professional]. The goal is to remind them why it matters without being pushy. Include a natural way to handle ‘I’m not sure I need it’ and ‘I’ll think about it.’ Keep it under 200 words."

What you’ll get back:

A conversational script with a clear opening, a brief explanation of why the service matters, and responses to common objections.
Language that feels like a real phone call, not a sales pitch.

What to watch for:

AI will sometimes use urgency language that’s stronger than the situation warrants. “This is a safety issue” might be true for brakes. It’s not true for a cabin air filter. Match the tone to the actual service.
This is a starting point for your team, not a script to read word for word. The best advisors will adapt it to their own voice. The value is giving them a structure to start from.

5. Create Google Business Profile Posts

Google Business Profile posts are one of the most underused tools in auto repair marketing. Most shops never post. The ones that do usually stop after a few weeks.

The prompt:

"Create 8 Google Business Profile posts for an auto repair shop in [city]. Mix educational tips, seasonal reminders, service highlights, and community-focused content. Each post should be under 100 words with a clear call to action. My shop specializes in [specialties]. Write in a [professional/friendly/conversational] tone."

What you’ll get back:

Two months of GBP content (one per week) ready to customize and schedule.
A mix of content types that keeps your profile active and varied.

What to watch for:

AI-generated posts need your photos. A GBP post with a stock-feeling description and no image gets scrolled past. Pair each post with a real photo from your shop.
Review every post for accuracy. AI might suggest services you don’t offer or seasonal tips that don’t apply to your climate.

The Pattern

You’ll notice something in every prompt above: they all tell the AI what it’s working with and what it shouldn’t assume.

That’s the difference between a useful result and a generic one.

Three things that make any prompt better:

Give it real context. Your services, your location, your customer, your tone. The more it knows, the less it guesses.
Set boundaries. “Base your answer only on what’s on the page.” “Don’t estimate rankings or traffic.” “If you’re inferring, say so.” These constraints are what keep AI output honest.
Start fresh. New task, new conversation. Don’t carry context from a previous chat. The AI will build on what you said before, and that’s not always what you want.

For a deeper framework on writing prompts, including where to find the real data that makes them work, check out The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing . It’s free, and Chapter 4 is built around this.

What’s Next

This post gives you prompts that produce useful output. The next one tackles what happens when AI writes the content itself.

Can you use AI to write your website pages? Your blog posts? Your emails? And what does Google actually think about AI-generated content?

Short answer: it’s not what the headlines say. We’ll break it down.

In the meantime, if you missed the first two posts in this series, start there. Post 1: AI Is A Flashlight, Not a Map and Post 2: What AI Gets Wrong About Your Shop — And Why It Looks So Right and White Paper: The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing .

Heather Myers is the Chief Technology Officer at KUKUI, where she builds marketing and customer engagement technology for independent auto repair shops. Before joining the automotive technology space, she built information systems for public and academic libraries.

This is the second post in our ongoing series, AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Map . New posts publish every two weeks.

Give Them a Reason

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:11:46 GMT

My Rewards - Give Customers a Reason to Return

Last month we launched My Rewards, KUKUI’s built-in loyalty program. Since launch, our clients have already started using it to reward their best customers, encourage repeat visits, and strengthen long-term relationships.

If you haven’t turned it on yet, now is a great time to get in the game.

Why Loyalty Programs Work

Most shop owners already know the value of repeat customers. In fact, a customer who comes back regularly is often worth far more than a one-time visitor. The challenge has always been staying top-of-mind between visits. That’s where My Rewards comes in.

With My Rewards, shops can automatically reward customers for the business they’re already giving you. Customers earn points when they spend, which can later be redeemed for rewards like discounts or services. It’s a simple concept, but it can have a big impact.

Shops using loyalty programs often see:

More repeat visits
Higher customer retention
Increased average repair order value
Stronger customer relationships

Built Specifically for Repair Shops

Unlike generic loyalty programs built for retail stores, My Rewards was designed specifically for auto repair workflows. That means it works seamlessly with your existing processes.

You can:

Automatically award points based on customer spending
Track rewards directly in the KUKUI Control Panel
Let customers redeem rewards during future visits
Encourage repeat business without adding extra work for your team

Once it’s set up, the system handles the tracking automatically.

Early Feedback from Shops

Shops that have already enabled My Rewards are using it in a few different ways. Some are using it as a simple “thank you” program for loyal customers. Others are using it to encourage customers to return for recommended services. Either way, the goal is the same: reward your customers and give them another reason to come back to your shop.

Don’t Let Customer Loyalty Go Unrewarded

Your best customers are already choosing your shop over competitors. My Rewards helps you recognize that loyalty and encourage them to keep coming back. If you haven’t explored My Rewards yet, now’s the perfect time to see how it can work for your shop.

Contact your Client Success Coordinator or the KUKUI Support Team today to get started.

KUKUI Launches AI Education Initiative

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:57:23 GMT

KUKUI Launches Education Initiative to Help Shop Owners Use AI Wisely

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of how automotive repair shop owners research marketing strategies, analyze competitors, and evaluate their online presence. But as AI tools become more accessible, many shop owners are discovering that AI-generated insights aren’t always reliable.

To help the industry navigate this shift, KUKUI has launched a new AI education initiative for independent auto repair shops , focused on helping owners understand how AI tools work, where they provide value, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

The initiative provides practical resources designed specifically for shop owners who are encountering AI-generated marketing audits, demographic reports, and website analysis tools.

“Independent shop owners are the backbone of the automotive repair industry,” said Eric Harber, CEO of KUKUI . “They deserve access to the same level of information and analysis that any professional marketing team would use. Our goal is to make sure AI becomes a tool that helps shop owners make better decisions—not another source of confusion.”

Why AI Education Matters for Auto Repair Shop Owners

Across the automotive repair industry, shop owners are increasingly experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI platforms to evaluate their websites, generate marketing ideas, or analyze local competition.

While these tools can be helpful, AI-generated output often appears authoritative even when the underlying data is incomplete or inaccurate.

According to KUKUI Chief Technology Officer Heather Myers , the issue isn’t the technology itself.

“AI tools can be incredibly useful,” Myers said. “But the responses they generate are often mistaken for verified research. Our goal is to help shop owners understand how these systems work so they can separate valuable insights from unreliable conclusions.”

This challenge is becoming more common as AI-powered tools produce detailed-looking marketing audits and competitive reports that may not reflect real market data.

The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing

At the center of KUKUI’s initiative is a new educational resource created specifically for the automotive repair industry:

The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing

What It Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Use It Without Getting Burned

The guide helps shop owners understand how artificial intelligence systems generate answers and where those answers can sometimes go wrong.

Topics covered include:

How AI tools analyze websites and marketing data
Common mistakes when interpreting AI-generated reports
Where AI can provide real marketing value for repair shops
How to write better prompts when using AI tools
How to verify whether AI recommendations are trustworthy

The goal is to give shop owners a clear framework for evaluating AI-generated information before making business decisions.

“AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Map” – New Blog Series

As part of the initiative, KUKUI has also launched a new educational blog series exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping automotive marketing.

The series, titled “AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Map,” takes a practical approach to topics such as:

How AI-generated website audits actually work
What AI tools can (and cannot) tell you about your competitors
The role AI is beginning to play in local search and SEO
How repair shop owners can safely experiment with AI tools

The goal is to provide ongoing guidance as AI continues to evolve.

AI Education at Automotive Industry Conferences

KUKUI is also expanding its conference education programs to address AI literacy in the automotive repair industry.

Upcoming sessions will explore topics including:

How artificial intelligence is changing local search results
What shop owners should expect from marketing providers in an AI-driven world
Responsible ways to use AI tools in day-to-day business operations
How to evaluate AI-generated marketing recommendations

These sessions are designed to help shop owners develop practical AI skills rather than rely on hype or speculation.

A Background in Information Literacy

Before joining the automotive technology industry, Heather Myers built information systems for public and academic libraries , helping researchers and students identify reliable information sources.

That background shaped the philosophy behind KUKUI’s AI education initiative.

“My career has always been focused on helping people find trustworthy information,” Myers said. “The tools have changed dramatically over time, but the challenge of evaluating information hasn’t.”

Download the Guide: AI for Auto Repair Shop Marketing

Shop owners who want to better understand how artificial intelligence is influencing automotive marketing can download the guide here:

The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing
What It Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Use It Without Getting Burned

You can also explore the AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Map blog series for ongoing insights.

About KUKUI

KUKUI provides data-driven marketing and customer engagement solutions designed specifically for independent automotive repair shops.

Founded in 2011, the KUKUI platform helps shops attract new customers, retain existing ones, and grow their businesses through an integrated marketing system that includes:

By combining marketing technology with industry expertise, KUKUI helps repair shops build stronger customer relationships and improve long-term growth.

The Shop Owner's Guide to AI in Marketing

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:48:16 GMT

A Practical Guide to AI for Auto Repair Shop Owners

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how customers search for local services—including auto repair.

Search engines now generate AI summaries, voice assistants recommend nearby businesses, and tools like ChatGPT are being used to research shops before customers ever visit a website.

For shop owners, the challenge isn’t just understanding AI—it’s knowing how to use it effectively without being misled by it.

That’s why KUKUI's Chief Technology Officer, Heather Myers, wrote a practical resource designed specifically for independent auto repair businesses.

The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing

This guide breaks down what AI tools can realistically do for your shop, where they fall short, and how to separate useful insights from confident-sounding guesses.

Inside the guide, you’ll learn:

How AI is already influencing local search and customer discovery
Where AI can save time with marketing and communication
The common pitfalls of AI-generated audits and reports
How to evaluate AI recommendations before acting on them
A smarter framework for using AI in your shop’s marketing

AI can be an incredibly helpful tool—but only if you understand its limitations.

This guide helps you cut through the hype and focus on practical ways AI can support your business today.

�� Download the guide and learn how AI is reshaping auto repair marketing.

�� Get the insights shop owners need to use AI confidently—and avoid costly mistakes.

What AI Gets Wrong About Your Shop — And Why It Looks So Right

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:39:27 GMT

Are you using AI to evaluate your shop’s website — but not sure if you can trust what it tells you?

In our first post in this series , we talked about using AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to evaluate your auto repair shop’s website and why the output, while often useful, isn’t the same as verified data. We talked about the difference between what AI illuminates and what it actually knows.

That post resonated. A lot of you have been running prompts, sharing the output with your teams, and asking smart questions about what to trust. That’s exactly the right instinct.

Today we’re going to go a step further. I want to walk you through the specific places where AI gets it wrong, and, more importantly, why it looks so right when it does.

AI doesn't make obvious mistakes. If it told you your brake shop was actually a bakery, you'd laugh and move on. The real issue is that when AI is wrong, it's wrong in a way that looks exactly like it's right.

Same formatting. Same confidence. Same level of detail. There’s no warning label.

Here's where to look.

The URL Myth

This catches almost everyone.

You paste your website URL into ChatGPT and ask it to analyze your site. It comes back with a detailed breakdown of your messaging, your content gaps, your calls to action. Specific. Structured. It reads like the tool went through your site page by page.

But did it?

Maybe. Maybe not. Some versions of ChatGPT can browse the web. Some can’t. Free and paid have different capabilities, and those capabilities keep changing. Gemini, Perplexity, and other tools each handle URLs differently. Even when a tool can browse, it might read your homepage and skip everything else. Or pull partial content and fill in the rest from general knowledge about auto repair websites.

The output looks the same either way.

Here’s a simple test: ask the tool directly. “Did you actually access the URL I provided, or are you basing this on other information?” The answer is often more honest than the initial output.

The Demographic Data Problem

This is where AI audits create the most damage.

Ask ChatGPT or Gemini to profile the demographics around your shop’s ZIP code. You’ll get median household income, age distribution, vehicle ownership rates, educational attainment. Clean table. Your ZIP code cited. It reads like someone pulled a report from Census data.

They didn’t. And neither did the AI.

These tools don’t query the U.S. Census Bureau in real time. They don’t pull from any demographic database. They generate numbers that are plausible for the type of area they associate with your ZIP code.

We’ve checked AI-generated profiles against real Census data, across several ZIP codes and found:

Income estimates off by tens of thousands of dollars.
Household composition percentages that don’t match reality.
Vehicle ownership numbers that look like regional averages, not local data.

Confident formatting and specific numbers feel like data. They’re not always data.

The information you actually need to make marketing decisions already exists. It’s in your CRM:

Who your customers are.
What services they’re buying.
What your average repair order looks like.
What your retention rate is.

That’s real data about your real customers. It will always be a better foundation than AI-generated estimates about your ZIP code.

The Competitor Comparison Problem

“Compare my shop to competitors in my area.”

This is the second most common AI request we see. And the output looks impressive. Structured side-by-side. Estimated ratings. Assumed service offerings. Suggested differentiators.

It looks like competitive intelligence.

But think about what the AI would actually need to make that comparison real:

Real Google rankings.
Review velocity and trajectory.
Actual service pricing.
Revenue, bay count, certifications, fleet contracts.

None of that is available to an AI tool. It can’t see it and can’t access it.

What you’re getting is a framework built from fragments of public information. Useful for thinking about positioning. Not useful as the basis for business decisions.

The Confidence Problem

There’s a thread running through all of this.

When AI is right, it sounds confident. When AI is wrong, it sounds exactly the same way .

No change in tone. No hedging. No asterisk. A perfectly accurate observation about your website and a completely fabricated demographic statistic are delivered with identical confidence and identical authority.

The AI doesn’t know the difference. So it can’t signal it to you.

Before I built software for auto repair shops, I built information systems for public and academic libraries. Platforms designed to help people find reliable information in environments full of unreliable information. That’s not a bad background for this moment. The tools are different. The problem is the same.

A quick framework that helps. For any claim AI makes about your business, ask yourself:

Fact? Something I can verify.
Inference? A reasonable conclusion, but not independently confirmed.
Guess? No supporting evidence. Presented as a finding.

Start sorting AI output into those three buckets. You’ll never read an AI analysis the same way again.

So What Should You Do?

None of this means you should stop using AI. It means you should use it with your eyes open.

Keep using AI for what it does well. Drafting content. Brainstorming ideas. Getting a second perspective on messaging. Generating email templates and social media calendars. These are real, practical uses where AI saves you time. ( We covered these in our first post . )

Verify before you act. If AI gives you numbers, check one or two against a real source before making decisions based on them. Your CRM has your actual customer data, service mix, and revenue numbers. Google Analytics has your real traffic. The Census Bureau has your actual local demographics. Five minutes of verification is the difference between a solid starting point and an expensive assumption.

Ask it to show its work. “Can you provide a source for that?” is a simple follow-up that often reveals whether a claim is based on something real or something the tool generated on its own. If it provides links, click them. They don’t always lead where you’d expect. If it can’t provide a source, that tells you how much weight to give the claim.

Ask better questions. The quality of what you get out of AI depends entirely on what you put in. Provide real data from your business. The numbers in your CRM, not estimates from memory. Be specific about what you want. And add one sentence that changes everything: “If you’re inferring or estimating anything, tell me.”

Start fresh every time. New question, new conversation. Don’t carry context from a previous chat into an evaluation. The AI will reflect your earlier input back to you, and it’ll feel like validation when it’s actually an echo chamber.

What’s Coming Next

We’re putting together a comprehensive guide that goes deeper on every topic we’ve covered in this series, and quite a bit more. It’s called The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing . It covers how to evaluate AI output, how to write better prompts, where AI adds real value and where it falls short, and what questions to ask the people who manage your online presence. Click the link below to Get on the List and be the first to know when this guide is released.

In the meantime, if you missed our first post, start there: AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Map .

This is the second post in our ongoing series, AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Map . New posts publish every two weeks.

How KUKUI Shops Drove Nearly $3Billion in Revenue in 2025

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 02:11:02 GMT

Let's Talk About What Really Matters

The Results.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about clicks.
It’s not about impressions.
It’s about revenue, retention, and real growth.

And in 2025, KUKUI shop owners delivered.

The Average KUKUI Shop in 2025

This is what success looked like last year:

$1,497,663 in annual revenue
2.35 visits per customer
$1,565 spent per customer annually
$751 average repair order (ARO)
911 leads generated
$251,513 in KUKUI-attributed marketing revenue

Read that again.

The average KUKUI shop isn’t just surviving — it’s building a high-performing, retention-driven, marketing-powered business.

More visits per customer.
Higher annual customer value.
Stronger ARO.
Consistent lead flow.
Quarter-million dollars directly tied to marketing efforts.

That’s not luck. That’s strategy backed by the right platform.

Text Messaging That Turns into Revenue

In 2025, the average shop:

Sent 1,374 text messages
Generated $40,396 in revenue directly from text

Across all KUKUI shops:

2,195,002 text messages sent
$46,668,073 in revenue generated

That’s not “reminder texts.” That’s measurable, trackable revenue. When communication is timely, compliant, and customer-first, it converts.

Email That Still Delivers

While trends come and go, email continues to perform.

The average KUKUI shop:

Sent 5,036 emails
Converted 238 customers

Across all shops:

10,863,820 emails sent
513,418 customer conversions

That’s over half a million customers who came back because the right message hit at the right time.

Consistency compounds.

The Bigger Picture: Nearly $3 Billion in Revenue

Zoom out.

Across all KUKUI shops in 2025:

$2,972,860,778 in total revenue generated
5,013,071 repair orders closed
2,746,678 leads received
$547,186,167 in KUKUI Marketing Revenue

That’s over half a billion dollars directly attributed to marketing performance.

Not guesses.
Not assumptions.
Tracked, measured, proven growth.

Every repair order.
Every lead.
Every returning customer.
Every invoice closed.

It adds up. And together, it nearly hit $3 billion .

These Aren’t Just Numbers

They represent:

Stronger customer relationships
Better retention strategies
Smarter marketing investments
Higher lifetime customer value
More predictable growth

When the average shop generates $1.5M…
When marketing drives $250K+ per location…
When customers return more than twice per year…

That’s not accidental. That’s operational excellence supported by technology built specifically for auto repair.

And We’re Just Getting Started

The industry continues to evolve.
Customer expectations are rising.
Competition is increasing.

But so are your numbers.

If this is what 2025 looked like, imagine what 2026 will bring.

Keep pushing.
Keep growing.
Keep building shops your communities trust.

KUKUI is right there with you — powering the strategy behind the success.

AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Map

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:59:19 GMT

Using AI Tools to Evaluate Your Auto Repair Shop Website: A Smarter Approach

AI is everywhere right now, and for good reason.

More and more shop owners are using tools like ChatGPT to evaluate their website, analyze their brand, compare themselves to competitors, and even identify their “ideal customer.”

We love that.

Seriously.

If you’re curious enough to audit your own marketing, you’re already ahead of most shops.

But here’s the important part:

AI is a tool. Strategy requires context.

If you’re going to use ChatGPT (or any AI tool) to evaluate your shop, here’s how to do it the right way and how to interpret what it gives you.

What AI Does Well

Where AI Has Blind Spots

Here’s what most shop owners don’t realize:

AI does not automatically have access to your real performance data .

Unless you specifically provide it, AI cannot see:

Your actual Google rankings
Live search volume in your ZIP code
Your Google Business Profile insights
Your conversion rates
Your revenue mix by service
Your close rate
Your technician capacity
Your CRM data
Your local competitor’s real traffic data
Backend SEO settings (schema, canonicals, indexing rules)

So when it says:

“Your highest ranking competitor is X”
“Your target demographic is likely upper-middle-income families”
“You should target these psychographics”
“You are positioned as premium”

It may be directionally interesting but it’s often based on assumptions, pattern recognition, or generalized market modeling.

That doesn’t make it wrong.

It just means it’s incomplete.

The Difference Between Interpretation and Data

AI interprets what it sees. Real strategy requires data.

For example:

AI can look at your website and say:

“You appear to appeal to affluent, outdoor-oriented families.”

But it doesn’t know:

If 60% of your revenue is fleet work
If your average repair order is $480 or $1,280
If your top customers drive 10-year-old vehicles
If you’re actually capacity-constrained
If your market is price-sensitive

AI can’t see your bay utilization.

It can’t see your car count trends.

It can’t see your retention metrics.

And those things matter more than website adjectives.

How to Write a Better AI Prompt

If you're going to use AI to analyze your shop, the quality of what you get back depends entirely on what you put in.

A prompt like:

"Analyze my website and tell me my brand and ideal customer."

…will get you a generic answer. The AI will look at your site (if it can — more on that below) and make assumptions based on patterns.

A better approach is to give it context it can't find on its own:

Your ZIP code and the surrounding cities you serve
Your top 5 revenue-generating services
Your average repair order value
Whether you position as premium, value, fleet-focused, or specialty
Your top 3–5 competitors (ones you've verified, not ones the AI guesses)
Who your actual best customers are — not who you wish they were

You can also paste in your website URL and your Google Business Profile link. But here's the important caveat: just because you paste a link doesn't mean the AI actually read it . Some versions of ChatGPT can browse the web. Some can't. And even the ones that can don't always process every page the way you'd expect. If the AI gives you detailed feedback about your site, it's worth asking yourself: did it actually look at my site, or does this sound like it could apply to any auto repair shop?

The more specific and honest your inputs are, the more useful the output will be. AI performs based on what you give it. That hasn't changed since the first computer.

A Word of Caution: Don't Use AI to Validate AI

This one's important.

If you run an analysis in ChatGPT and then ask ChatGPT whether its own analysis is correct, it will almost always say yes. That's not because it verified anything — it's because these tools are designed to be helpful and agreeable. They're not going to argue with themselves.

The same applies if you take ChatGPT's output and paste it into Google Gemini, Perplexity, or Claude to "get a second opinion." You'll likely get a response that sounds confirming — but all you've really done is ask a different AI to evaluate the first AI's assumptions. None of them are checking real data. They're all working from the same general knowledge and pattern recognition.

Think of it this way: if you asked one friend to guess your shop's ideal customer, and then asked a different friend to evaluate that guess, neither of them has looked at your books.

Real validation comes from real data:

Your actual Google Analytics
Your Google Business Profile insights
Your search rankings from tools like Ahrefs or Semrush
Your CRM and point-of-sale data
Your revenue by service line

If an AI recommendation can't be confirmed by at least one of those sources, treat it as an idea to explore — not a fact to act on.

How to Validate AI Recommendations

When you receive an AI audit, ask yourself:

Is this based on actual ranking data, or assumptions?
Does this align with my real customer base?
Does this match my revenue model?
Is this something already handled at the platform level?
Would this conflict with my technical SEO setup?
Is this advice specific to my market or generic?

If the recommendation is:

“Add more content.”

That’s not wrong.

It’s just not strategic on its own.

Strategic SEO asks:

What content?
Targeting which search volume?
Against which competitors?
For which service margin?
With what conversion goal?

That’s a different level of analysis.

The Layer AI Can’t Replace

AI is excellent at ideation.

But it cannot replace:

Aligning marketing with technician capacity
Balancing lead volume with bay availability
Integrating CRM data into strategy
Tying SEO to actual revenue
Adjusting positioning based on car count trends
Building long-term retention strategy
Managing real-world conversion optimization

Marketing for auto repair shops isn’t just about traffic.

It’s about:

The right customers
At the right margin
At the right volume
With sustainable retention
That’s where strategy lives.

The Smart Way to Use AI

Here’s our recommendation:

Use AI to:

Spark ideas
Challenge your assumptions
Identify messaging opportunities
Think differently about your positioning

But validate those ideas with:

Real search data
Local competitive analysis
Your actual performance metrics
Technical SEO review
Conversion tracking

AI is a flashlight.

Data is the map.

You need both but you need to know which one you’re holding.

Final Thought

We’re big believers in technology. We build it.

And AI is absolutely going to play a growing role in how shops evaluate their marketing.

Just remember:

An AI audit is a starting point.

Not a final strategy.

If you’ve run an AI analysis on your shop and want help interpreting the results through real market data and performance insights, we’re always happy to take a look.

Because ideas are powerful.

But execution backed by real data is what fills bays.

Social Media, Simplified

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 20:18:22 GMT

For Today's Drivers, Choosing an Auto Repair Shop Often Starts Online

For today’s drivers, choosing an auto repair shop often starts online. Before they call or book an appointment, many customers check your Google Business Profile, scroll through your Facebook page, or look for recent updates that show your shop is active and trustworthy.

Social media doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming to be effective. Here are practical best practices to help shop owners stay visible, build trust, and attract more customers.

Build Trust with Consistency

When customers see recent posts, it signals that your shop is open, active, and reliable. An outdated or inactive page can raise questions even if your service is excellent.

Keep these best practices in mind when posting:

Post 2-3 times per week
Keep business info, tone, and branding consistent across posts
Schedule posts ahead of time

Focus on the Platforms that Matter

You don’t need to be everywhere. Go where your customers are. On average, auto repair shops rely on Facebook, Google Business Profile, Instagram, and LinkedIn to reach their customers. Start with one message and share it across platforms, making small adjustments if needed. This keeps your online presence active without creating extra work for you.

Post Helpful Content, Not Just Promotions

Customers follow repair shops that educate and reassure them, not just advertise. Helpful posts build credibility and make customers more likely to choose your shop when they need service. Try some of these content ideas that resonate with customers:

Seasonal maintenance tips (winter prep, summer road trips)
“Did you know?” posts about common repairs and issues
Before and after photos of real jobs your shop has completed
Customer testimonials and reviews
Meet the team or behind the scenes shop moments

People want to know who they’re trusting with their vehicle. Along with meaningful content, visual content also helps to resonate with customers and remove uncertainty. Sharing real photos from your shop, your team, and even your workspace can outperform a generic stock image.

Keep Profiles Updated

Your Google Business Profile is often the first place customers look before calling your shop. However, keeping your business info up to date across all of your social media platforms is essential.

Share holiday hours, temporary changes, and any changes to business info (location, phone number, website, etc.)
Post updates about services, specials, and seasonal reminders
Highlight certifications, awards, or new equipment

Regular updates help your shop appear active and trustworthy in local search results

Get Posting!

Social media doesn’t have to be complicated or another thing on your to-do list. For auto repair shops, success comes down to staying visible, sharing helpful updates, and showing customers that your shop is active and trustworthy.

We recently released our KUKUI Social Toolkit , which makes posting on social media easier by letting you manage your social media platforms from one place. Instead of logging into multiple accounts, you can plan, publish, and stay consistent across channels in just a few clicks.

By using one centralized tool to manage your social media, you save time, stay organized, and keep your shop top of mind with local drivers so you can focus on what matters most: running your business and taking care of customers.

2025 Year in Review

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:17:09 GMT

Built for the Way Auto Repair Shops Work

In 2025, we focused on making our product easier to use, more transparent, and more impactful for our clients. Every enhancement and new feature was designed to help shops save time, communicate better with customers, and clearly understand the value of their marketing.

Here’s a snapshot of what we delivered.

Faster Scheduling & Better Customer Communication

Our Live Scheduler v2 improved performance and flexibility to help shops stay competitive with online scheduling. Throughout the year, we also added enhancements like:

Vehicle updates
Confirmation and cancellation message controls
Clearer appointment messaging

Together, these enhancements give shops more control and help reduce missed or misunderstood appointments.

A Stronger Content & Platform Foundation

We introduced a new Core Content experience that simplifies content setup and migration, which is now extended to support multi-location (MSO) clients, making it easier to manage multiple shops from one place.

Expanded Marketing Tools & Integrations

In 2025, we continued expanding the tools shops use to attract and convert customers:

KUKUI Social Toolkit for self-service capabilities to create, schedule, and manage social media posts across platforms
Local Services Ads documentation and analysis within the Control Panel
QR Code creation and management to support in-shop and digital marketing campaigns

Meet KAI: Your Centralized Assistant

We introduced KAI, a new assistant experience inside the KUKUI Control Panel that helps shops:

Navigate the platform more easily
Stay on top of notifications like unread texts, emails to approve, and reviews to respond to

Over time, KAI will evolve to help shops make smarter marketing and operational decisions using best practices and their own data.

Continuous KUKUI Control Panel Improvements

We also delivered a steady stream of Control Panel enhancements, including:

Text Reviews as a standalone product
Improved text and email marketing controls
Revenue insights for email campaigns
More flexible dashboards, notifications, and scheduling options

Looking Ahead

The groundwork we laid in 2025 set the stage for what’s coming next. As we move into 2026, our focus is on building even more clarity, automation, and intelligence into our platform, so our clients spend less time managing tools and more time running their business. You’ll see continued investment in smarter assistants like KAI, deeper performance insights that clearly connect marketing to revenue, and expanded tools that help shops attract, convert, and retain more customers.

We’re also laying the groundwork for new offerings like Loyalty Rewards, along with greater transparency and control across integrations, reporting, and customer communication. Every improvement is guided by real client feedback and designed to support long-term growth, not just short-term wins.

2025 was about strengthening the foundation. 2026 is about building on it and helping our clients grow with confidence, efficiency, and data-driven decision making.

KUKUI Social Toolkit

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:30:18 GMT

Your All-in-One Hub for Social Media Success

In today’s digital world, consistency is everything, especially when it comes to social media. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce the new KUKUI Social Toolkit: a powerful, easy-to-use platform that puts you in full control of your social presence.

The KUKUI Social Toolkit allows users to create, schedule, and publish content across multiple platforms from one simple dashboard. No more logging into different apps or juggling reminders. With the KUKUI Social Toolkit, everything you need is in one place.

Whether you’re sharing promotions, celebrating your team, or keeping customers informed, the KUKUI Social Toolkit makes it effortless to stay consistent and on-brand. And because it includes real-time performance insights, you can track what’s working and adjust your strategy on the fly.

Because the KUKUI Social Toolkit is made for self-management, you get to create content in your own authentic voice. You don’t need to be a marketing expert. Just bring your ideas, and the tool takes care of the rest.

With centralized workflows, an intuitive interface, and powerful analytics, the KUKUI Social Toolkit is here to help our clients strengthen their online presence, connect with their community, and grow one post at a time.

Ready to take control of your social media? Contact us today to learn how to get started.

Your 2026 Auto Repair Shop Marketing Plan

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 18:51:57 GMT

What Works, What’s New, and How To Get It Done

Marketing in 2026 looks a lot different than it did a few years ago. Customer expectations have changed, search engines have changed, and the ways customers book appointments and communicate with shops have changed too. But the good news is that marketing has actually gotten easier—especially for shop owners who take advantage of modern tools that save time, boost visibility, and help bring in more cars.

This guide walks you step-by-step through building a modern, practical marketing plan for your auto repair shop in 2026. It blends the fundamentals that still matter with new technologies that can make your marketing run smoother than ever.

If you want a roadmap you can actually follow, this is it.

1. Start With the Basics: Your Goals and Your Audience

Before jumping into tools and tactics, start with clarity. A marketing plan is simply a roadmap that helps you decide:

What you want to accomplish
Who you need to reach
How you’ll reach them
How you’ll measure whether it’s working

Too many shops jump straight into running ads or posting on social media without defining the bigger picture. Slow down for a minute and outline these basics.

Define your goals

Clear goals help you choose the right strategies. Examples:

Grow monthly car count by 10–15 percent
Increase repeat business and customer retention
Improve review quantity and rating
Boost ARO through more scheduled maintenance
Fill the shop schedule more consistently throughout the week

Identify your ideal customers

Every shop is different. Your ideal customers might be:

Busy commuters
Families with multiple vehicles
Ride-share or fleet drivers
New EV owners
Long-term loyal customers who need regular maintenance

Understanding who you serve best helps you tailor marketing messages and choose the right channels.

Once you’ve got your target and goals in place, the rest of your plan becomes a lot easier.

2. Build a Strong Digital Foundation: Website, SEO, and Online Visibility

Your website is now one of the most important tools in your shop. It’s your first impression, your digital storefront, and your 24/7 appointment setter. If it’s outdated or hard to navigate, you’re losing business.

Make sure your website converts

A modern shop website in 2026 should be:

Mobile-friendly
Fast to load
Clear about services and pricing expectations
Straightforward about shop hours and location
Filled with trust-building elements like reviews, certifications, and guarantees
Optimized for quick actions like booking, calling, or messaging

Local SEO: Help customers find you

Local search is how most customers choose where to take their vehicle. Make sure:

Your Google Business Profile is fully filled out
You’re using accurate, consistent business info everywhere
Your website targets local keywords (example: “Brake repair in Henderson NV”)
You regularly upload fresh photos
You actively gather reviews (more on this later)

New in 2026: Automatic llms.txt

One of the most important changes in search over the last few years is the rise of AI-assisted search. Customers are asking AI tools for local recommendations more than ever.

KUKUI’s Automatic llms.txt makes your website easier for search engines and AI systems to understand. It improves how your information is indexed so future customers can find you whether they’re searching in Google, using voice assistants, or asking AI for local repair shop recommendations.

It’s behind-the-scenes technology, but it gives your shop a competitive advantage in a rapidly changing search landscape.

3. Use Modern Marketing Tools That Actually Make Your Life Easier

A great marketing plan uses tools that save you time, reduce manual work, and help you stay visible without needing a full-time marketing team. Here’s how the latest KUKUI features fit into a 2026 strategy.

QR Codes: Simple, fast customer engagement

KUKUI’s QR code tools let you:

Add QR codes to your front counter, receipts, or waiting room
Drive customers to leave a review
Grow your text marketing list
Send customers directly to your online scheduler
Promote seasonal offers or maintenance tips

QR codes bridge your physical shop with your digital marketing in a way customers use every day.

Text Marketing: Direct, fast, and powerful

If you want one tool that instantly boosts revenue, it’s text marketing.

With KUKUI Text Marketing , you can send:

Appointment reminders
Seasonal service promotions
Declined service reminders
Holiday safety check deals
Follow-up offers
Re-engagement campaigns for long-lost customers

Text messages get opened far more often than emails, making this one of the most reliable ways to drive car count.

Live Scheduler: Make booking effortless

Customers want convenience, and in 2026, online booking is now an expectation.

KUKUI’s Live Scheduler :

Lets customers book appointments any time
Helps distribute your shop workload throughout the week
Reduces phone calls and interruptions
Converts website visitors instantly into scheduled jobs

If your website attracts potential customers but doesn’t give them an immediate way to book, you’re leaving money on the table.

Google Reviews: More important than ever

Reviews still make or break a shop’s visibility and reputation. But responding to every review takes time.

KUKUI’s AI Review Responder solves that problem by helping you:

Respond quickly to every review
Maintain a consistent, professional tone
Improve customer perception
Boost your ranking in local search
Build trust with new customers browsing online

More reviews + faster responses = higher visibility and more cars.

Follow-Up Module: Increase retention and repeat business

Your existing customers are your most valuable asset. But many shops lose touch with them.

KUKUI’s Follow-Up Module helps you:

Send reminders for mileage-based or time-based services
Follow up after repairs
Share thank-you messages
Re-engage customers who haven’t visited in a while

It’s one of the easiest ways to increase repeat visits without spending more on new customer acquisition.

4. Mix Acquisition and Retention: The Two Sides of a Winning Strategy

A successful marketing plan does two things:

Brings in new customers
Keeps existing customers coming back

Here’s how your major tools fit into each side:

Acquisition

Local SEO
High-quality website
Automatic llms.txt
Live Scheduler
QR codes
Google reviews

These tools help people find you, trust you, and book appointments.

Retention

Text marketing
Follow-Up Module
Post-service messages
Review responses
Seasonal promotions
Educational content

These tools keep your shop top-of-mind and build long-term loyalty.

When you combine both sides, your shop grows predictably and consistently.

5. Build Your 12-Month Marketing Roadmap for 2026

Here’s a simple structure you can adopt or customize.

Quarter 1

Refresh website content
Confirm your Google Business Profile details
Activate Automatic llms.txt
Launch a QR-based opt-in campaign for text marketing
Promote tax-season maintenance packages

Quarter 2

Send spring maintenance reminders via text
Gather new reviews and use AI Review Responder
Promote AC, cooling and pre-summer packages
Host a small community event or car-care clinic

Quarter 3

Back-to-school safety checks
Use text marketing for late-summer tune-ups
Increase review requests, especially before holidays
Create QR-driven promotions inside the shop

Quarter 4

Holiday travel safety inspections
Gift card promotions
Follow-up reminders for winterization
Re-engage customers who haven’t visited this year
Prepare your 2027 marketing plan using this year’s data

This structure keeps your marketing consistent without being overwhelming.

6. Final Thoughts: Your 2026 Marketing Plan Doesn’t Have To Be Complicated

Modern marketing tools make it easier than ever to run a smooth, profitable shop without spending hours on advertising or social media.

A successful plan in 2026 is built around:

A strong online presence
Easy ways for customers to book
Regular communication
Consistent review generation
Smart automation
Retention-focused messaging
Tools that work in the background

Start with one or two improvements and build from there. Every step you take today sets your shop up for stronger, more reliable growth tomorrow.

If you put these pieces in place, you won’t just have a marketing plan—you’ll have a marketing machine that runs all year long.

How Online Appointment Scheduling Drives More Business for Auto Repair Shops

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:54:57 GMT

Should you have a live scheduling tool for your customers?

As the owner of an auto repair shop, you’re always looking for ways to make it easier for your customers to do business with you—and at the same time improve your efficiency and profitability. One of the most effective steps you can take is implementing online appointment scheduling . In today’s digital-first world, giving customers the ability to book service appointments 24/7 through your website isn’t just a convenience—it’s a competitive advantage.

Why customers expect online booking

Consider your typical customer: busy workday, perhaps driving later into the evening, maybe checking their phone after hours. They don’t always want to call during business hours, wait on hold, or leave a voicemail. Studies show that 75% of customers prefer to schedule appointments online rather than by phone .

FinancesOnline+1 Another stat: 40% of appointments are booked after business hours . Zippia+1 That means if your schedule only supports phone-in bookings during limited hours, you’re missing out on a sizable chunk of potential business.

In the auto repair industry, ease and convenience matter. A customer with a headlight out, or brakes making noise, or an upcoming state inspection—they want a convenient way to schedule the repair without hassle. An online booking option gives them that, and it signals that your shop is modern, customer-friendly, and open to their convenience.

The business benefits for your shop

But it’s not just about customer convenience—it’s about business growth and efficiency. Let’s look at what the data shows:

Local businesses that added online booking systems to their website reported revenue increases as high as 120% . SMB Guide+1
Businesses that implement online scheduling see an increase of 20-30% in appointment bookings . WifiTalents
Automated scheduling and reminders help reduce no-shows and cancellations: one source says no-shows reduced by up to 20-30% after adopting online scheduling tools. Gitnux+1

For an auto repair shop, more bookings means more work performing, more parts sold, more revenue from labour, and better utilisation of your bay space and technician time. Fewer no-shows means less idle time, fewer wasted staff slots, and more consistent workflow.

How it streamlines your operations

Online booking doesn’t just boost bookings—it also helps you run your shop more smoothly:

It reduces phone traffic and staff time spent answering calls, checking schedules, and going back and forth. For example, one survey found that 33% of small business owners say online scheduling helped reduce phone inquiries by at least 25%. WifiTalents
It provides real-time scheduling and visibility: customers select a time slot that works, you get it in your calendar, you reduce back-and-forth, you reduce double-booking and errors.
It integrates with your CRM (customer relationship management) and website so your customer data, appointment history, reminders, follow-ups are all in one place. That means better customer service and repeat business.

Why choosing the right tool matters

Since you’re an auto repair shop owner, you want a scheduling tool that fits your workflow: easy for customers, integrated with your website, connects to your CRM or customer database, syncs with calendar(s), and gives you flexibility.

That’s where KUKUI’s live scheduling tool comes in. You get a website-embedded live scheduling plus CRM integration—so your online appointment widget shows up on your website, customers can pick a slot, and the appointment gets logged in your CRM seamlessly. This means you’re not juggling spreadsheets or email threads—everything is captured, tracked, and actionable.

Practical steps for your shop

Embed a “Book Now” or “Schedule Your Service” button prominently on your website’s homepage and service pages.
Configure your scheduling tool to show available bays/technicians or types of service (brake repair, oil change, inspection, diagnostics) with the time slots you want to offer.
Enable after-hours bookings so customers can schedule when you’re closed, and the booking is queued for when you open.
Set up automated email/text confirmations and reminders so customers show up on time and you reduce no-shows.
Use your CRM data to follow up: for example send a reminder when it’s time for another service, or to upsell additional maintenance.
Monitor your metrics: track booking count increase, no-show reduction, revenue per booked slot, technician utilisation.

The bottom line

If you’re still relying primarily on phone-in scheduling or manual calendars, you’re leaving money on the table. Offering online booking makes it easier for your customers to engage, it drives more bookings and revenue, and it helps you streamline operations.

Ready to take your auto repair shop to the next level? Book a Demo to learn how our live scheduling tool can help you convert more online visitors into booked service appointments.

Make it easier for your customers, and easier for your business.

Modern Marketing Tools: QR Codes

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:13:55 GMT

Running a busy shop means making every marketing dollar count

Modern Marketing Tools: QR Codes

Running a busy shop means making sure every marketing dollar counts. That’s why more auto repair businesses are turning to QR codes—the small, square barcodes customers can scan with their phones to bridge the gap between offline promotions and online actions.

An Emerging Marketing Trend

QR codes aren’t new, but their popularity has surged in the past few years as customers have grown comfortable using their phone cameras to connect instantly. Restaurants, retail stores, and event venues now rely on them daily—and auto repair shops are quickly joining the movement. Adopting QR codes today helps your shop stay ahead of competitors and shows customers you’re keeping pace with modern marketing tools.

Why QR Codes Work

Instant Engagement
Customers simply open their camera and scan. In seconds they can schedule an appointment, view a service menu, or redeem a special offer—no typing or searching required.
Trackable Results
Each QR code can point to a unique webpage or coupon, so you’ll know exactly how many people scanned, providing you with valuable insight for deciding where to invest your next marketing dollar.

Smart Ways to Use QR Codes in Your Shop

Service Reminders: Print a code on maintenance cards that links directly to your online booking page.
Promotions & Coupons: Include a scannable code on flyers or mailers for seasonal discounts.
Customer Reviews: Make it easy for happy customers to leave a review by scanning a code at checkout.
Social Media Growth: Place codes on window decals or business cards that lead to your social channels.

Check out April Product Blog for more marketing tips: Text Marketing: One of the Most Valuable Tools in Your Shop

Getting Started Is Simple

With our new QR Code Generator, KUKUI clients can create, customize, and track codes directly inside the KUKUI Control Panel—no third-party tools required. In a few clicks, you’ll have a ready-to-print code that helps turn casual interest into booked appointments. Create your first QR code today!

Your Website Just Got Smarter: Introducing Automatic llms.txt

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:55:15 GMT

A behind-the-scenes upgrade that helps AI and search engines understand your shop’s website.

We’re always looking for ways to keep your shop’s website ahead of the curve. That’s why we’re excited to announce a new feature now available on all KUKUI websites : automatic llms.txt files.

This may sound technical, but it’s actually a big step forward in making your shop more visible online. Let’s break it down.

What Is llms.txt?

Think of llms.txt as a roadmap for AI tools and search engines. It’s a special file, automatically generated on your website, that gives these tools a clear outline of what’s on your site.

Every time you publish changes to your website, your llms.txt file is instantly updated with:

A complete list of all your live web pages (including blog posts, if you have them)
Each page’s meta title and meta description (the short summaries that show up in search results)
Automatic updates every time you add or edit a page

Why Does This Matter for Your Shop?

Search engines like Google and Bing already crawl websites to understand their content—but now, with the rise of AI assistants (like ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, or Google’s AI Overviews), there’s an even greater need for websites to provide structured, accurate information.

Here’s how llms.txt helps your shop:

Improved discoverability – AI tools and search engines can easily find all of your important pages, blogs, and services.
Faster updates – As soon as you publish a new page or edit existing content, it’s reflected in llms.txt—no delays.
More accurate results – By including meta titles and descriptions, AI assistants and search engines can display cleaner, more relevant information about your shop.
Zero extra work – This happens automatically. You don’t have to configure or maintain anything.

In other words, llms.txt makes sure your shop is presented correctly and consistently across today’s—and tomorrow’s—digital platforms.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

Online visibility is changing. It’s no longer just about ranking on Google—it’s about being accurately represented in all the places potential customers look for you, including AI-driven tools.

With automatic llms.txt files, KUKUI is making sure your shop’s website is prepared for this next phase of search and discovery. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to give you a modern, powerful online presence that works as hard as you do.

No Action Needed

The best part? This feature is already live on your website. Every time you (or KUKUI) publishes changes, your llms.txt file is refreshed—keeping your site up to date automatically.

Final Thought

Your website should be more than a digital business card—it should be a tool that constantly works to bring new customers through your doors. Features like llms.txt may be behind the scenes, but they make a real difference in how people (and AI) discover your business online.

And this is just one of the many ways KUKUI continues to innovate for auto repair shops like yours.

Why Google Reviews Are Crucial for Auto Repair Shops

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 17:31:43 GMT

Google reviews are more important for auto repair shops than ever, not just because customers rely on them, but because Google itself increasingly uses reviews to understand and rank businesses. Nearly three out of four consumers read reviews regularly, according to BrightLocal, making your shop’s reputation a key factor in winning trust. More significantly, Google’s algorithms, and its new AI Mode, lean heavily on review content to determine which shops stand out and what they’re known for. The result: strong, detailed reviews help you get found and chosen, by both customers and Google.

Reviews Directly Impact Your Shop’s Online Visibility

Google reviews don’t just shape perception—they influence whether your business is seen at all. Positive, recent reviews appear alongside your business in Google Search and Maps, signaling to both searchers and Google’s algorithms that your shop is reputable. Reviews contribute to your local search ranking by feeding into Google’s concept of “prominence.” Simply put, a strong review profile makes it easier for new customers to find and choose your shop.

Just as important as getting reviews is responding to them. When you reply, whether it’s a thank you or an offer to make things right, you show both customers and Google that you’re engaged and care about feedback. Learn why responding to Google reviews matters (and how to make it easier) here.

How Google Uses Reviews in Local Search Ranking

Google uses three primary factors for local search ranking: relevance, distance, and prominence.
Reviews play a role in at least two of these factors: relevance and prominence.

Relevance comes from the specific content in your reviews. When customers mention services or vehicle types, like “BMW repair” or “BMW inspection”, Google learns what your shop specializes in. This increases your chances of appearing for those exact searches.

As shown below, a search for “bmw inspection alpharetta ga” highlights reviews containing “BMW” and “inspection,” proving how Google surfaces businesses whose reviews match the search terms. That’s why it’s so valuable to encourage customers to mention the specific services and brands you want to be known for.

Prominence reflects how well-known and well-regarded your business is. Google measures this by the volume, quality, and sentiment of your reviews. A steady stream of positive feedback and a high average star rating signal to both Google and customers that your shop is reputable, established, and trusted in the community.

You can see this below: for the search “oil change near me,” businesses with a high volume of reviews and strong ratings are shown at the top, with review snippets highlighted that match the search keywords. This makes it clear how review count and relevant feedback can boost your visibility - and why encouraging satisfied customers to leave detailed reviews matters.

Recency: Why Fresh Reviews Matter

It’s also worth noting that review recency matters. Fresh reviews indicate your business is active and delivering great service now, not just in the past. Google’s algorithm favors businesses with a steady flow of recent reviews over those whose last review was many months (or years) ago. Recent reviews show you’re consistently satisfying customers, which makes Google more confident about sending new searchers your way.

What We're Seeing in Google's AI Mode for Local Searches

In our own recent testing of Google's new AI Mode, specifically when using location-specific, high-intent searches like "auto repair Boise," "BMW repair Boise," or "transmission repair Boise", we've noticed a major shift in how local businesses are presented. Rather than just displaying the standard map pack or organic listings, Google's AI Mode responds with a generated summary, based on multiple synthesized searches and datapoints. These results seem to pull in shops from Google Maps and, crucially, often (but not always) use a new feature called AI Place Summaries to describe the businesses in detail.

Example of AI Place Summary

For example, when we search "top bmw repair shops in portland" within Google's AI Mode, we see something like:

Most of these descriptions are generated by Google's AI Place Summaries . From what we can tell (and from what little Google has officially shared), these AI Place Summaries are powered by Google's Gemini model, which reads and synthesizes the content of Google Reviews and Maps data to generate a concise overview of each shop. For instance, attributes like "factory-trained technicians," "European vehicles," or praise for "knowledge and fair pricing" all come directly from what real customers have said in their reviews.

In another example, for a search like "bmw repair shops noise," the results are:

Again, the AI summary isn't just listing addresses and star ratings—it's picking up on review themes like honesty, affordability, technical expertise, and customer service, then surfacing those in the description.

The result is that when a potential customer searches for a specific service or specialty—say, "BMW mechanic" or "transmission shop"—the shops that are most talked about for those specialties in their reviews are much more likely to be highlighted in the AI summary. This puts even more importance on encouraging your customers to leave detailed, honest reviews that mention the specific services or vehicle brands you want to be known for.

How Your Auto Repair Shop Can Get More Google Reviews

As Google’s AI Mode and AI Place Summaries become more central to how customers find local auto repair shops, the specific words and themes in your reviews can directly impact whether your business is highlighted. But simply knowing that reviews are important isn’t enough; you need a plan to consistently get them. Below are some ways you get customers to leave honest, impactful Google reviews.

Simply Ask Face-to-Face

First, ask at the right time. The best moment is directly right after service, when the customer is still feeling the relief of having their vehicle back. Make it personal. Have your staff mention how much a review helps your shop, and even which technician worked on their vehicle, so the customer feels like they’re directly helping your team, not just the business.

To ensure there’s a clear call-to-action while you’re directly interacting with the customer, you can direct them to the process for submitting a review. It can be as simple as displaying a sign at your checkout counter or including a link on the paper or electronic invoice.

Leverage Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for building trust and starting conversations with shop customers. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X are great places to regularly post friendly reminders asking for reviews. Keep your requests simple and include step-by-step instructions so customers know exactly how to leave their feedback.

For example, share a screenshot of a recent Google review along with a caption inviting others to share their own experiences. This not only encourages happy customers to leave reviews but also shows potential new clients what they can expect from your shop.

Include Incentives

Research shows that incentives, even small ones, can increase participation rates up to 50% because people naturally value the chance to gain a reward for a simple action. According to a study published in the Journal of Marketing Research, customers are significantly more likely to complete a task like leaving a review when there’s a perceived benefit, even if the reward is modest.

Examples include entering reviewers into a drawing for a free oil change, a gas station gift card, or a branded gift basket. Promoting these incentives on your website, social media, at your counter, and in follow-up texts or emails helps remind customers that their feedback is valued and appreciated.

Just make sure it complies with Google’s guidelines (never require a positive review to enter).

Follow-Up Text and Email

Kukui’s Follow-up Text and Email solutions allows you to automatically send a friendly follow-up message to customers thanking them for their business and including a direct link to your Google review page. Making it easy for customers to click and review means they’re much more likely to do it.

KUKUI can help your shop turn satisfied customers into your biggest advocates and rise in Google’s local search results. We know that encouraging customers to submit reviews can feel like an added task—but KUKUI makes it easy with our Follow-Up Text and Email tools helps you stay engaged with customers after they leave the shop.

See how KUKUI can help you gain more reviews (as well as help you manage those reviews) – Schedule a Demo today .

References:

https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey

https://www.kukui.com/google-review-response-rates-auto-repair-study

https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091

https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/place-summaries

https://mapsplatform.google.com/gemini-placesapi-demo/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0148296309000198

https://kaitlinwoolley.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/woolleysharifjmr2021.pdf

KUKUI Promotes Lori Metzler to Senior Director of Client Success

Mon, 05 May 2025 23:26:38 GMT

Here at KUKUI , growth isn’t just something we talk about with our shop owners, but it’s something we live, nurture, and celebrate, especially when it starts from within.

That is why it brings us so much joy to announce the promotion of Lori Metzler to Senior Director of Client Success.

Lori’s name has become synonymous with care, dedication, and indelible industry knowledge. She joined KUKUI ten years ago as our very first fully remote employee, bringing over twenty years of automotive experience and a heart for service that would shape not only our client success team but the culture of our entire company.

From her early days as a Client Success Coordinator , where she helped shops grow and thrive, to leading onboarding, training, and sales operations, Lori has touched nearly every corner of KUKUI . She’s been a guiding hand to teammates, a trusted voice to shop owners, and a source of steady encouragement in an industry that never slows down.

“Lori’s unwavering commitment to our clients, extensive knowledge of the industry, and deep understanding of our operations make her the perfect fit for this role,” said Eric Harber, CEO at KUKUI . “Her promotion reflects our dedication to recognizing and celebrating top talent from within our organization.”

A Heart for Shops

Ask Lori what makes a successful client relationship, and she’ll tell you it starts with truly listening.

“Listening, understanding, and trust, those are the foundations. I need to understand my clients and what their goals are so when we meet, we’re focused on what really matters to them,” Lori says.

She’s never believed in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every shop is different, which means every meeting with Lori is too. Whether it’s helping shop owners hit revenue goals, getting the right cars in the bays, reviewing website performance, diving into marketing strategies, or simply being a safe space to vent, Lori shows up with one goal in mind: make sure the client knows they matter.

And they do. Ask Joe, Jeana, Dave, Colleen, Mike, or Suzanne. They’ll tell you Lori is the real deal.

A Vision for Client Success

As Senior Director of Client Success, Lori is focused on elevating the role of client success across the board. Her mission? To help every Client Success Coordinator not only become a product expert but also a trusted advisor as someone who understands the shop, the numbers, and the bigger picture.

“Our platform is powerful, no doubt. But what makes KUKUI truly special is our people. Our client success team is more than support. We’re storytellers. Data is just numbers until someone helps you understand what it all means and that’s what we do.”

She wants every coordinator to bring that same heart to the table. To love the industry. To lean into the stories behind the spreadsheets. And most importantly, to help shops succeed.

A Hug Worth Flying For

If you want to understand who Lori is at her core, there’s one story that sums it up best.

“About six months into my time at KUKUI , I was working with Joe Sevart at I-70 Auto Service. He was in a tough neighborhood and determined to grow his Euro car count. One day, I got a call from our CEO. Joe wanted me to come to Kansas City, not for a business meeting, but to give me a hug. He was hitting his goals and just wanted to say thank you. So my son and I flew out, had world-class BBQ, and yep, I got that hug. It’s one of the highlights of my career.”

Lori Metzler is more than just a team member. She’s a heart, a mentor, and a force of good in this industry. She sees the potential in every shop and every person she meets. And now, in her new role, she’ll keep doing what she does best, lifting others up.

Congratulations, Lori. We are so lucky to have you.

Text Marketing: One of the Most Valuable Tools in Your Shop

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:34:14 GMT

Your Customers are Just a Text Away

If you own or manage an auto repair shop, you know how important it is to stay connected with your customers. Whether it’s reminding them about routine maintenance, promoting a seasonal service special, or simply saying thanks after a visit, communication drives business. And when it comes to cutting through the noise, nothing beats text messaging.

With an open rate of nearly 98%, texts are one of the most effective ways to communicate with customers.

But here’s the key: to make text marketing work, you need a high-quality list of customers who’ve opted-in to hear from you. Without that, even the best promos won’t move the needle.

KUKUI makes it easy to grow and manage your opt-in list, while creating effective, personalized campaigns that drive results. Whether it’s through your website, social media, or in-shop promotions, KUKUI has the tools you need to build a loyal subscriber base and keep customers engaged.

Grow Your List, Drive in More Business

Growing your text marketing opt-in list doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple, yet powerful strategies, you can start collecting opt-ins and building a valuable customer database. Here are some proven methods that will help you grow your list quickly and effectively:

1. KUKUI Website Strategies

Your KUKUI website can be equipped with a few key features that encourage opt-ins without disrupting the customer experience.

Appointment Form : KUKUI adds a simple checkbox option to your appointment scheduler/form, making it seamless for customers to subscribe while booking their next service.
Website Pop-Up : A well-timed website pop-up can grab visitors’ attention and offer them a compelling reason to subscribe, encouraging your customers to opt-in right away without interrupting their browsing experience.
Subscribe Button : Add a "Subscribe" button on your KUKUI website that directs customers to opt-in. This simple, visible option makes it easy for visitors to join your list and start receiving exclusive offers and updates right away.
Dedicated Opt-In Page : All KUKUI customers using our text messaging services are provided a dedicated opt-in page for their website. This page can outline the benefits of receiving text message updates, making it easy for visitors to sign up and start getting exclusive deals and service reminders.

2. QR Codes

Utilizing QR codes can make it easy for customers to opt-in to text marketing. By placing QR codes on service receipts, in-store signage, or promotional materials, customers can scan the code with their phone and quickly sign up for exclusive deals, appointment reminders, or special offers.

3. Keywords

Customers can easily opt-in to your text marketing by sending a keyword to your shop’s dedicated phone numbers. Simply promote a keyword like "JOIN" or "SPECIALS" through QR codes, in-store signage, social media, or email campaigns, and customers can text it to sign up instantly.

KUKUI makes setting this up a breeze—allowing you to customize keywords and set up automated responses to ensure your customers are seamlessly added to your text marketing opt-in list. This quick and straightforward process helps you grow your list effortlessly while offering maximum convenience for your customers.

4. Exclusive Deals

Offering exclusive deals is a powerful way to encourage customers to opt-in to your text marketing. When you provide discounts or special offers that are only available to your text subscribers, you create an incentive for people to opt-in. For example, offering a 10% discount on their next service or a $15-off birthday special can motivate customers to subscribe. These kinds of offers make customers feel valued and provide them with immediate benefits, increasing the likelihood that they’ll sign up for your text marketing.

5. Instant Service Discounts

Encourage customers to opt-in to your text marketing by offering a sign-up bonus when finalizing their order. Offer a 10% discount on today’s service or a free gift in exchange for their subscription. This instant reward makes it easy for customers to see the value of opting in right then and there. Offering a tangible benefit—like a $10 discount—right before they pay can be more effective than a future-use coupon because it gives customers an immediate reason to sign up while they're already engaged with your business. To make it even easier, you can combine this strategy with your keywords and QR codes.

6. Convert Your Existing Followers

Your existing social media presence and email list can serve as powerful tools for boosting text marketing opt-ins. If customers are already engaging with your brand online, converting them to text marketing subscribers becomes much easier. Add a link to your social media bio pointing to your KUKUI website’s dedicated opt-in page, making it easy for followers to join. You can also offer a unique incentive to your existing email subscribers, such as exclusive text-only discounts, to encourage them to sign up for both communication channels and maximize engagement.

Set Expectations, Build Trust

If you want to keep your list strong and engaged, it’s important to set expectations. Tell your customers what kind of messages you’ll send (like appointment reminders, exclusive offers, or service alerts), how often, and how they can opt-out anytime. When customers know what to expect and see the value, they’ll stick around—and keep coming back to your shop.

Keep the Value Coming

While building your text marketing opt-in list is an important first step, keeping your subscribers engaged is essential for long-term success. Consider these strategies when texting your customers:

Content : Make sure your messages are relevant, helpful, and valuable to your customers
Communication : Text messages provide a great opportunity to open conversations. Encourage your customers to respond, and be prepared to answer promptly.
Cadence : Find the right balance—don’t overwhelm your customers, but keep your texts frequent enough to stay top of mind.

Unlock the Full Potential of Text Marketing with KUKUI

Text marketing isn’t just a way to reach your customers—it’s a powerful tool that can help you connect with them, keep them engaged, drive in more appointments, and ultimately boost your shop’s revenue.

If you need assistance getting started or optimizing your text marketing efforts, reach out to your Client Success Coordinator or KUKUI Support. We’re here to help you make the most of every customer interaction.

To see how KUKUI can help take your text marketing to the next level, schedule a demo today!

Strengthening Customer Relationships with KUKUI’s Follow Up Module

mary@kukui.com (Mary Wirth) — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:34:45 GMT

Why Follow-Ups Matter

As a shop owner, you know that keeping customers coming back is just as important as getting them in the door the first time. That’s where KUKUI’s Follow Up Module comes in. Instead of relying only on automated emails or texts, this tool helps your team make personal, meaningful connections through direct phone calls. A simple follow-up can be the difference between a one-time visit and a lifelong customer.

Turning Follow-Ups into a Growth Strategy

Think of KUKUI’s Follow Up Module as your shop’s built-in customer retention system. It gives you a structured way to stay in touch with customers at key moments, whether that’s thanking them for their visit, reminding them about a recommended repair, or reaching out to those who haven’t been in for a while.

The Follow Up Module provides you with ready-to-use campaigns like Thank You, Recommended Services, and Lost Customer calls even Appointment Reminders to help keep your bays full, but the real power is in the flexibility. You can customize these campaigns to fit your shop’s needs. Choose when follow-ups happen, how long tasks stay on the list, and even create built-in scripts to make conversations easier for your team.

When done right, follow-ups strengthen customer relationships, boost revenue by bringing in more appointments and increase approvals for previously recommended or declined services. With KUKUI’s Follow Up Module, you can see results starting immediately!

Making Follow-Ups Part of Your Team’s Routine

The Follow Up Module helps your service advisors stay on top of follow-ups without feeling overwhelmed. Daily Tasks provide them with a clear list of customers to call, along with key details like service history, contact information, and the option to add a guided script to make the conversation smoother.

It’s more than just a reminder system, it’s a tool that helps your team have meaningful interactions with customers. Advisors can log notes, update call statuses, and track customer satisfaction. When calls are completed, the History section lets you review what’s working, spot trends, and refine your approach to make follow-ups even more effective.

Addressing Common Concerns

“My Service Advisor Doesn’t Like Making Calls.”

The idea of making follow-up calls might make some Service Advisors uncomfortable at first, but it’s helpful for them to remember these aren’t cold calls. They’re check-ins with customers who already trust your shop. A quick call can turn into an appointment on the schedule, a recommended service approval, or simply a stronger relationship with a repeat customer.

To make it easier:

Start with Thank You Calls—these are low-pressure and easy to do.
Add built-in call scripts (KUKUI can even provide you with these!) so advisors know exactly what to say.
Prioritize high-value customers first, like those who have spent over $500.
Set a small goal and assign Service Advisors calls for just 10 minutes a week. This way, it doesn’t feel like a huge task.

Once they see how effective these calls can be, they’ll gain confidence and be more open to expanding their outreach.

Expanding Your Follow-Up Strategy

Once follow-ups become part of your shop’s routine, you can take things a step further by targeting specific customer groups:

Recommended Services – The Easiest Wins

When customers decline a recommended repair, it’s often because of timing or cost, not because they don’t trust your advice. A quick follow-up to check in and remind them about the service can be all it takes to get them back in the shop. If needed, you can even offer a small incentive to encourage them to schedule the repair.

Lost Customers – Bring Them Back Before It’s Too Late

If a customer hasn’t been in for 6, 9, or 12+ months, chances are they’re either forgetting about your shop or trying out a competitor. A well-timed call with a friendly check-in, or even a special offer, can be the nudge they need to come back.

Service Interval & Oil Change Reminders

Regular maintenance is key to customer retention. Reminding customers when they’re due for an oil change keeps their vehicles running smoothly and gives you a chance to spot other needed services. More frequent visits mean more revenue and a stronger long-term relationship.

The Bottom Line

KUKUI’s Follow Up Module isn’t just another tool, it’s a proven strategy to help you retain customers, strengthen customer relationships, increase appointments, and grow your shop’s revenue. The key is consistency. Start small, make follow-ups a regular habit, and watch your customer relationships and your business thrive.

If you need help getting started or fine-tuning your follow-up strategy, reach out to your Client Success Coordinator or KUKUI Support. We’re here to help you make the most of every customer interaction!

To see how KUKUI’s Follow Up Module can transform your shop’s customer retention strategy, schedule a demo today!

Why Responding to Google Reviews Matters for Your Auto Repair Shop (And How to Make It Easier)

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:58:19 GMT

Online reviews play a crucial role in how customers choose an auto repair shop. A strong reputation on Google builds trust, attracts new customers, and even boosts your shop’s visibility in local search results. But responding to reviews is about more than just reputation—it’s a direct opportunity to engage with customers, show you care, and influence potential buyers.

Yet, many shops aren’t taking advantage of this simple but powerful tool. And the numbers prove it. At KUKUI, we see firsthand how shops that consistently engage with their Google Reviews improve their online presence and attract more business. However, many shop owners struggle to keep up with review responses due to time constraints or lack of an efficient process. That’s where automation and smart tools, like our AI Review Responder and Google Business Profile Management, can help.

The Problem: Auto Repair Shops Are Missing Out on Review Engagement

Despite the importance of online reputation, most auto repair shops aren’t responding to their Google Reviews.

In a firsthand study of 700 auto repair shops across 30 states , we found that:

45% of shops didn’t respond to a single one of their last 10 Google Reviews.
Only 13% of shops responded to all 10 of their most recent reviews.
Even among the most engaged shops, response rates were inconsistent.

This means that a huge number of shops are leaving customer interactions on the table , missing an opportunity to build trust, improve retention, and even boost their Local SEO rankings .

At KUKUI , we understand how valuable reviews are for auto repair shops. That’s why we built tools to help shops manage and respond to reviews efficiently, ensuring that no customer feedback goes unnoticed.

Why Responding to Reviews Matters

Ignoring reviews—especially negative ones—can hurt your reputation and discourage potential customers. But actively responding can do the opposite.

1. Reviews Impact Your Google Rankings (Local SEO)

Google has publicly stated that responding to reviews can improve your business’s visibility in local search.

In their official guide, "How to Improve Your Local Ranking on Google," Google states:

"Respond to reviews that users leave about your business. When you reply to reviews, it shows that you value your customers and their feedback. High-quality, positive reviews from your customers can improve your business visibility and increase the likelihood that a shopper will visit your location."

This means that actively engaging with reviews is not just about reputation—it’s an SEO strategy . Shops that consistently respond to reviews may rank higher in local search results, increasing visibility and driving more traffic.

2. Customers Are More Likely to Overlook Negative Reviews If You Respond

According to Yelp , 86% of customers are more likely to look past negative reviews if the business owner takes the time to respond and address concerns.

3. Customers Are More Likely to Choose Your Shop If You Engage With Reviews

A BrightLocal study found that 89% of consumers are more likely to use a business that responds to all reviews, compared to only 44% for businesses that ignore them entirely.

4. Responding to Reviews Encourages More Reviews

Yelp also found that 70% of customers are more likely to leave a review if they see that the business responds to existing reviews.

Bottom line: If you engage with your reviews, you improve Local SEO, attract more customers, and strengthen your reputation.

How Quickly Should You Respond?

Not only does responding matter, but timing is important too. BrightLocal found that:

38% of consumers expect a response within 2-3 days .
25% expect a response within a week.
Only 3% of consumers think it’s acceptable to take a month or longer.

The Challenge: Why Shops Struggle to Respond

With all the daily demands of running an auto repair shop, responding to reviews often gets pushed aside. Business owners don’t always have the time to craft thoughtful responses, and manually checking for new reviews across platforms can be tedious.

The Solution: Automating and Simplifying the Process

At KUKUI, we understand these challenges, which is why we’ve built tools to make managing and responding to reviews easier:

1. AI Review Responder

Our AI-powered response tool helps shops craft thoughtful, professional, responses to reviews in seconds. Instead of spending time figuring out what to say, shop owners can quickly approve or edit AI-generated responses before posting or set them up to be posted automatically.

2. Google Business Profile (GBP) Management

Our CRM integrates directly with your Google Business Profile, allowing you to manage and respond to reviews from the same platform where you track customer interactions and shop performance.

With these tools, auto repair shops can engage with customers efficiently, improve their online reputation, and boost their Local SEO—all without adding extra work to their day.

Bottom Line: Start Responding Today

If you’re not responding to your Google Reviews, you’re missing a major opportunity to strengthen customer relationships, improve your shop’s online reputation, and boost your Local SEO rankings.

We know that staying on top of reviews can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. KUKUI makes it easy with our AI Review Responder and Google Business Profile (GBP) Management tools, helping you stay engaged with customers without adding extra work to your day.

Don’t let unanswered reviews hold your shop back. See how KUKUI can simplify your review management— Schedule a Demo Today .

References:

"How to Improve Your Local Ranking on Google" - https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091
"Local Consumer Review Survey 2025" - https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/
"Yelp publishes an index of Compensated and Suspicious Activity Consumer Alerts recipients and releases survey findings on what makes reviews trustworthy" - https://blog.yelp.com/news/yelp-publishes-index-of-consumer-alerts-recipients-releases-survey-findings/

2024 Year in Review

goglesby@kukui.com (Gabby Oglesby) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:25:15 GMT

As we look back on 2024, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what was an incredible year of growth and innovation at KUKUI .

It has always been our priority to empower our clients with tools that simplify operations, improve customer engagement, and ultimately drive success. We delivered on that mission with some of the most impactful updates and features we’ve ever released.

2024 was all about helping you save time, connect with customers, and stay ahead in a competitive market. Whether it was automating review responses, optimizing Google Business Profile management, or revolutionizing appointment scheduling, every update we launched was designed with one goal in mind: empowering your business to thrive.

Let’s take a look at the highlights of 2024!

AI Review Responder

10DLC Compliance

Google Business Profile Management

2-Way Appointment Integrations

Live Scheduler

AI Review Responder

Save Time, Build Relationships

Keep You Compliant

Updates for 10DLC Policies

The telecommunications landscape continues to evolve, and staying compliant with the latest 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) policies was a priority for KUKUI. In 2024, we implemented critical updates to ensure that our platform met the latest standards, helping our clients send SMS communications securely and confidently. Compliance may not be glamorous, but it is essential—and we’re committed to keeping your business ahead of the curve.

Google Business Profile Management Enhancements

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is often the first impression customers have of your shop. This year, KUKUI introduced significant enhancements to our GBP management tool, making it easier for shop owners to update their profiles, post photos, share promotions, and keep their information accurate. The result? Improved search visibility and stronger local presence for your shop.

2-Way Appointment Integrations

In order to allow for real-time appointment scheduling between KUKUI and your shop management system, we proudly launched two-way appointment integrations with some of the industry’s leading shop management systems, including NapaTracs, ShopMonkey, and Protractor.

Live Scheduler

Revolutionizing Appointment Booking

Pushing forward in 2025

Off to a great start in 2025, this year we’ll be rolling out some game-changing features that will further empower you to streamline operations, boost online visibility, and enhance customer engagement. Some of these features are focused around multi-shop website capabilities, content and SEO, and more AI-powered tools.

We at KUKUI want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all our clients for trusting us to be part of your journey. Your feedback and partnership drive everything we do, and we’re excited to continue building solutions that help your shop thrive in 2025 and beyond.

Updated Policy on Removing Reviews From KUKUI Sites

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:12:26 GMT

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued an official ruling on consumer reviews.

As a result KUKUI will not remove any legitimate repair shop customer reviews from client websites. We will continue to address/remove SPAM or fraudulent reviews from client websites.

The FTC introduced a new rule that bans fake reviews and testimonials to protect consumers from being misled. This rule, called the " Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule ," targets deceptive practices like posting fake reviews, suppressing honest negative feedback, and manipulating reviews to present a false image of a product or service.

Key points of the rule include:

Prohibitions : Businesses cannot post fake reviews or testimonials, pay for positive reviews without disclosure, or misrepresent the opinions of real customers.
Liabilities: Companies, advertising agencies, and influencers can be held accountable if they engage in these practices. Penalties include fines for violations.
Scope: The rule applies to all forms of reviews and testimonials, including those on social media, websites, and in advertisements.

The rule, which went into effect on October 21, 2024, aims to create a fair marketplace by ensuring honest feedback is not drowned out by fake or manipulated reviews. This change is intended to help consumers make better decisions and reward businesses that operate ethically.

You can find the original notice from the FTC here:

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-rule-banning-fake-reviews-testimonials

Inside KUKUI's Live Scheduler: The Most Powerful Tool for Modern Auto Repair Shops

Heatherm@kukui.com (Heather Myers) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:21:14 GMT

Built by a company with over 13 years experience working WITH and FOR Aftermarket Auto Repair shops.

Since its release in June 2024, KUKUI's Live Scheduler has rapidly evolved, with continuous enhancements inspired by feedback from our beta clients, early adopters, and repair shops nationwide. Our Product team has been hard at work, not only responding to valuable input but also identifying top features across scheduling platforms to keep the Live Scheduler on the cutting edge. Leveraging 13+ years of expertise in the auto repair industry, we’ve developed a tool designed to meet the unique needs of diverse shop setups. This post clears up some of the misconceptions surrounding our latest features and highlights the benefits Live Scheduler brings to your business.

They are not experts on scheduling so their support will be less helpful. Other products have teams that are experts on scheduling and makes sure your scheduling tool is always working correctly.

KUKUI's expertise extends far beyond just scheduling. While our calendar features reflect our ability to balance and manage appointments effectively, our Live Scheduler is the only one built with direct feedback from repair shops nationwide. Backed by 13 years of experience in the industry and a team with over 300 years of combined experience in the aftermarket automotive sector, we ensure that our scheduling tool is always optimized to meet the unique needs of your shop.

Setting up your scheduler is intuitive, but a member of our KUKUI Support team will walk you through it.

It is not a real appointment until the shop confirms the appointment. This is because the scheduling settings are not good enough. Other products have scheduler settings that are much more complex (based on service, customer type, drop-off vs waiter, etc).

Yes, other schedulers are more complex than they need to be. KUKUI's Live Scheduler was built to balance robust configuration options for shops with a user-friendly experience for customers. Shops have access to a range of settings to tailor the scheduler to their needs without overwhelming customers or causing high abandonment rates. Appointment confirmation is also customizable—shops can choose automatic confirmation or manual review to align with their workflow. Plus, integrating Live Scheduler with our full suite of marketing tools means customers benefit from follow-ups, reminders, and other retention campaigns, ensuring a seamless and connected experience.

Other schedulers collect better info with follow up questions and customers can add a photo or video.

After gathering feedback from our shops and analyzing reasons for appointment abandonment, as well as reviewing other non-automotive scheduling applications, we designed our scheduler using the KISS principle. This approach ensures a seamless user experience with minimal barriers, boosting appointment completion rates and reducing abandonment. That said, we’re always evolving. In fact, just this week, we released the ability for customers to upload images, videos, and audio to their appointments, enhancing the experience further.

With other schedulers, customers can add appointments to their own calendar to increase show rate.

Every customer receives an email and/or text notification with their appointment details and confirmation, which includes an .ics file that enables them to easily add the appointment to their preferred calendar. Additionally, our marketing features provide automated appointment reminders, also with calendar integration options, as well as post-appointment follow-ups to keep customers engaged and increase show rates.

Our scheduler does not smoothly recommend declined services while scheduling.

We absolutely agree with the importance of highlighting declined services during scheduling. That’s why we recently introduced a new feature that allows logged-in customers to view and add their previously declined services, not only through My Garage but also directly within the appointment booking flow. This enhancement makes it easier for customers to address outstanding service needs, creating additional revenue opportunities for your shop.

Our platform makes you login and this kills conversion rate. This results in not being able to recognize if it's a new customer or current customer and shows new customers an error.

KUKUI's Live Scheduler is designed to support both customer retention and a seamless appointment experience. With the My Garage feature, customers have a single location to view their service history, track recommended or declined services, and see upcoming appointments, in addition to booking new ones. For those who prefer a faster process, they can bypass logging in and go directly to scheduling. This flow is optimized for both conversions and aligns with typical online user experiences. Plus, one of our recent enhancements (August) detects if a guest is an existing customer and prompts them to log in, ensuring a smoother experience for everyone.

Our system does not collect partial bookings.

KUKUI’s Live Scheduler captures and notifies shops of abandoned appointments, providing all the collected data so shops can follow up and convert these into actual bookings. This feature was launched in September 2024. In October 2024, we introduced our Live Scheduler dashboard, which organizes this data in an easy-to-read format, making it simple for teams to follow up effectively and boost conversions.

Other schedulers offer trackable QR codes and marketing links to make offering online scheduling easy through all channels.

We provide a direct URL to the scheduler that can be used to generate QR codes, link from other websites, or be utilized across various marketing channels to increase visibility. However, KUKUI loves to make things easier for our shops, so we appreciate the suggestion and will certainly consider adding this feature in a future release as we continue to innovate and improve our offerings.

Our system does not have an exit popup to stop people from leaving the booking.

Our Live Scheduler incorporates this functionality within the abandoned appointments feature. If a customer exits before completing their booking, we prompt them for additional information. This data is included both in the notification email to the shop and on the dashboard for easy follow-up. Additionally, we analyze this information to continually improve the user interface and scheduling experience.

In general the appointment flow in our system isn't good... look at the long contact form it asks new customers for... you have to scroll forever.

Shops have the ability to configure the contact form to include only the fields they consider necessary, whether for their specific needs or state regulations. While this may result in some scrolling, it’s important to note that this form is only required for new customers. With KUKUI’s full platform and our shops experiencing an average retention rate of 70%+, customers won’t need to fill out this form again in the future, streamlining the process for returning clients.

Don't settle for tools that hold you back.

Experience the scheduler developed by industry leaders that keeps your shop's workflow smooth and your customers happy.

Ready to see in in action? Schedule your demo and see the difference.

How Shop Owners Like You Drove $3 Billion in Revenue with KUKUI

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:27:40 GMT

Let’s talk about what really matters,

THE RESULTS.

You want results that fill your bays, boost your bottom line, and build lasting trust in your community. In 2023 alone, shop owners just like you harnessed the power of KUKUI to achieve incredible milestones.

With KUKUI You Generated Over $3 Billion in Revenue in 2023

That’s right. In 2023, shop owners using the KUKUI platform drove more than $3 billion in revenue.

To put that into perspective, in the United States, General Repair Garages generated around $60 billion last year according to reports from the Auto Care Association ( Auto Care Association , 2025 Auto Care Factbook.
Out of that massive total, you— using KUKUI—contributed over 5% of the industry’s revenue.
That’s $3,069,245,980 , the sum total of countless hard-fought battles in your shops, where every invoice, every transaction, and every satisfied customer added up to success.

With KUKUI You Closed 5.6 Million Repair Orders

In 2023, you didn’t just repair cars—you transformed lives. Think about the hustle and grind it takes to close over 5.6 million repair orders . That’s 5,635,464 customers that got back on the road, driving better because you took care of them. Across the industry, millions of vehicles are serviced annually, but it was you—supported by KUKUI—who made sure those repair orders were completed better, faster, and more efficiently than ever before.

With KUKUI You Sent Nearly 600,000 Text Messages and Generated $23 Million in Revenue

In a world where mobile communication is king, you know how to keep your customers engaged. Shop owners like you sent nearly 600,000 text messages in 2023—597,783 to be exact . And those texts weren’t just casual conversations; they were strategic moves that generated over $23 million in revenue. That’s $23,295,289 directly attributed to text messages that drove customers back to your bays.

Best of all, every single message was sent with your customers' consent, following 10DLC guidelines and ensuring no spam – just well-timed, effective communication that works. The result? A steady stream of business that proves just how powerful a well-executed text message can be.

Text Messages Converted into Real Business

Texting isn’t just a convenience—it’s a conversion tool. Out of those 597,783 text messages sent, you saw an average response rate of 45% . That means nearly 270,000 of those texts led directly to customer engagement, appointments, and, ultimately, revenue. In an industry where customer communication is crucial, these texts weren’t just messages—they were opportunities.

With KUKUI You Sent Over 15 Million Emails and Converted 778,000 Customers

Email marketing remains one of the most effective tools in your digital toolbox. In 2023, shop owners like you sent over 15 million emails—15,460,998 —and turned 778,270 of those into paying customers . That’s nearly 800,000 people who chose your shop over the competition because you reached out with the right message at the right time. With an industry-average open rate of around 18%, your emails outperformed the competition, leading to real, measurable business growth.

These aren’t just numbers. They’re your numbers. They’re proof that when you’ve got the right platform backing you up, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

2024 isn't over yet! We’re already seeing bigger numbers for this year. Imagine what you and your shop can do with the right tools in your corner.

So, keep pushing, keep growing, and know that KUKUI is right there with you, every step of the way.

About KUKUI

KUKUI is the leading marketing and customer relationship solutions platform for the automotive aftermarket, providing a SaaS platform with website, lead generation, and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions that drive revenue growth and customer retention for automotive repair shops.

Repair shop owners can also take advantage of customer engagement and trust-building solutions like digital vehicle inspections as well as automated postcard, email, and text marketing campaigns.

TL;DL Servant Leadership

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 20:14:54 GMT

Podcast: Ratchet+Wrench Radio

Episode Title: The Impact of Servant Leadership

Karim Morsli, of Winkler Automotive, has a daily reminder posted in the shop that reads, “If serving is below you, leadership is beyond you.” Karim, who transitioned from a career in engineering and IT to owning an automotive repair shop, shares how the servant leadership style he adopted transformed his shop. He emphasizes that leading with empathy and understanding isn’t just about improving the shop’s environment; it’s about lifting the entire industry. By focusing on serving others, Karim believes that shop owners can retain skilled employees, avoid having to fix cars themselves, and ultimately create a positive, efficient workplace that benefits everyone.

Key Highlights

Quote 1: “Shop owners must stop underpaying and paying employees under the table.”

Whoa, what a truth bomb. It honestly blew my mind. Paying employees fairly and transparently is not just a moral obligation but a practical necessity for the long-term health and success of the automotive industry. It supports workers' financial security, ensures accurate industry data, attracts new talent, and a fair and stable industry for everyone involved.

Quote 2: "A selfless approach as a shop owner can change not just the shop, but the entire industry."

When you put your employees and customers first, you create a culture of support and collaboration. This doesn’t just boost morale and productivity in your own shop; it sets a new standard for the entire industry. Happy employees provide better service, leading to satisfied customers and a thriving business. Over time, this selfless mindset can inspire other shop owners to follow suit, revolutionizing how the industry operates from the ground up.

Quote 3: "Empathy and understanding are core to effective servant leadership."

Karim Morsli's definition of servant leadership focuses on a leadership philosophy where the primary goal of the leader is to serve others. There was a time in his first three years of ownership when he was left with only one of the original ownership’s technicians and accused of being too progressive. Fast forward to a decade later and his method of business is thriving, paving the way for standardizing institutional knowledge, leading with empathy, and focusing on the service of others.

Stay tuned for more insights and keep driving forward! ��✨

TL;DL [Too Long Didn't Listen] Introduction

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 20:30:22 GMT

Welcome to "TL;DL: Too Long Didn't Listen," a new mini blog series where I'll be recapping my favorite industry podcasts. As someone deeply passionate about the automotive industry and constantly on the lookout for fresh insights and ideas, I'm excited to share my thoughts and highlights with you.

About Mackenna

With 7 years of experience in the automotive industry, I've had the privilege of working closely with shop owners, understanding your challenges, and developing solutions that make a real difference. My journey with KUKUI has been incredibly fulfilling, allowing me to combine my love for the industry with my passion for marketing, geography, and innovation. When I'm not visiting shops or diving into the latest industry trends, you can find me tuning into the best automotive podcasts out there.

Format of TL;DL

In each post of the "TL;DL: Too Long Didn't Listen" series, I'll be recapping one of my favorite industry podcasts. I'll quote or elaborate on the standout parts that resonated with me, providing you with a concise and engaging summary. Whether you're looking to catch up on missed episodes or discover new podcasts to follow, TL;DL will keep you informed and entertained.

Stay Tuned

Join me on this journey as we explore the most insightful and thought-provoking conversations in the automotive world. Stay tuned for the first episode of TL;DL, coming soon!

Love & Aloha,

Mackenna

The Garage in Renton Celebrating the July Alaka`i Award

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 02:53:29 GMT

Congratulations to The Garage in Renton for earning the July Alakai Award in the Shop Success Drivers category!

This award recognizes automotive repair shops that have successfully utilized KUKUI's productivity tools, including the CRM, digital vehicle inspections, and marketing management tools, to drive their business to new heights.

Symbol of Success

In Hawaiian culture, the humuhumunukunukuapua'a symbolizes streamlined, efficient movements and adaptability. This spirit perfectly embodies The Garage in Renton ’s approach to optimizing their operations with KUKUI’s tools. Just as the reef triggerfish adapts to its environment with precision, The Garage in Renton has harnessed the power of KUKUI’s features to enhance their attention to detail and boost productivity.

A Strong Partnership

Our collaboration with The Garage in Renton has been a tremendous success. With their recent adoption of the Live Scheduler and the addition of new content to their site, they are continually optimizing their workflow and enhancing customer satisfaction. Their use of the Text Connect Platform and commitment to leveraging our tool's capabilities truly sets them apart as a leader in the industry.

Commitment to Excellence

The unwavering dedication of The Garage in Renton to harnessing KUKUI’s comprehensive suite of tools is truly commendable. Their focus on continuous improvement and excellence in service delivery not only enhances their operational efficiency but also fosters long-term customer loyalty. This commitment to leveraging technology for superior service sets a benchmark for others in the industry.

Please join us in congratulating The Garage in Renton on this well-deserved recognition. Their dedication to utilizing KUKUI’s tools to drive success is an inspiration to us all.

Introducing Live Scheduler: NOW AVAILABLE!

Heatherm@kukui.com (Heather Myers) — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 19:10:39 GMT

KUKUI’s New Game-Changing Add-On for Auto Repair Shops

Why Live Scheduler is Essential for Your Auto Repair Shop

The ability to book appointments online is not just a convenience—it's a necessity. Research shows that businesses offering online scheduling options see significant improvements in customer satisfaction and conversion rates. According to a study by Tech Report, 94% of customers prefer booking appointments online, and a study by GetApp shows businesses that offer this option can see up to a 30% increase in bookings.

For auto repair shops, the implications are clear: implementing an online scheduling system can lead to higher customer retention and increased revenue. In fact, Tech Report shows that companies that use appointment schedule software can potentially increase revenue anywhere from 30% to 45%.

How Live Scheduler Improves Conversion Rates

Live Scheduler is built to enhance your shop's efficiency and customer experience. Here's how it can benefit your business:

Increased Convenience: Customers can book appointments 24/7, without the need to call during business hours. This flexibility meets the expectations of today's tech-savvy consumers and reduces the chances of missed appointments.

Higher Conversion Rates: By providing an easy-to-use online booking system, you can convert more website visitors into paying customers.

Improved Customer Experience: An intuitive and efficient scheduling system shows customers that your shop values their time, enhancing their overall experience and loyalty.

Decreased no-shows and cancellations: Utilizing KUKUI’s Live Scheduler along with appointment reminders will reduce no-shows.

Developed with Your Needs in Mind

KUKUI has been dedicated to serving the auto repair industry 13 years. Throughout the development of Live Scheduler, we collaborated closely with various clients eager to be the first to test the product, gathering invaluable feedback to ensure the product meets the unique needs of auto repair shops.

From Chris C. at Cardinal Plaza Shell , “KUKUI’s new Live Scheduler makes online appointments a breeze! In the ever evolving world of convenience and simplicity, the Live Scheduler takes the pain out of scheduling auto service online and helps generate more appointments, quickly! To be able to view service history, prior recommendations AND schedule service all from one simple button on your website is awesome! Our customers have loved it and our employees love how easy it makes it all!”

Our Commitment to Your Success

KUKUI’s purpose is to provide solutions and guidance to small and medium-sized automotive repair businesses, helping them attract and retain customers, succeed in their businesses, and positively impact their local communities. Our mission is clear: advancing technologies that drive success for automotive aftermarket shops by providing an integrated marketing platform with comprehensive analytics. This enables our customers to understand and maximize their marketing dollars, leading their shops toward increased profit.

Join the Revolution

We invite you to integrate Live Scheduler into your shop's operations and experience the transformative benefits it brings. With Live Scheduler, you can stay ahead of the competition, enhance your customer service, and drive more business to your shop.

To learn more about Live Scheduler and how it can elevate your business, click the Get a Demo button below, or contact our support team for a personalized demo.

Together, let's drive the future of auto repair!

References:

GetApp: Customer Preferences for Online Booking
Tech Report: Online Appointment Scheduling Statistics in 2023

KUKUI: Empowering Auto Repair Shops for Over a Decade

KUKUI has a proud history of serving the auto repair industry, providing innovative solutions that help businesses thrive. Our continued commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is what drives us to create products like Live Scheduler, designed to meet the evolving needs of our clients and their customers.

Embrace the future of auto repair scheduling with Live Scheduler from KUKUI.

Partnering for Performance: How KUKUI and Tekmetric Drive Efficiency

Thu, 16 May 2024 15:00:01 GMT

The Power in Partners

In today’s automotive repair industry, technology is as essential as the physical tools in the workshop. However, facing these challenges alone is increasingly difficult. This is where the concept of a 'partner ecosystem' proves invaluable. More than just corporate jargon, it represents strategic alliances that drive business growth and adaptability.

We collaborate with leading organizations to provide auto repair shops with a comprehensive range of tools and technologies tailored to their unique needs. Our aim is to foster an inclusive and integrated ecosystem that not only supports but also propels every repair shop towards success.

These partnerships are pivotal for the future of innovation and growth in the automotive sector. Through our collaboration with Tekmetric, a leading shop management solution , KUKUI helps enhance operational efficiency and accelerates business growth, creating a network of adaptable solutions that deliver immediate results and pave the way for long-term success.

Consider the broader impact: McKinsey forecasts that nearly a third of global sales will be driven by partner ecosystems by 2025, while Accenture predicts these ecosystems could unlock $100 trillion in value over the next decade. These figures highlight the transformative potential of robust collaborative networks.

With partners like Tekmetric, we're reshaping the landscape of automotive repair, not just by matching marketing expertise with operational acumen, but by forging a comprehensive network of solutions that empower shops to work smarter and grow faster.

How KUKUI and Tekmetric Work Together

The Tekmetric and KUKUI integration offers a seamless two-way appointment integration that significantly boosts the functionality of each platform. Appointments made through Tekmetric's shop management system automatically synchronize with the KUKUI Control Panel, ensuring that any bookings or updates made in one system are immediately reflected in the other, eliminating the need for redundant data entry.

This integration operates like a well-oiled machine, allowing shop owners to focus more on customer service and efficient management rather than on manual coordination between different systems. The Tekmetric and KUKUI integration creates a nearly seamless ecosystem, simplifying operations, streamlining workflows, and improving customer satisfaction by maintaining consistency and connectivity across platforms.

To learn more about Tekmetric’s shop management solution, click here .

Celebrating Pals Ocala Auto Repair's Award for Community Service

Wed, 08 May 2024 21:25:49 GMT

Pals Ocala Auto Repair Recognized for Exceptional Community Involvement

We are thrilled to announce that Pals Ocala Auto Repair has been honored with the May Alakai Award. This prestigious recognition comes in light of their significant contributions to the community, partnering with many local organizations like The Boys and Girls Club of Marion County, Interfaith Emergency Services, The Humane Society of Marion County, and Ocala Business Leaders.

Pals Ocala has set a stellar example of how businesses can effectively support and uplift their communities. Their involvement goes beyond financial contributions, extending to active participation in community events, fundraisers, and more, truly making a difference in the lives of many. Their dedication not only enhances the community but also builds stronger, more meaningful connections within it.

By visiting the Pals Ocala Auto Repair website , you can view a detailed page dedicated to their partners. This page showcases each organization they support, highlighting their roles and the events they’ve participated in together. Moreover, Pals Ocala’s approach to community involvement is holistic. They believe in proactive engagement, where they not only contribute resources but also encourage their employees to volunteer, leading by example in corporate social responsibility. This approach not only enriches their team's work experience but also solidifies their reputation as a community pillar that genuinely cares about local growth and well-being.

Congratulations again to the team at Pals Ocala Auto Repair for their well-deserved award and their continuous efforts to make a positive impact. We encourage everyone to visit their partner page to see firsthand the breadth and depth of their community engagements and to get involved in or support these commendable initiatives. Their actions inspire others and demonstrate the powerful role that dedicated businesses can play in enriching their communities.

2023 NAPA Auto Care Vendor of the Year

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 20:52:21 GMT

Welcome to a momentous day in the automotive industry!

KUKUI has been honored as the 2023 Vendor of the Year by NAPA Auto Care, marking a significant milestone at the annual summit in Atlanta, Georgia.

This recognition is a testament to KUKUI's innovative approach and commitment to enhancing the auto repair sector through effective marketing, branded websites, data-driven customer relationship management, and powerful add-ons.

"We are honored to receive the NAPA Auto Care Vendor of the Year award for 2023," said Eric Harber, CEO of KUKUI. "This achievement underscores our unwavering dedication to empowering automotive repair businesses with the tools and technologies they need to thrive in today's competitive landscape."

KUKUI has been at the forefront of transforming auto repair shops, introducing advanced marketing techniques and CRM solutions that have redefined industry standards. This award is more than just a title; it symbolizes the journey of growth and excellence that KUKUI has embarked on the past 13 years..

“We’ve always wanted to be the best partner for NAPA Auto Care. This award is a validation of our collective efforts, and it inspires us to continue our path of innovation and success for auto care,” stated Connor Tracy, Director of Partner Development.

Lauren Briggs, Marketing & Sales Manager at NAPA Auto Care, highlighted the significance of the award: "The NAPA Auto Care Vendor of the Year recognizes a company going above and beyond for our NAPA Auto Care network. When we looked at what KUKUI has done over the last year to bring a solution for every level to our members, it was no question that they were deserving of our Vendor of the Year award. “We’re excited to see what KUKUI continues to do for our industry and our Auto Care network moving into 2024,” she added.

The event had 70 vendors talking about how to make things better for NAPA customers and planning for what’s next. KUKUI’s win here shows they’re a key player in making car repair shops more successful.

Celebrating 12 Years of Excellence: Mike Giblin, KUKUI's Cornerstone

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 18:23:09 GMT

Mahalo nui loa (Thank you very much) to Mike Giblin and his family for a remarkable 12 years of dedication and hard work at KUKUI.

As employee number five and now the Senior Director of Partner Development, Mike has been integral in intertwining KUKUI's mission with the automotive industry, always prioritizing service and integrity.

Mike's journey in the automotive world began in his youth, working in his family's shop and soaking up the nuances of the trade. His passion for mechanics and solving complex problems was evident early on, leading him through a path of continuous learning and achievement. Mike's profound understanding of the automotive sector, combined with his leadership at KUKUI, has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's success.

As an adrenaline enthusiast, Mike's adventures range from skydiving over 1100 times to cruising in his powerful 1967 Chevelle Super Sport. His life in Santa Cruz, surrounded by waves and the thrill of high-speed cars, reflects in his dynamic approach to life and work. At KUKUI, he particularly values the KPI Snapshot feature, mirroring his appreciation for insightful, impactful data.

Over his tenure, Mike has witnessed and contributed to the significant evolution of the automotive industry, driven by both technological innovation and a shift in service dynamics. His perspective on the industry's transformation is insightful, noting the rapid advancements and the need for continuous improvement and connection with customers.

Mike's story is not just about personal growth but also about the broader journey of the automotive aftermarket. His potential for the future in the industry is eagerly anticipated, promising continued impact and improvement in the trade.

We celebrate Mike Giblin not only for his past contributions but also for the ongoing influence he has at KUKUI and the automotive industry at large. Here's to his 12 years of making KUKUI, and the world, a better place through dedication, innovation, and a genuine love for the automotive world.

Doug Pilla Master Auto Care Wins The March Alakai Award!

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 17:44:43 GMT

Congratulations to Doug Pilla Master Auto Care for winning the March Alakai Award!

In the spirit of community involvement, Doug Pilla Master Auto Care stands out as an exemplary member of their local community. Just like the Nene (Hawaiian Goose) symbolizes the importance of being active and engaged within the community, Doug Pilla Master Auto Care has demonstrated their commitment through participation in community events, charitable donations, and support for local causes.

They do more than just show up at events now and then; helping others is a big part of what they believe in and how they run their business. They often take part in activities that help both people and the whole area, building a strong sense of caring and support in everything they do.

This past Christmas season, they organized a heartwarming Toys for Tots campaign and ran a successful canned food drive for a local homeless shelter and church. Their dedication to giving back and supporting their neighbors truly embodies the spirit of the Alakai Award.

Kudos to Doug Pilla Master Auto Care for their outstanding efforts in making a positive impact in their community! They’ve really made a difference, showing everyone how a business can help out and be a good neighbor. They’ve set a great example, proving that businesses can do well and do good at the same time.

KUKUI's AI Review Responder – Watch the Sneak Peek!

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 15:07:13 GMT

Aloha! Whether you’ve arrived here through our social media channels or just stumbled upon our page, we’re thrilled to have you!

Dive into KAI (KUKUI's AI Review Responder) through our latest sneak peek video.

Experience firsthand how our AI technology revolutionizes customer interactions, offering timely, accurate, and personalized responses to online reviews. This tool not only enhances your reputation management but also turns customer feedback into actionable insights, driving your business forward.

Witness the power in action and see how KUKUI's AI Review Responder can transform your approach to online reviews, making every customer feel heard and valued.

Don’t miss out on this game-changing tool! Watch our sneak peek video now and take the first step towards revolutionizing your auto repair shop’s online presence.

Watch the Power in Action! ➡️

Ready to save time and energy at your auto repair business?

Click the button below to schedule your free, no obligation demo and experience the full potential of KUKUI’s AI offerings.

Why More Auto Shops Are Switching to a 4-Day Week

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:37:06 GMT

Did you know the five-day workweek wasn’t always the norm?

It all started when Henry Ford decided to cut down workdays to better suit his employees’ lives back in the 1920s. Fast forward to today, and it looks like things are changing again. Some auto shops are now giving their techs a full weekend plus an extra day off by moving to a four-day workweek, or what we’re calling a flex schedule. Here’s how it works and why it’s catching on.

A New Frontier for Automotive Technicians

The concept is simple: technicians work four longer days instead of five, enjoying an extra day off each week. This can be a fixed day for each employee or can rotate, ensuring that the shop remains operational five days a week. For example, one tech might have Monday off while another takes Friday, rotating as necessary. This system ensures continuous operation and maintains customer service standards.

Trying a new four-day workweek might be tough at first. After all, changing up a routine always is. But it’s worth giving it a shot for about 90 days to see how it goes. This trial run is enough time to get everyone on board and figure out the best way to operate your automotive business for your team and your customers.

Balancing Hours without Sacrificing Service

A common concern is that technicians will lose hours and, consequently, income. However, by extending the workday slightly, technicians can still complete a full-time workload while benefiting from an extra day for personal activities. Potentially leading to increased job satisfaction and enhanced productivity during work hours—a win-win for both employees and employers. Technicians might even find themselves being more proactive in ordering parts and managing their time to ensure jobs are completed within the shorter week, motivated by the new perks.

Maintaining a Stellar Reputation

Consumer apprehension about reduced hours is natural. Customers might wonder if a reduced workweek means reduced availability for their vehicle repairs. However, with a rotating schedule, shops can maintain their standard operating hours. The key is clear communication. Informing customers about the consistent opening hours, despite the internal shift changes, assures them that service availability remains unchanged.

A Magnet for Talent

The five-day workweek, while a norm, is not a fixed rule. By offering a flex schedule or four-day workweek, automotive shops can differentiate themselves in a tight job market. This attractive scheduling model can draw a pool of talented technicians who prioritize work-life balance, thereby diversifying and enriching the talent within a shop. Here are a couple ideas on how to add a description to your job postings or social media posts:

'Work smarter, not longer! Join us for a four-day week and enjoy a three-day weekend, every week. Perfect for those who value their time off as much as their time at work.'
'We’re not just about fixing cars; we’re about fixing work-life balance. Our four-day workweek means you get to spend more time living life. Interested? Let’s chat!'

Steering Towards the Future

Change can be good, especially when it means happier techs and the same great service for customers, even in a space that is rooted in tradition. As the industry possibly adapts to contemporary work preferences, the flex schedule could very well become the new standard, proving that an industry known for its engines and wheels is equally capable of driving social innovation.

Book a free, no obligation demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

Revolutionizing Customer Engagement: AI for Shop Reviews

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:46:06 GMT

AI Review Responder

In the evolving culture of customer service, shop owners face unique challenges in maintaining a good reputation while managing day-to-day operations. With the rise of online reviews as a critical factor in consumer decision-making, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to respond to reviews is becoming a game-changer for enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The Importance of Responding to Reviews

Online reviews today have a major influence over consumer behavior, particularly in industries like auto repair. Potential customers often rely on reviews to gauge the quality of service, professionalism, and reliability of shops before making a decision. Prompt and personalized responses to reviews can significantly impact customer perceptions and influence their willingness to choose your shop over others.

Responding to reviews manually can be a time-consuming task. The volume of reviews, varying sentiments, and the need for timely responses pose significant challenges. Manual responses may also lack consistency in tone and messaging, potentially diluting the brand's image and customer experience.

The Role of AI in Review Response

AI-powered review response tools offer an innovative way to respond to customer reviews. By leveraging capabilities of AI, you can streamline the process of responding to reviews while delivering personalized and timely interactions with customers.

Key Benefits of Using AI in Review Responses

Efficiency and Time-Saving: AI automates the process of analyzing reviews and generating responses, freeing up valuable time to focus on core business operations.
Personalization at Scale: AI algorithms analyze the content and sentiment of reviews to generate tailored responses that resonate with individual customers, enhancing the perception of genuine care and attention to customer feedback.

In conclusion, embracing AI in responding to reviews presents a forward-thinking approach enhancing customer engagement, reputation management, and overall business success. By leveraging AI-driven solutions, you can establish your business as a leader in customer service excellence and build lasting relationships with your valued customers.

Are you ready to revolutionize your approach to customer engagement? Explore the possibilities of AI with KUKUI’s new AI Review Responder. Click the button below to schedule your demo.

Maximizing Profits: Data-Driven Marketing Strategies for Auto Repair Shops

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:22:31 GMT

If you are constantly looking for shop advantages to increase your profits and customer base, one of the most effective tools at your disposal is data-driven marketing. By leveraging customer data and communication preferences, your auto repair shop can create targeted campaigns that not only reach more potential customers but also resonate with them on a personal level. Here are some examples on how you can maximize your profits through data-driven marketing strategies, if you are looking to do so on your own.

Understanding Your Audience

The foundation of any successful marketing strategy is a deep understanding of your customer base. Collecting and analyzing data on your current customers can reveal valuable insights into who they are, what services they use most, and when they are most likely to visit your shop.

For example, if data shows a high number of oil changes happening at the end of the month, consider creating special promotions around this period. This not only incentivizes customers to maintain their vehicle’s health but also spreads out service appointments for smoother shop operations.

"Hi [Customer Name], your [Vehicle Model] is due for an oil change, and this month, we're offering [Discount] off all oil changes! Book your appointment now to take advantage of this special offer."

After service completion, follow up with a thank you message, a summary of the services performed, and a reminder of the next suggested maintenance date. This closes the loop on the current service and sets the stage for future interactions.

Segmentation and Targeting

Not all customers are the same, and data allows you to segment your audience based on various criteria, such as vehicle type, services used, and spending habits. Once segmented, you can tailor your marketing messages to address the distinct needs and preferences of each group.

Consider this: if data reveals that owners of Ford pickup trucks are frequently seeking tire services, this insight becomes a golden opportunity. Imagine launching a targeted campaign that directly addresses this specific need with a message like, "Navigate Rough Terrain With Confidence: Elevate Your Pickup's Performance with Our Premier Tire Services."

This approach doesn't just broadcast a generic service offering; it speaks to the heart of the customer's experience, offering a solution that feels both personalized and relevant. By aligning your marketing messages with the unique preferences and needs of each customer group, you're not just advertising; you're communicating, ensuring that every message you send out feels like it's crafted just for them.

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics transforms how your business can forecast and meet future customer needs by leveraging historical service data. This method not only elevates your customer service but also enhances the likelihood of repeat business through timely and personalized service reminders or promotions. A key element in this predictive strategy is estimating a vehicle's mileage to accurately predict when it will next require service. Platforms like KUKUI significantly enhance this estimation process.

KUKUI enables your auto repair shop to effectively track each vehicle's service history, including the mileage reported at every visit. This data is crucial for calculating the average mileage a vehicle accumulates, informing your predictive marketing strategies. Here's how the process adapts with the specific calculation methods you outlined:

Mileage Recording : Each customer visit is an opportunity to record the vehicle's current mileage, adding a valuable data point to the vehicle's service history.
Average Mileage Estimation : When your shop has at least two Repair Orders (ROs) with mileage data on file, KUKUI calculates the average mileage by dividing the total mileage covered by the number of intervals between these visits. This method yields a precise average mileage per time period (e.g., per month or year).
Alternative Estimation Method : If detailed mileage data is lacking, KUKUI defaults to an estimation of 33 miles per day. This estimate, based on general driving patterns, ensures that your predictive marketing initiatives remain effective, even without extensive historical mileage data.
Tailored Service Reminders and Promotions : Utilizing the calculated average mileage or the default daily mileage estimate allows your auto repair shop to predict when a vehicle is due for routine maintenance or specific services accurately. This capability enables you to send service reminders and promotions that are highly relevant to your customer's upcoming needs.

Digital Marketing Channels

Use digital channels to reach out to your customer base effectively. An email campaign with personalized service reminders or discounts based on past services can be very effective. Pair this with a strong social media strategy that shares tips on car maintenance, showcases happy customer testimonials, and provides exclusive offers to followers.

Email Campaign

Objective : To send personalized service reminders or discounts based on each customer's past services.

Sample Campaign Details :

Personalized Service Reminders : Utilizing the average mileage data or the estimated 33 miles per day, your system identifies customers due for their next oil change. An email is then crafted, addressing the customer by name and reminding them, "It's time for your next oil change, John. Based on your vehicle's average mileage, we recommend scheduling a service within the next two weeks."
Discount Offers Based on Past Services : For customers who had major services in the past, such as a timing belt replacement, offer a 10% discount on related follow-up services. The email might say, "Thank you for trusting us with your timing belt replacement last year, Emily. We’re offering you a 10% discount on your next coolant system service, a crucial follow-up to ensure your car runs smoothly."

Social Media Strategy

Objective : To maintain an active presence that educates, engages, and offers exclusive deals to your community.

Sample Campaign Details :

Educational Content : Share weekly car maintenance tips, such as checking tire pressure or changing engine oil, with easy-to-follow video tutorials or infographics. Example post: "Did you know? Checking your tire pressure regularly can improve your fuel efficiency. Here’s a quick guide on how to do it yourself!"
Customer Testimonials : Feature stories and quotes from satisfied customers, perhaps after a major service. Use before-and-after images or short interview clips. Example post: "Meet Sarah, whose family van got a new lease on life with a full engine tune-up at our shop. Swipe to see the transformation!"
Exclusive Social Offers : Create special offers for your social media followers, like a free tire rotation with any oil change booked through a link in your bio. Example post: "Exclusive for our followers: Book your oil change through the link in our bio and receive a FREE tire rotation. Offer valid until [date]."

Analytics and Data for Decision Making

Good Analytics Practices :

Email Campaign Metrics : Track open rates and conversion rates of your emails. High engagement with personalized reminders indicates the effectiveness of your targeting, while high conversion rates on discount offers reflect the compelling value perceived by customers.
Social Media Engagement : Monitor likes, shares, comments, and the growth rate of your followers. High engagement on educational content signifies the value customers find in your tips, while interaction on testimonial posts can measure trust and satisfaction among your client base.
Offer Redemption Rates : Track how many customers redeem your social media-exclusive offers. This data helps gauge the effectiveness of your offers and the engagement level of your online community.

Measuring Results

The beauty of data-driven marketing is that everything is measurable. Track the success of each campaign by monitoring key performance indicators like open rates for emails, redemption rates for promotions, and changes in service bookings. Over time, this data will inform you which strategies work best, allowing you to refine your approach and invest more in the most profitable tactics.

But the journey doesn't stop there. To truly harness the full potential of your data-driven marketing strategy, consider if your shop can answer these questions:

Do you know your shop's car count? Understanding the total number of vehicles serviced within a specific time frame gives you a clear snapshot of your shop's capacity utilization and customer base size. This metric is crucial for evaluating growth and identifying opportunities for increased efficiency or expansion.
Do you know your shop's phone call answer rate? This metric reveals how effectively your team manages inbound inquiries, a critical component of customer service that can significantly impact customer satisfaction and retention. A high answer rate suggests strong operational efficiency, while a lower rate may indicate missed opportunities for engagement.

Staying Ahead of Trends

Finally, keep your finger on the pulse of the automotive industry. Are electric vehicles becoming more common in your area? Perhaps it's time to market your shop’s expertise in servicing these vehicles. Data on industry trends can help you anticipate market shifts and position your shop as a leader in emerging areas.

Specifically, investing in a technician trained to fix electric vehicles (EVs) could be a smart move for your shop, especially if EVs are becoming more common in your area. Dealerships often have long wait times, sometimes over a week, for EV repairs. If your shop can do these repairs, you can offer a quicker option for EV owners. This means they could come to your shop instead of waiting at the dealer. Having an EV technician can help your shop stand out, attract more customers, and keep them happy by getting their vehicles fixed faster.

DIY Efficiency with KUKUI

For shops looking to boost their own efficiency, the task involves getting to grips with your customer data, dividing your customers into specific groups, creating tailored messages, and consistently checking how well your strategies are working. This method can be fulfilling but requires a good chunk of time and marketing knowledge.

Enter KUKUI: a simpler solution that combines everything from analyzing your customer data to reaching out with targeted marketing, all in one platform. For shops aiming to improve their marketing while saving precious time, KUKUI delivers all the tools you need to engage your customers better, keep them satisfied, and help you stand out in a competitive market.

To sum it up, embracing data-driven marketing offers auto repair shops a fantastic chance to succeed. By focusing on what your customers want, connecting with them on a personal level, and knowing your marketing numbers, you can significantly increase your earnings. Whether you're going it alone or looking for a streamlined process with KUKUI, the secret to success is using data to strengthen your relationship with your customers, ensuring your shop thrives in your community.

Book a free, no obligation demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

2023 - KUKUI's Year of Review

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 21:27:08 GMT

Reflecting on an impactful year at KUKUI in 2023, we took significant strides to enhance our services and streamline operations for our clients.

10DLC Text Registration in the Control Panel and Toll-Free Verification Automation

The beginning of 2023 marked the start of alerts relating to carrier regulations for 10DLC. To help our clients navigate seamlessly through complicated regulatory requirements, we implemented automation to aid in the process of getting our clients registered and ensuring compliance.

TireConnect Integration

In an effort to be sure our clients have insight to all of the customer data within their reach, we added TireConnect to our integrations! This integration provided our clients who use TireConnect with a solution that seamlessly connects our platform to capture leads and matched revenue data.

Google Business Profile Integration

Understanding the importance of online visibility, we introduced our Google Business Profile Integration. This strategic move empowers our clients to strengthen their online presence, attract more customers, and establish a reputable digital footprint within the competitive auto repair industry. Our clients can now manage their profile directly from our Control Panel with any changes instantly updated to their Google Business Profile.

Control Panel Navigation Menu Update

In response to user feedback and evolving industry needs, we revamped our Control Panel’s user interface by introducing a new navigation bar just before the holidays. This enhancement is designed to offer an intuitive and user-friendly experience, making it even more convenient for our clients to access and utilize our CRM tools.

Google Ads Monthly Report

We've added an advanced and in depth Google Ad report with real time data that can be used to yield actionable insights. This data allows our clients to collaborate with their Client Success Coordinator to refine campaigns in order to achieve your marketing goals.

My Garage

In 2023, KUKUI revolutionized automotive service management with My Garage, empowering customers with a comprehensive digital overview of their vehicle's history and upcoming needs. This innovation significantly enhanced the customer experience, bridging the gap between vehicle owners and their trusted service providers.

Shop-Ware Two-Way Calendar Appointment

KUKUI now effortlessly integrates with Shop-Ware, enabling smooth two-way calendar appointment scheduling. This new feature makes managing appointments between KUKUI and Shop-Ware straightforward and efficient, setting the stage for a more cohesive and productive 2024.

Enjoy the benefits of simpler operations, improved accuracy, and time-saving convenience, all part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing user experience and meeting the evolving needs of the automotive service industry.

In Conclusion

As we look back on the achievements of the past year, we remain committed to innovation and continuous improvement. These accomplishments highlight our dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions that empower our clients to thrive in their businesses. We look forward to another year of collaboration and success in 2024!

Chicane Motorsport: January's Alakai Award Winner for Innovative Marketing Strategies

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:57:37 GMT

We're thrilled to announce Chicane Motorsport as the winner of the January Alakai Award in the category of Innovative Marketing Strategies.

Why Chicane Motorsport Stands Out

Chicane Motorsport , the European vehicle specialist for the Kansas City Metro area, has an innovative approach to marketing, setting a new benchmark in the industry. By skillfully utilizing KUKUI's suite of marketing tools, they've not only increased their web traffic but also significantly improved conversion rates and. Their campaigns are a blend of creativity and analytics-driven strategies, perfectly embodying the spirit of innovation and effectiveness.

Symbolism of the I'o (Hawaiian Hawk)

In Hawaiian culture, the I'o is revered for its keen eyesight and strategic hunting skills. This majestic bird represents the essence of Chicane Motorsport's marketing efforts. Just like the I'o, Chicane Motorsport exhibits sharp vision in identifying market opportunities and employs well-strategized approaches to capture their target audience. Their success is a testament to the power of combining traditional marketing wisdom with modern tools and insights.

The Impact of Their Campaigns

Chicane Motorsport's marketing initiatives have not just led to quantitative gains but also enhanced their brand's qualitative value. Their innovative campaigns resonate with their audience, creating lasting impressions and building a loyal customer base. It's a perfect example of how innovative thinking, when paired with the right tools, can lead to extraordinary results.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate Chicane Motorsport's success, we look forward to seeing more of our clients push the boundaries of marketing excellence. The Alakai Award is not just a recognition but an inspiration for all our KUKUIans striving for greatness!

Congratulations again Chicane Motorsport!

Trends and Strategies in Automotive Digital Marketing for Independent Repair Shops

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 04:12:59 GMT

Your audience demands a strong online presence and an understanding of digital marketing.

Independent automotive repair shop owners stand to benefit significantly from leveraging online trends to attract more customers. The following blog explores the latest digital marketing strategies that can help give your shop the opportunity to be front and center in online searches, drawing in business and establishing you as a community staple for auto repair services.

The Data-Driven Revolution

Leveraging data analytics is key to understanding your customer's behavior. KUKUI's CRM & Data Analytics integrates data collected from your shop management system and customer interactions, providing insights that can inform and enhance marketing strategies. With a clear dashboard, your auto business can make data-backed decisions to fine-tune your marketing efforts, and accurately answer questions such as:

Do you know your shop's car count?
Do you know your shop's phone call answer rate?
What is your return on investment for Google Ads?
Does your website convert?

All of these questions and more can be answered with confidence from the KUKUI Control Panel.

Personalization at the Forefront

KUKUI’s platform enables personalization at scale, saving you time and money. Utilizing our CRM capabilities, your automotive repair shop can send personalized communications to potential customers, creating a tailored experience for each individual. This level of personalization builds a connection with your community, leading to improved conversion rates.

For example, by analyzing data to identify your most profitable vehicles, you can craft targeted personal email campaigns that focus on the customers who own these models, offering specialized services or promotions to drive repeat business and increase revenue.

Optimizing for Mobile

KUKUI's website solutions, tailored with a mobile-first design, ensure that every customer touchpoint is seamless, whether they're on a desktop or using a mobile device. Embracing this approach also aligns with the preferences of the modern customer, who increasingly opts for online mobile interactions. KUKUI's integrated tools can help your automotive repair shop have an optimized mobile website that is equipped with your audience's preferences.

Engagement Through Video

KUKUI's website features significantly simplify the integration of video content into your marketing strategy. With user-friendly options for embedding videos, your shop can effortlessly showcase virtual experiences and behind-the-scenes footage. This approach not only enhances the customer's journey but also plays a crucial role in building trust with your brand. By providing a glimpse into your shop's operations and sharing engaging visual content, you create an interactive experience that can positively influence decision-making and foster a stronger connection with your community.

The Rise of Social Influence

In today's digital marketing world, customer reviews are more important than ever. They're not just comments; they shape how people see your business. KUKUI knows this well. It's key to keep an eye on what people are saying about you online. Each review is like someone telling their friends about your service. If you manage these reviews well – answering them quickly and using them to improve – you can really help your business. It shows customers you care and listen. That's why handling reviews right is a big deal for any business looking to make a good impression online and stay ahead of the competitive curve.

Omnichannel Approach

KUKUI's integrated marketing solutions facilitate an omnichannel approach, allowing for a consistent and unified customer experience across all digital touchpoints. This creates a cohesive brand presence that can significantly boost customer engagement and retention. Giving them the same look and feel of your trusted shop online.

CRM: The Backbone of Digital Marketing

KUKUI's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is crucial for managing the relationships you've worked hard to earn with your customers. It keeps track of all your interactions across different channels, giving you insights to make your communication more personal and effective. This is especially important in the automotive repair industry, where the cost to bring in a new customer can be significant – anywhere from $40 to over $100. But once they're in the door, each visit could bring in between $150 to $500. With KUKUI's CRM, you can make sure each customer feels valued and understood, increasing the chances they'll come back, which is vital for keeping your costs down and your revenue up.

Content is King

KUKUI makes it easy and straightforward to create and share great content on your website. Whether it's helpful car maintenance tips, the latest in car tech, or the newest trends in the industry, our website editor helps you get your message out smoothly and efficiently. It's not just about giving out information; it's about building trust and a good relationship with your audience. When people see you're not only selling a service but also giving them valuable knowledge, they'll trust your expertise even more.

In Conclusion

As you navigate the automotive industry's period of digital transformation, KUKUI stands as a partner for your business aiming to maximize your online potential. With our comprehensive suite of tools designed specifically for the automotive aftermarket, KUKUI empowers automotive repair shops to embrace these trends and harness them for continued success. In experienced platforms like KUKUI, automotive businesses like yourself, are not just adapting to changes; you're driving them, delivering exceptional value and service in an era of new opportunities.

Book a free, no obligation demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

Local SEO Series Part 1: Intro to SEO

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:55:18 GMT

Introduction to SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Have you ever wondered why certain websites consistently rank at the top of Google's search results while others remain hidden? Beyond design or content, it's primarily due to the mastery of SEO - Search Engine Optimization. SEO ensures that websites don't just exist online but thrive and stand out.

In our journey through the world of SEO, we'll explore various facets of this digital marketing discipline, and one area that deserves special attention is Local SEO. Local SEO is the key to helping businesses reach their nearby customers effectively. It's the bridge that connects the virtual world to your local neighborhood, making your online presence more relevant and accessible to people in your community.

Join us as we demystify SEO, transitioning from its complex layers to a clear, actionable strategy. We aim for clarity, precision, and actionable insights. In this content series, we'll delve deep into Local SEO, revealing how it can boost your business's visibility within your immediate geographic area. Our Local SEO series will equip you with the knowledge and tools to thrive in the competitive landscape of local search. Let's embark on this journey together, unraveling the ins and outs of Local SEO and harnessing its power to drive success in your local market.

What is a Search Engine

A search engine is a software that finds, organizes, and displays information from the internet to users. It searches and indexes webpages, images, videos, and other files, then shows results based on user searches. It matches user queries with the most relevant online content. In the case of Google, they focus on understanding the intent behind a user's search. It is not just about matching keywords on a page, but instead understanding what information the user is trying to find and matching them with websites with the information they are looking for.

How Search Engines Work

When you conduct a Google search, have you ever stopped to think about the intricate processes behind the scenes? The journey from entering a query to receiving a list of relevant results involves several detailed steps, each critical to delivering accurate and timely information. These steps are:

Crawling

Search engines use automated software robots, often called "crawlers" or "spiders," to visit websites and gather data about them. This is no small task, as there are an estimated 201,898,446 active websites today.

Fun Fact : There will be approximately 850 new websites created by the time you have finished reading this article.

Indexing

After crawling, the search engine decides which pages to add to their index database. This index lets the search engine quickly find relevant content when a user submits a query.

Ranking

When you type a query into a search engine, it sifts through its index to find and rank the most relevant pages. Algorithms, which are complex rules, help determine this ranking based on factors like site quality, relevance to the query, and hundreds of other considerations.

Displaying Results

The final list of web pages, ranked by numerous algorithms, is presented to the user as the search engine results page (SERP).

Popular Search Engines

While there are many search engines available, some of the most well-known include:

Google: Arguably the most popular search engine globally, known for its speed and comprehensive results.
Bing : Developed by Microsoft, it's another widely-used search engine with unique algorithms and features.
Yahoo! Search : Older than Google, it was one of the original web search engines and still has a significant user base.
DuckDuckGo : Known for its emphasis on user privacy, it doesn't track user data or browsing history.

Search engines play a pivotal role. They provide users with quick access to information and serve as primary traffic sources for many websites.

What Is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization, commonly abbreviated as SEO, is the science and art of improving a website's visibility in search engine results. Ensuring your website stands out amid the increasing competition is crucial.

SEMRush's Definition:

"SEO is about fulfilling users’ search needs by creating relevant, high-quality content and providing the best possible user experience."

Source: https://www.semrush.com/blog/what-is-seo/

Wikipedia's Insight:

"Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the quality and quantity of website traffic to a website or a web page from search engines."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_optimization

Moz's Perspective:

"SEO is a set of practices designed to improve the appearance, positioning, and usefulness of multiple types of content in the organic search results."
Source: https://moz.com/learn/seo/what-is-seo

These varying perspectives converge on a singular truth: SEO is about optimizing a website to cater to search engines and, more importantly, to the users seeking information

SEO Key Terms

On-Page SEO : Measures taken within your website to improve search rankings, including content optimization and meta tags.

Off-Page SEO : Activities outside your website to enhance trustworthiness and authority, including building citations.

Technical SEO : Optimizing the backend structure of your site, including website speed, mobile optimization, and more.

Organic Results : Non-paid search results that appear based on relevance to user queries.

Local Results : Search results customized to a user's geographic location, often displayed in a "Local Pack."

Sitemap : A hierarchical file listing all website pages to help search engines understand site structure.

Citations: Mentions of a business's name, address, and phone number on other websites, crucial for local SEO.

Meta Title (Title Tag) : The main title of a webpage, plays a significant role in SEO and user experience.

Meta Description : A summary describing webpage content in search engine results, improving click-through rates.

Keywords : Specific terms or phrases users type into search engines for which you optimize your content.

Alt Tags (Alt Attributes/Alt Text) : Text descriptions added to images for accessibility and aiding image search SEO.

Robots Meta Tag : Code in a webpage's HTML instructing search engine crawlers on indexing and following links.

Organic vs. Local SEO

It's important to understand that Local SEO and Organic SEO are different. The ranking factors and algorithms that influence Local SEO results are entirely separate from those that influence Organic SEO results.

Local SEO

Local SEO aims to optimize a company's business profile/listing to appear prominently in these local search results, ensuring that businesses connect with nearby potential customers.

Organic SEO

Organic SEO aims to optimize a website's content, structure, and online presence to improve the website's rank in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords and phrases. This form of SEO has a broader scope and is not limited to a specific geographic area.

What’s Next

Now that we’ve covered the basics in our introduction, make sure to come back for Part 2 of KUKUI’s SEO blog series.

Sparks Auto & Tire: December's Alaka`i Award Winner

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 18:53:10 GMT

We're excited to shine the spotlight on Sparks Auto & Tire, our Alaka`i Award winner for December.

In the heart of our local communities, there are businesses that do more than provide services; they become part of the community's fabric, shaping its character and future. Sparks Tire and Auto is one such business, a name synonymous not just with automotive excellence but also with an unwavering commitment to community involvement.

A Tradition of Giving Back

At Sparks Tire and Auto, the philosophy of giving back is ingrained in their business model. It's a consistent, heartfelt effort to make a difference in people's lives every day. Their work extends beyond the garage, touching lives, lifting spirits, and strengthening the community fabric.

Recognition

Their dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Along with winning the KUKUI Alaka'i Award, they've been recognized as the Shop of the Year by Women in Auto Care and NAPA Auto Care Center. These awards underscore their excellence in service and their profound impact on the community and industry.

Join Us in Celebrating Their Achievements

We invite you to learn more about Sparks Tire and Auto's contributions to the community and the ways they're making a real difference. Discover their story, share in their achievements, and join us in celebrating a local business that truly understands the value of community here .

Mahalo for being the best parts of the KUKUI Ohana!

My Garage is LIVE

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:41:09 GMT

Fluctuating car counts and retaining loyal customers are tough challenges we face in the automotive world.

That's why we're excited to announce our latest feature release: KUKUI’s My Garage, our innovative solution designed to strengthen the bond between your shop and your valued customers. Imagine a scenario where your customers have their own virtual dashboard, a portal that offers them a comprehensive view of their vehicles' history and upcoming needs.

With My Garage , your customers can:

Review current upcoming service appointments.
Dive into their vehicle's service history.
Discover and act on those previously missed service recommendations.

It's like handing them the keys to confidently navigate their automotive journey, ensuring they always turn to your shop for their vehicle's needs. And the best part? My Garage seamlessly integrates with your KUKUI CRM and your existing website. Your customers can easily access My Garage through a button on your website.

So, let's drive customer loyalty together and keep those bays busy!

At KUKUI we are here to ignite profitability, streamline lead management, and foster customer engagement with our all-in-one solution for all your shop marketing needs. Fuel your growth with the auto shop marketing platform trusted by 2,000+ shops. If you have been waiting on taking the leap of faith with KUKUI, we feel confident there is no better time than now.

Book a free, no obligation demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

Navigating the Fall Slowdown: Proactive Tips for Your Auto Repair Shop

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 17:12:40 GMT

As the leaves change and the air gets crisper, many auto repair shops begin to notice a familiar trend: the fall slowdown.

With dropping temperatures, there often comes a drop in leads and car count. But just as you'd prepare your vehicle for the colder months, it's essential to gear up your business strategies to weather this seasonal lull.

While this dip is a common occurrence in the Fall and early Winter months, it doesn't mean your shop has to take a hit. There are proactive measures you can take to keep the momentum going and ensure your customers keep coming in.

Here are some strategies to consider:

1. Seasonal and Holiday Email Blasts:

The festive season is right around the corner. Why not tap into the holiday spirit? Sending out seasonal promotions, discounts, or even a simple holiday greeting can remind your customers of the services you offer. It's a gentle nudge to get their vehicles checked before their holiday travels.

2. Review and Revamp Your Campaigns:

Take this time to review your email and text campaigns. Ensure everything is functioning smoothly and reaching your intended audience. A well-timed reminder or promotion can make all the difference in bringing a customer through your doors.

3. Leverage Your Google Business Profile (GBP):

Did you know you can now add posts to your GBP directly from your Control Panel? It's a fantastic way to showcase current promotions, share shop updates, or highlight customer testimonials. Regular updates can boost your online visibility and engage potential customers.

4. Mine the Gold in Follow-Up:

Your Follow-Up Module is a treasure trove waiting to be explored. Reaching out to customers to schedule previously declined services can not only boost your business but also reinforce your commitment to their vehicle's health and safety. A simple call can remind them of the importance of regular maintenance, especially as the colder months approach.

In Conclusion:
While the Fall season might traditionally be a slower period for many auto repair shops, it doesn't mean you have to accept the slowdown. By being proactive, leveraging the tools at your disposal, and maintaining consistent communication with your customers, you can navigate this season with confidence. Remember, at KUKUI, we're here to support you every step of the way.

Let's make this Fall season a fruitful one!

Book a free, no obligation demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

Spotlight on Excellence: Quality Automotive Servicing Wins November Alakai Award

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 16:00:40 GMT

Join us in celebrating Quality Automotive Servicing's achievements and their well-deserved Alakai Award for Outstanding Customer Service.

At KUKUI, we're thrilled to shine a spotlight on Quality Automotive Servicing , the valued recipient of the November 2023 Alaka`i Award.

Their initiative, Full Circle Community Support , is a testament to their dedication beyond the garage doors. From mentoring the next generation of automotive professionals to addressing local housing challenges, their commitment to the community is unparalleled.

Mentoring Tomorrow's Leaders: Quality Automotive Servicing is not just shaping cars but shaping futures. Their robust apprentice/internship program provides an opportunity for young enthusiasts, especially women, in the automotive world.

A Home for Everyone: Before the housing challenge became a widespread concern in Truckee, Quality Automotive Servicing was already on the front lines, ensuring every local worker had a roof over their head.

Beyond Monetary Donations: Their innovative approach to supporting non-profits, by offering platforms and opportunities beyond just funds, is truly groundbreaking.

Bill and Sheila Greeno, the driving forces behind Quality Automotive Servicing, have been pillars in the community, actively championing various initiatives. Their dedication, combined with the team's relentless efforts, has made them more than just a service center – they're community heroes.

Our heartfelt congratulations and cheers to more milestones and continued excellence in the automotive community!

From Profile to Performance: Leveraging Google Business Profile with KUKUI

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 12:01:03 GMT

At KUKUI, we’ve made it easier than ever for our clients to keep your profile updated with our new Google Business Profile Management integration.

Having a Google Business Profile is an essential, free tool to improve visibility, build trust with customers, facilitate customer communication, and contribute to overall marketing efforts for your shop.

Keeping your profile up to date with posts, specials, and up to date business info helps to maintain accuracy, relevance, and trust with your customers.

With a solid profile comes solid numbers. Google has made it easy to view analytics and insights into how your customers are interacting with your business profile, which helps you make decisions about your marketing.

At KUKUI, we’ve made it easier than ever for our clients to keep your profile updated with our new Google Business Profile Management integration. Just as Google previously had a dashboard to update and make changes to profiles, KUKUI has added an easy to use dashboard directly in the Control Panel where essential profile updates can be made.

The KUKUI GBP Integration automatically imports a client’s profile information exactly as it is in Google once integrated. Clients then have access to do the following:

Update/change Business Info
Update/change hours and holiday hours
Create and edit posts, specials, and events with images
View profile performance analytics and insights

Lastly, we also capture and provide real-time analytics and insights about your profile directly from Google. These insights provide a high-level view of how customers find shops and what actions they take once on the profile. This data provides a snapshot of how the profile is performing.

For KUKUI clients with a verified Google Business Profile, you can head over to the KUKUI Control Panel and begin making updates and changes to your profile today!

Book a free, no obligation demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

Alakai Award: Luke's Auto - A Benchmark in Shop Success Drivers!

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:38:13 GMT

This month, we're thrilled to spotlight Luke's Auto as the recipient of the Alakai Award for Shop Success Drivers.

Luke's Auto has always been known for their dedication to quality service, this year they have reached another milestone by expanding their business with a brand-new location.

Their savvy use of KUKUI's productivity tools and strategic focus on SEO/Google ads has not only fueled their growth but also inspired many. Just as the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a adapts and moves with precision in its environment, Luke's Auto drives forward with similar efficiency and adaptability. Here's to celebrating their expansion and looking forward to even greater accomplishments in the years to come.

Huge congratulations to Luke's Auto for clinching this month's Alakai Award!

The Benefits of Responding to Reviews - YES Even the Positive Ones!

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 15:14:07 GMT

Is it worthwhile for automotive repair shops to respond to all reviews, including the positive ones? Absolutely, and here’s why.

While addressing negative reviews is a common practice, many businesses in the automotive sector undervalue the power of responding to positive feedback.

Benefits of Responding to Positive Reviews:

Customer Appreciation:

A simple "thank you" can go a long way in showing customers that you value their business and positive feedback. It’s a small gesture that can leave a lasting impression, fostering a sense of appreciation and mutual respect between the business and the customer.

Encourages Loyalty:

Acknowledging a positive review can make customers feel seen and valued, which can significantly increase the likelihood of them returning to your business and becoming loyal patrons.

Enhances Reputation:

Publicly thanking customers for positive reviews can enhance your business's reputation by showing that you are engaged, attentive to customer feedback, and appreciative of their support. It reflects a business’s commitment to customer satisfaction and service excellence.

SEO and Visibility:

Some platforms, like Google, consider the frequency and quality of your responses to reviews as a factor for ranking businesses in search results. Regularly interacting with customers through reviews can improve your business’s online visibility and drive more traffic to your site.

Social Proof:

Responding to positive reviews can encourage more of them. When people see that you're active and appreciative, they may be more inclined to leave their own positive feedback, contributing to the social proof that can attract more customers.

Additional Marketing:

A response can serve as a subtle opportunity to market your business further. For example, you could mention a new feature, service, or upcoming promotion, providing customers with additional information about what your business has to offer.

Sets a Standard :

Responding to all reviews, both positive and negative, sets a consistent standard for customer engagement. It demonstrates a balanced and fair approach to customer feedback, reinforcing the credibility and reliability of your business.

Conclusion

Responding to all reviews, especially positive ones, is a crucial aspect of maintaining a positive online presence and building lasting relationships with your customers. It’s not just about damage control; it’s about appreciating the good and ensuring customers feel heard and valued at every step of their journey with your automotive shop.

By embracing a proactive and appreciative approach to all reviews, your business can enhance its reputation, foster customer loyalty, and set a high standard for customer engagement in the digital landscape. So, the next time you receive a glowing review, don’t forget to acknowledge it. Your customers, and your business, will thank you for it.

Book a free, no obligation demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

KUKUI's Alaka'i Winner: 5th Gear Automotive!

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:12:17 GMT

Congrats to 5th Gear Automotive for winning KUKUI's September Alaka'i Award in Outstanding Customer Service!

They exemplify what it means to be a leader, showcasing dedication, commitment, and a track record of superb service for over three decades. Much like the revered Honu (Green Sea Turtle) in Hawaiian culture, 5th Gear Automotive embodies wisdom, endurance, and the spirit of going above and beyond for their customers. Celebrate 5th Gear Automotive with us as we champion businesses that lead by example and truly embody "living aloha."

Celebrating 5th Gear Automotive's Dedication to Outstanding Customer Service

At KUKUI, the term "Alaka'i" isn't just a word; it represents leadership, guidance, and dedication to service. This month, we turn our attention to 5th Gear Automotive, a business that embodies these values in the world of auto repair.

Here’s what sets 5th Gear Automotive apart:

Three Decades and Counting : These walls have seen grease, gears, smiles, and satisfied nods. Thirty years in the business means they're doing something right.
The Honest Wrench: They're clear about what needs doing, how much it'll cost, and how long it'll take. That's a level of transparency that builds trust and keeps customers coming back.
Guaranteed Work : When they say it's fixed, it's fixed. Their guarantees aren't just written on paper; they're engraved in their work ethic.

So, cheers to 5th Gear Automotive, a friend to every car and a symbol of integrity in the automotive world. Their commitment to exceptional customer service is more than a business strategy; it's a way of life. Feel free to drop by their shop in CO and see why they're our latest Alaka'i champion!

Riding the Waves of Leadership: Introducing Eric Harber, KUKUI's New CEO

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 18:48:45 GMT

We have some big news to share!

We’re excited to announce a big change in our leadership team as we welcome our new CEO, Eric Harber. We would also like to thank Lorie Sharp for her dedication and leadership over the last 3 years. We wish her nothing but success in her future endeavors.

Eric is an experienced and accomplished executive with a demonstrated track record of building and growing SaaS (Software as a Service) companies by driving transformational business initiatives through software product development, sales, marketing, and customer success.

Eric’s approach to leadership is a perfect fit for KUKUI. He leads by example, living out the core values we hold true every day. His commitment to his family, employees, and clients - our ohana of automotive shop owners - is unwavering. He believes in the power of unity, in the strength of a team, and the incredible potential that lies in each member of our close community.

As he takes on his new role, Eric is eager to lead KUKUI towards even greater success. He’s ready to tackle challenging projects that will not only benefit our company but also advance the entire automotive industry. His vision aligns with our mission of empowering businesses with cutting-edge solutions and creating meaningful customer relationships.

Eric embodies the spirit of our KUKUI Ohana - relentless, innovative, and full of aloha. As we embark on this new chapter, we are confident that under his leadership, KUKUI will continue to flourish and exceed expectations.

Mahalo for your continued support, and welcoming Eric with the aloha spirit!

Mahalo nui loa,
The KUKUI Ohana

KUKUI Appoints Eric Harber CEO

ricksage@kukui.com (Rick Sage) — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:16:11 GMT

KUKUI, the leading provider of integrated marketing automation and business analytics solutions for the automotive industry today announced that Eric Harber has been named the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to succeed Lorie Sharp. The Board of Directors would like to thank Lorie for her leadership over the last 3 years.

Harber is an experienced and accomplished executive with a demonstrated track record of building and growing companies by driving transformational business initiatives. Most recently, Eric served as an Operating Partner for Diversis Capital, a software company focused Private Equity firm, where he served as an adviser to CEOs, Founders, and Boards of Directors. Prior to Eric’s Private Equity Operating Partner experience, he served as CEO of Flowroute Inc, a SaaS software business, where he led transformational growth for the company. “Eric is a seasoned executive with experience in software product development, sales, marketing, and customer success and we are excited by the future potential of the company under his leadership” said Hunter Witherington, SSM Partners. The appointment of Harber demonstrates KUKUI’s Board of Directors’ commitment to build on the success of the company over the last couple of years and most importantly, to invest in new technologies to address the needs of KUKUI’s customers as rapid advancements in technology change the landscape of the automotive aftermarket industry. Harber brings over twenty-five years of experience leading and transforming global software companies through ever-changing competitive landscapes.

“As an experienced SaaS software leader, I am honored to join KUKUI as CEO and am excited to build on the company's leadership in the automotive aftermarket by providing repair shops with integrated and automated marketing, CRM, and analytics. I look forward to working with the KUKUI team to provide innovative products, serve our clients and help those clients achieve their goals.”

“The Board of Directors looks forward to our next stage of evolutionary growth as we continue to invest in our customers' success through technology, and Harber is the perfect CEO to lead us there,” said KUKUI Executive Chairman, Jim Tallman.

About KUKUI

KUKUI’s All-in-One Success Platform® provides auto repair shops with a branded, SEO-optimized website, robust CRM, PPC management, call tracking, online appointment setting, online payments, text communication, review management and intuitive analytics. Repair shop owners can also take advantage of customer engagement and trust-building solutions like digital vehicle inspections as well as automated postcard, email, and text marketing campaigns.

The Model Garage: Winner of the July Alaka'i Award for Innovative Marketing Strategies

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:38:34 GMT

The Model Garage in Berkley, California recently launched a Catalytic Converter Protection initiative in response to the rising trend of converter thefts.

Rising to Meet Contemporary Challenges

As the rates of catalytic converter thefts began to skyrocket, The Model Garage recognized an opportunity to better serve its customers by addressing this issue head-on. Owner Robert, always on the front lines of innovation, didn't just develop a preventative measure; he devised a complete Catalytic Converter Protection initiative, proving that The Model Garage isn't just reactive, but proactive in finding solutions to contemporary issues.

An Exceptional Marketing Campaign

But the real ingenuity lies in how Robert launched this initiative. The heart of the strategy was a comprehensive marketing campaign that focused on educating consumers and promoting the new service. The campaign encompassed a series of educational blog posts, an update on the company's website with distinctive content, and a well-curated email blast targeting existing and potential clients.

The content was not only informative, but it was also designed to empower customers to make informed decisions about their vehicle's security. The overarching theme emphasized the importance of proactivity, thereby reinforcing The Model Garage's commitment to customer-focused solutions.

Overwhelmingly Positive Response

The response from the clientele was nothing short of phenomenal. Thanks to the effective marketing campaign, the uptake of the Catalytic Converter Protection initiative saw a significant increase, a testament to the power of strategically addressing current issues while engaging and educating clients.

This innovation provided a dual benefit for customers. It not only enhanced vehicle security by deterring potential theft but also strengthened customer trust in The Model Garage's dedication to proactive service and solutions.

Celebrating Achievement

The Model Garage focused their marketing efforts on an important topic, and it paid off. It stands as a testament to their innovative spirit and dedication to ensuring customer satisfaction. Congratulations to The Model Garage as the June Alaka'i Award winner for Innovative Marketing Strategies!

The Power of Personalization: Segmentation in Text Marketing for Auto Repair Shops

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 19:00:00 GMT

Unlocking Customer Engagement Through Tailored Messaging

Segmenting your text marketing campaigns to target specific demographics or customer groups is not just a possibility, it's a best practice for automotive repair shop owners. By tailoring your messages to different groups within your customer base, you can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your campaigns.

Consider this: a regular customer who comes in for routine maintenance will likely respond to different messages than a first-time customer who's just getting to know your services. Similarly, a customer with a vintage car might have different needs and interests compared to one with a brand-new electric vehicle.

Segmentation allows you to tailor your messages to these different groups, delivering content that's more relevant, personalized, and impactful. You could send maintenance reminders based on individual service histories, offer promotions tied to specific vehicle types, or even target messages based on the customer's previous feedback or preferences.

And the best part? With KUKUI's CRM, segmentation is relatively straightforward.

Remember, the more relevant the message, the more likely your customers are to appreciate it and take action. So, instead of blasting out generic messages to all customers, take a moment to segment your audience and craft tailored content. It might take a little more time, but the ROI can be well worth it.

Of course, it's also important to continually monitor and adjust your segments based on the response you're getting. What works for one group might not work for another, and customer needs can change over time. But with a little trial and error, segmentation can become your powerhouse marketing tool.

Book a free, no obligation demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

Auto Repair Shop in Each U.S. State According to AI

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 18:55:20 GMT

Join us on a (virtual) road trip across the United States, where we asked AI generation to draw the most characteristic auto repair shop in every state. From the heartland's family-owned garages to the coastal states' high-tech hubs.. Which one is your favorite?!

Hover over the photo to see the name of the state!

How do you think they did? My personal favorites are Colorado and Vermont. A log cabin auto repair shop?! Count me in! For more content make sure to follow us on all our social accounts. Mahalo!

Where Will CRM Be In 5 Years?

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 16:00:06 GMT

Predicting the exact future of CRM in the automotive repair industry is challenging, but there are several trends and possibilities to consider for the next five years!

Increased Integration: CRM systems are likely to become more tightly integrated with other automotive software and tools. This could include seamless integration with diagnostic equipment, parts ordering systems, accounting software, and customer communication channels. The aim would be to provide a comprehensive and streamlined experience for repair shop management.
Enhanced Mobile Capabilities: As mobile technology continues to advance, CRM systems in the automotive repair industry will likely offer more robust mobile capabilities. This may include mobile-friendly interfaces, real-time notifications, remote access to customer and vehicle information, and the ability to perform tasks and manage operations from anywhere.
AI and Predictive Analytics: Artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics will play a more significant role in CRM systems. These technologies can help analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and provide insights into customer behavior, maintenance needs, and predictive maintenance recommendations. AI-powered chatbots may also be employed to enhance customer support and engagement.
Personalized Customer Experiences: CRM systems will continue to focus on delivering personalized experiences to customers. By leveraging data collected through CRM systems, automotive repair shops can tailor their marketing efforts, service recommendations, and communication to each customer's specific needs and preferences. This personalization can drive customer loyalty and satisfaction.
IoT Integration: The Internet of Things (IoT) will have a growing impact on CRM systems in the automotive repair industry. Connected vehicles and IoT-enabled devices can provide real-time data on vehicle health, diagnostics, and performance. CRM systems can leverage this data to proactively schedule maintenance, send automated service reminders, and provide customers with relevant insights and recommendations.
Advanced Reporting and Analytics: CRM systems will likely offer more advanced reporting and analytics capabilities to help automotive repair shops gain deeper insights into their operations, customer behavior, and performance metrics. Customizable dashboards, real-time reporting, and data visualization tools will enable shop owners and managers to make data-driven decisions and identify areas for improvement.
Enhanced Customer Communication Channels: CRM systems will continue to evolve in terms of customer communication channels. In addition to traditional methods such as phone and email, there may be increased integration with messaging apps, social media platforms, and video conferencing tools. This will enable repair shops to provide convenient and seamless communication options for customers.

While these trends provide a glimpse into the potential future of CRM in the automotive repair industry, it's important to remember that technology advancements and market dynamics can influence the direction of CRM systems over time. Flexibility and adaptability will be key for businesses to leverage CRM effectively in the ever-evolving automotive repair landscape.

Book a 30-minute free demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

Craig's Car Care Wins Alaka'i Award for Innovative Marketing Strategies: A Hawk-Eyed Approach to Automotive Repair Marketing

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 13:37:33 GMT

In the fast-paced and competitive world of automotive repair, standing out from the crowd requires innovative marketing strategies that capture the attention of customers.

Craig's Car Care , a leading automotive repair shop in north Texas, has set the bar high by winning KUKUI's very first Alaka'i Award for their exceptional marketing efforts. Leveraging KUKUI's powerful marketing tools and features, Craig's Car Care has successfully executed creative and effective campaigns that have driven tangible results, such as increased web traffic, higher conversion rates, and ultimately, more sales. Let's dive into how Craig's Car Care embraced the spirit of the Hawaiian Hawk, or i'o, to soar above the competition with their automotive repair website.

The Hawaiian Hawk Symbolism:

The i'o, or Hawaiian Hawk, embodies the spirit of innovative marketing strategies. In Hawaiian culture, the i'o is renowned for its sharp eyesight and strategic hunting skills. Just like the i'o, Craig's Car Care demonstrates the ability to identify and target the right customers with their marketing messages and campaigns. By adopting the hawk's keen vision and strategic approach, they have elevated their marketing efforts to new heights.

Harnessing KUKUI's Marketing Tools and Features:

Craig's Car Care recognized the importance of utilizing cutting-edge technology and marketing platforms to reach their target audience effectively. Leveraging KUKUI's robust marketing tools and features, they harnessed the power of data-driven insights and responsive website design to transform their online presence and drive measurable results.

Data-Driven Insights:

With KUKUI's analytics and reporting capabilities, Craig's Car Care gained valuable insights into their customers' behaviors, preferences, and trends. This data served as the foundation for crafting highly targeted marketing campaigns that resonated with their audience. By understanding their customers' needs and desires, Craig's Car Care was able to tailor their messages accordingly, resulting in higher conversion rates and increased customer engagement.

Responsive Website Design:

In the digital age, a seamless user experience across devices is crucial. Craig's Car Care recognized this and partnered with KUKUI to develop a responsive website design that ensured optimal performance and user-friendliness on all devices. This enhanced accessibility and convenience led to improved web traffic and customer conversion.

Being the first recipient of the Alaka'i Award for Innovative Marketing Strategies is a testament to their commitment to staying ahead of the curve in the automotive repair industry. By embracing the spirit of the Hawaiian Hawk, they have harnessed the power of KUKUI's marketing tools and features to develop and execute creative campaigns that drove measurable results. Through data-driven insights and a responsive website design Craig's Car Care has successfully targeted and engaged their audience, resulting in increased web traffic, higher conversion rates, and ultimately, more sales. Their achievement serves as an inspiration for other automotive repair shops looking to soar above the competition through innovative marketing strategies.

Revving Up Success: How to Track CRM ROI

Wed, 24 May 2023 17:00:00 GMT

Discover the road to profitability as an automotive repair shop owner by mastering the art of tracking CRM ROI.

When trying to determine if a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform is a viable financial option for your auto repair business, there are several components to consider. Here is a comprehensive list of recommendations to help you make an educated decision:

Identifying Business Objectives and Difficulties: To begin, it is important to outline your business goals and identify the challenges you face. These could include increasing customer satisfaction, boosting customer retention, simplifying communication, or advancing marketing tactics.
Exploring CRM Platforms: Investigate the many CRM platforms offered in the market. Search for ones specifically tailored to auto repair companies, offering customization choices to fit your specific needs. Read reviews, assess features, and consider the user-friendliness, scalability, and integration possibilities.
Weighing the Advantages: Examine the potential advantages that a CRM system could offer your auto repair business. These commonly include advanced customer communication and satisfaction, smoother appointment scheduling, more thorough customer history and preferences tracking, optimized marketing strategies, and improved efficiency in general.
Addressing the Learning Curve: Remember that most auto repair business owners are inexperienced when it comes to CRM systems. Gauge the effort and time needed to train yourself and your staff on the CRM use. Aim for platforms that provide friendly interfaces, educational resources, and customer support.
Seeking Insight from Industry Peers: Make connections with other auto repair business owners who have implemented CRM systems. Participate in industry conferences, join online forums or social media groups, and participate in conversations to gain knowledge from their personal experiences. Inquire about the struggles they faced and the benefits they accomplished.
Speaking with CRM Suppliers: Speak with CRM vendors to understand how their platforms can address your individual needs. Ask for examples of similar companies that have implemented their CRM systems, as well as demonstrations and solutions to any queries or issues.
Analyzing Long-term Scalability: Study the scalability of the CRM platform. As your auto repair business grows, you will require a system that can accommodate larger amounts of customer data, users, and features without considerable interruptions or expensive transitions.
Making an Educated Choice: After examining all of the aforementioned factors, measure the probable advantages, the estimated ROI, the learning curve, and the input from industry peers. Assess the affordability and extended value of the CRM platform. Finally, make an educated choice on whether investing in a CRM system is beneficial for your auto repair business.
Track and Assess the Outcomes: Even though no previous data exists, an ROI can be estimated by examining anticipated developments in various areas. Consider aspects such as improved customer retention, larger conversion rates, more effective marketing campaigns, diminished administrative responsibilities, and maximized resource allocation. Compare these projected values to the cost of the CRM platform.

For example, you could use a CRM platform to send direct mail postcards to clients to remind them of needed services. Consider tracking the following metrics:

Response rate: Observe the number of customers who reply to the direct mail effort. This could involve customers setting up appointments, contacting your company, or asking queries.
Conversion rate: Estimate the rate of customers who answer the direct mail campaign and ultimately become paying customers. This indicator reveals the potency of your marketing attempts.
Recurring business: Check whether customers who answered the direct mail campaign come back for additional services. This helps evaluate customer loyalty and the influence of the CRM system in developing customer trust.
Income generated: Figure out the revenue generated from customers who reacted to the direct mail campaign. Compare it to the expense of executing the CRM platform and managing the campaign. This will give you a direct estimation of the return on investment.
Client feedback: Accumulate feedback from customers who responded to the campaign. Utilize surveys, follow-up calls, or face-to-face conversations to recognize their experience, gratification, and any recommendations for development.

By measuring and analyzing these metrics, you can determine the effectiveness of utilizing a CRM system for targeted marketing campaigns, like the direct mail example mentioned. Positive results, such as increased customer response rates, higher conversion rates, improved customer retention, and a positive impact on revenue, contribute to the overall return on investment in a CRM platform.

Tip: Remember to compare these outcomes with your previous marketing efforts or the lack of monitoring to accurately assess the true impact of the CRM system. It is crucial to collect and analyze data over an extended period to account for seasonal variations and trends in customer behavior.

Regularly reviewing and analyzing these results will also help you fine-tune your marketing strategies, optimize your CRM utilization, and make informed decisions for future campaigns or enhancements to your auto repair business.

As a 2023 Google Premier Partner, KUKUI help shops attract, engage, and retain customers with ease. KUKUI offers a range of features designed to help shops attract new customers, increase revenue, and streamline their operations. From search engine optimization to appointment scheduling and customer communication tools, KUKUI's automotive repair shop websites are designed to meet the specific needs of the industry.

Book a 30-minute free demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

Unleash the Power of KUKUI's CRM System for Turbocharged Customer Insights

Tue, 16 May 2023 19:11:22 GMT

Get ready to revolutionize your automotive repair shop and position yourself as a leader in the industry.

Gain invaluable customer insights, automate routine tasks, uncover growth opportunities, nurture brand advocates, and stay ahead of the competition. Discover how KUKUI's CRM system revolutionizes the way you do business and positions you as an industry leader.

Turbocharge Your Customer Insights: KUKUI's CRM system goes beyond basic contact information. It helps you unlock a treasure trove of customer insights, such as their vehicle make and model, service history, and preferences. By understanding your customers on a deeper level, you can tailor your offerings, marketing messages, and service recommendations to meet their specific needs.

�� Tip: Leverage this data to create personalized customer experiences. Send targeted promotions for services that align with their vehicle's maintenance schedule or offer exclusive discounts on parts and accessories they may be interested in. This personal touch will drive customer loyalty and boost repeat business.

Harness the Power of Automation: KUKUI's CRM system empowers you to automate routine tasks and communications, saving you time and effort. Set up automated service reminders, appointment confirmations, and follow-up emails to keep your customers engaged and informed throughout their ownership journey.

�� Tip: Use automation to your advantage by incorporating personalized touches. Send personalized birthday greetings or anniversary messages to show your customers that you value their business. You can even automate post-service feedback surveys to gather valuable insights and address any concerns promptly.

Uncover Hidden Growth Opportunities: KUKUI's CRM system offers robust reporting and analytics tools that help you identify growth opportunities within your customer base. Track key metrics like customer acquisition rates, revenue per customer, and customer retention rates to gain a comprehensive view of your business performance.

�� Tip: Dig into your data to uncover trends and patterns. Identify your most profitable customer segments, popular service categories, or peak seasons of demand. Armed with this information, you can make data-driven decisions to optimize your marketing efforts, streamline operations, and capitalize on untapped market segments.

Foster Customer Advocacy: KUKUI's CRM system enables you to nurture customer relationships and transform satisfied customers into brand advocates. Utilize the system's features to collect customer feedback, testimonials, and reviews, and showcase them across your marketing channels.

�� Tip: Implement a referral program that rewards customers for referring new clients. Encourage satisfied customers to leave online reviews and ratings, and highlight these positive experiences on your website and social media platforms. Word-of-mouth referrals and positive reviews are powerful drivers of growth.

Stay Ahead of the Curve with Continuous Learning: KUKUI's CRM system evolves with industry advancements and customer expectations. Stay updated with the latest features, training resources, and best practices provided by KUKUI to maximize the system's potential and stay ahead of the competition.

�� Tip: Take advantage of KUKUI's educational materials, webinars, and user forums to deepen your knowledge and exchange insights with other automotive repair shop owners. By staying informed and continuously improving your CRM utilization, you'll be well-equipped to adapt to changing market dynamics and drive sustainable growth.

Incorporating these tips and leveraging KUKUI's CRM system will not only help you forecast and plan for future business growth but also foster strong customer relationships, drive customer loyalty, and position your automotive repair shop as a leader in the industry.

Book a 30-minute free demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

KUKUI Websites: FAQs To Build a Successful Automotive Repair Shop Website

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 15:41:33 GMT

In today's digital age, it's not enough to rely solely on word-of-mouth referrals and traditional advertising to attract new customers.

Your automotive repair shop's website can be a valuable tool to promote your business and reach a wider audience. In this blog post, we will answer some frequently asked questions about essential features to include on your website, how to attract customers, stand out from competitors, educate customers, track website traffic and measure success, and integrate with other marketing efforts.

As a 2023 Google Premier Partner, KUKUI helps shops attract, engage, and retain customers with ease. KUKUI offers a range of features designed to help shops attract new customers, increase revenue, and streamline their operations. From search engine optimization to appointment scheduling and customer communication tools, KUKUI's automotive repair shop websites are designed to meet the specific needs of the industry.

Book a 30-minute free demo with KUKUI and see how our websites and services can help your auto repair shop succeed in today's digital age!

Click the button below to get started...

SEO vs SEM

Heatherm@kukui.com (Heather Myers) — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 18:12:31 GMT

Facebook Status: It's Complicated

Lately we've been hearing that there is some confusion between SEO and SEM (also known as AdWords or Google Ads). With Google Ads management, KUKUI creates groups and keywords (positive as well as negative), which appear as ‘Sponsored’ in search results. This is also known as PPC or pay-per-click, which means there is a charge when an end user clicks. The ROI with Google Ads is determined by the spend on the ads against the repair orders that were closed by customers that came to the website because of ads.

With regards to SEO, Google’s organic rankings (those that come below sponsored ads) are determined using a proprietary algorithm developed by Google, which is almost constantly evolving. However, it is known that for Organic SEO, unique content is critical. When clients come onboard with KUKUI, we will migrate any unique content from a previous website, if available. If not, we will provide ‘stock’ or non-unique content. These pages are stock, meaning all KUKUI shops that do not have unique content may have these pages. They do not and are not meant to assist with rankings, in fact having them exposed will cause issues with rankings.

This is why any stock pages are “disallowed”, meaning not exposed for crawling and indexing by search engines in order to not cause damage to rankings. They are provided so that shops and their customers or prospects are able to see the relevant services and vehicles that a shop provides service for. The focus for these are User Experience and information, not SEO. When a concern exists about SEO, we recommend unique content, which can be purchased per page, or as a part of an upgrade to our Premium package. Shops are also welcome to provide their own content, which we will optimize prior to uploading to the site.

One key element in this page surrounds what keywords KUKUI uses in its websites. Forcing keywords into pages is a known black-hat SEO technique referred to as ‘keyword stuffing.’ Google has documented that it will penalize black hat SEO techniques, including keyword stuffing. As such, KUKUI recommends content be written according to Google’s recommendations, which is by humans for humans. Any content service provided by KUKUI is taken using this approach.

TireConnect and KUKUI Join Forces to Enhance the Automotive Industry

ricksage@kukui.com (Rick Sage) — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:24:22 GMT

[Las Vegas, NV] – TireConnect, a leading provider of tire and wheel quoting, sales and procurement solutions, and KUKUI, the leading provider of digital marketing solutions for the automotive industry, have announced their partnership to provide innovative technology to enhance the automotive industry.

The partnership aims to bring together TireConnect's expertise in tire management and KUKUI's experience in digital marketing to offer comprehensive solutions to tire retailers and automotive shops. The combined offering will help businesses to streamline operations, increase customer engagement and drive sales.

"We built our business on creating partnerships that enhance our offering and bring additional value to our dealers, which is why we are thrilled to partner with KUKUI to offer our customers a more comprehensive and effective solution for their businesses," said Chance Harrington, Director of Business Development, Sales and Marketing for TireConnect. "Our joint solution will bring together the best of both our worlds and provide real value to our customers."

"KUKUI is always looking for ways to provide the best possible experience for our clients and this partnership with Tire Connect will allow us to do just that," said Mike Giblin, Sr. Director of Partner Development for KUKUI. "By combining our expertise, we can offer a one-stop solution for businesses to manage their tires and marketing efforts seamlessly."

The partnership between TireConnect and KUKUI will provide a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to improve their tire & wheel procurement, sales and marketing efforts. The companies plan to roll out their joint offering in the coming months.

About TireConnect:

TireConnect is a leading provider of tire and wheel quoting, sales and procurement solutions for the automotive industry. Their mission is to provide their customers with innovative and effective solutions to help manage their tire operations.

About KUKUI:

KUKUI is a leading provider of digital marketing solutions for the automotive industry. Their goal is to help businesses increase customer engagement and drive sales through their innovative technology and marketing expertise.

For more information, please contact:

Mike Giblin, Sr. Director of Partner Development at (877) 695-6008 or

Chance Harrington, Director of Business Development, Sales and Marketing at (888) 792-7072 x3

KUKUI's Jimmy Lea to Join the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:20:35 GMT

Growth happens when your mission aligns with what lights you up.

Our Product Evangelist Jimmy Lea is taking a bold step forward in his career. No, he didn’t own KUKUI, but he’ll definitely be taking some KUKUI beads with him. Next month Jimmy will be joining The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence. Lea has been a part of the KUKUI Ohana since 2018, helping auto repair shop owners make the most of their marketing efforts proven by data driven analytics. With his extensive experience in the automotive industry, Lea is a perfect fit for The Institute.

Jimmy Lea was initially drawn to KUKUI due to our focus on providing auto repair shop owners with the tools they need to succeed (and let’s be honest, the KUKUI beads). With KUKUI, Jimmy saw an opportunity to help automotive business owners make their dreams come true, and his. He appreciated our commitment to creating a positive and open culture, as well as the dedication of KUKUI to its team members and shop owners. This combination of positive attributes made Jimmy feel at home and inspired him to become a part and stay a part of the KUKUI Ohana.

KUKUI is the choice for auto repair shop owners who want to understand and increase their success. The KUKUI All-in-One Success Platform® offers the features to help your business engage customers and build trust. Features include real-time business messaging, digital inspections, call tracking, online appointment setting, social media management, and online reputation management. Additionally, KUKUI's single analytics dashboard allows shop owners like you to easily measure the impact of their efforts with quantitative data like return on investment, customer retention rates, and areas in which they can improve their business. With KUKUI, you can gain invaluable insights and take your business to the next level.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Jimmy Lea is joining The Institute for Automotive Excellence, a KUKUI partner, as a new addition to their incredible lineup of instructors and coaches. With Jimmy's experience working with KUKUI, he brings a newfound level of enthusiasm and insight to the team.

Jimmy's focus at The Institute will be on building successful partnerships, customer service, and improving operations. He will provide resources, experience and knowledge that will help automotive shops become more efficient and successful.

Jimmy has been an asset to KUKUI and will continue to bring that same level of expertise and energy to The Institute. With his knowledge of the industry, he will be able to help businesses grow and reach their goals. We are excited to see how Jimmy Lea will contribute to The Institute and how his addition will help improve the industry.

The collaboration between KUKUI and The Institute for Automotive Excellence will continue to benefit the lives of auto repair shop owners for years to come. With Jimmy Lea’s leadership, both organizations are working together to provide business owners with the tools they need to maximize the success of their marketing efforts. The combination of KUKUI’s software technology and The Institute’s expertise in the automotive industry allows businesses to have access to the most up-to-date information and services available. By locking arms together we can weather this crazy storm of the ever-changing world of automotive repair.

Farewell to an era, but we cannot wait to see what the future holds!

Data is Gold!

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 19:19:17 GMT

"It's a gold rush!"

There is a rich gold mine to be found in the data of your shop. Do you know how and where to find this gold mine of data?!

Data is extremely important to any successful business. It helps you make informed decisions based on facts rather than a hunch. Studying your data insights and analytics will help you maintain a competitive advantage, mitigate risk, and provide a better customer experience at your shop.

Join Jimmy Lea and Jessica Kotter as we discuss how the KUKUI dashboard will deliver your gold rush.

A Recipe for Success

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 18:36:35 GMT

"No one starts at the top. You have to climb."

This Shop Owner Success webinar is for every shop owner who has put in the time and effort to make it to the top. It's for the shop owners that want to build their business and expand to multiple shops. This month we're featuring a shop that was struggling to pull in more than $100K annually.

The last I had spoken with AJ Nealey of Nealey Tire and Auto Service, he owned 3 locations. Now he owns 5 and has an aggressive growth plan to own 100 by 2035. His marketing plan was instrumental in his success. Even when his car count was down, it was paramount that he stuck to the plan.

Join Jimmy Lea, KUKUI's Rock Star host, and AJ Nealey, owner of Nealey Tire and Auto Service, as they discuss how AJ's marketing plan helped shape is success!

Increase Your ARO

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:08:49 GMT

Do you use your KUKUI Dashboard to track and monitor your ARO?

Whether you are a newbie or a veteran using the KUKUI Platform, you are guaranteed to learn new information about your shop and our software.

Join our resident Rock Star Host, Jimmy Lea, and DeAnna Townley, Client SUCCESS Manager, as they discuss the Average Repair Order and how you can use the KUKUI Dashboard to increase it!

Online Visibility

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:08:32 GMT

How do I know my website is working to bring me in the right customers and the right cars? How do I set up my website to attract new customers to the shop?

Join Jimmy Lea, Product Evangelist for KUKUI, and Nina Shields, Client Success Coordinator, as they discuss how to understand your online presence and make it impactful!

Close the Back Door!

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 17:31:33 GMT

"Are you losing customers faster than you can attract them?"

The back door of your shop is wide open and customers are leaving faster than you can fill the room! How can you measure this number and correct this behavior?

Join Jimmy Lea, Product Evangelist for KUKUI, and Judi Haglin, Co-Owner of Haglin Automotive as they discuss the ways you can shine a light on this problem and close the backdoor to your shop.

Join us for the discussion and find out!

$60K in a Day

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:12:24 GMT

"Most shops are thrilled if they generate $60K in a month!"

Are you afraid you have to recreate the wheel when it comes to operating your business? Let's take a step back and see what can be done to make your shop experience better. This was the approach taken by Todd in 1986 to improve his shop, business, culture, and customer experience.

Join Jimmy Lea, KUKUI's Host-with-the-Most, and Todd Hayes, COO of Adams Automotive #1 Automotive Service Center in the Country and Co-Founder of Now Auto Care. Now Auto Care's revenue for 2022 exceeded $30M! What are the tools, concepts, theories, methods, and culture that encourage such high Average Repair Orders and monthly bookings?

Join us for the discussion and find out!

2022 - KUKUI's Year of Review

Heatherm@kukui.com (Heather Myers) — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 21:45:12 GMT

A Review of KUKUI's 2022 Product Enhancements and Features

2022 was a very productive year for KUKUI' software development team. Much of our developments focused on continuing to ensure your digital marketing as well as customer and lead management are as efficient as possible.

As shops were also extremely busy, we want to take an opportunity to review the many features and enhancements KUKUI released in 2022, in case you missed them.

Knowledge is Power

We know you are all problem solvers and like to understand how things work. So this year, we released our Resource Center (the blue lightbulb icon) that houses important event and feature announcements and helpful guides and best practices. Now, you don’t have to wait for blogs like this one to see what all is available. And, there are both written and video guides that will give you the knowledge and power to perform various tasks across the KUKUI Control Panel.

When there is a new announcement that you haven’t read yet, there will be a red dot over the light bulb. Announcements can be reached from any page in the Control Panel. As you navigate to the different modules and pages, the Guides and Walk-throughs in the Resource Center are aligned to the page that you are on - this keeps the information manageable and relevant.

Next time you're on the KUKUI Control Panel take a look at the awesome resources available to you. I guarantee you will learn something new and helpful!

Take 5 Minutes Each Month for Peace of Mind

In the last half of 2022 we released our newest feature - the KPI Snapshot Report. Sometimes too much information can be counterproductive and overwhelming. The KPI Snapshot is designed to gather a monthly snapshot of your shop’s performance across KUKUI's core products and features so you can quickly identify areas of success and opportunity each month. Whether your focus is SEO, lead conversion, Google Ads or retention this is a great place to start. The KPI Snapshot Report includes the following sections:

Website Performance
Text Activity
Email Activity
Reviews Activity
Google & Microsoft Ads
Top Five Lead Sources
Top Fives (customers, ticket amounts, postal codes, vehicle makes & models)
KPI's (car count, revenue, ARO)

Navigate to the Reports Module > KPI Snapshot Report to check it out. Pro Tip: Enable the automated email reminder when each month's report is ready!

Looking for more detailed information? Check out our Resource Center from the KPI Snapshot pages (blue lightbulb on the right-hand side of the control panel) or watch our Deep Dive on Prioritizing Your Time

Engage with Your Best Customers

Shops are seeing long lead times so its more important than ever to focus your retention efforts on your best customers, the backbone of your business. KUKUI released a feature to help you do just that.

In May, 2022 we released the Customer Communication History window and have since seen great results and feedback. In just one click you are able to see things like: visit behavior, lifetime spend & recent outgoing marketing campaigns. Use this handy information to determine whether you want to send a text, email, postcard campaign or follow up call to that customer.

You can access this customer communication history on the following pages:

Text Connect > Text Message Approval
Retention > Email Approval
Follow Up Module
Customers > History tab
Postcards > Next Mailing

Improved User Experience

We want to make sure the KUKUI Control Panel Interface is easy to understand and navigate. So we've introduced a handful of enhancements based on user feedback that we hope improve the experience on the KUKUI Control Panel.

Dashboard

Last Month Shortcut Button
Ability to export Google Ads Table
Answer Rate dial now reflects activity within business hours

Customer Module

This should save you a lot of clicks! When searching within your customer database, you no longer need to adjust the date range. The KUKUI Customer Module now searches all available data by default.

Retention AKA Emails

In January 2022, we released a new and improved email builder to create one-time email blasts. Numbers don't lie - there has been a 25% increase of email blasts sent since we released the new tool.

Since its release, we have added several enhancements based on your feedback, but most namely in 2022, we added 3 additional categories, 100 new templates, and 50 blurbs of stock content. You are now able to choose from over 550 templates across 6 categories to use as they are or for inspiration to make it your own.

Within KUKUI it's so easy to create your own email blasts, target desired customers, select from a library of engaging templates and build on stock content to make it your own.

Find out how to Make the Most Of Your Marketing Emails.

6 Categories

583 Templates

134 Stock Blurbs

Text Marketing ROI

KUKUI’s Text Connect Platform serves many purposes for our clients and their customers. To name a few:

Ease of communication via Connect Chat
Decreased no-shows with automated appointment reminders
Improved web presence with Text Review campaigns
Branding opportunities
Increased Revenue with Text Marketing

Focusing on the last point, increased revenue, KUKUI introduced the Text Connect Dashboard to easily measure the ROI of text marketing campaigns. This feature provides insight to how your text marketing campaigns are performing and returning. These are the campaigns that are geared toward future visits (lost customer, declined services, one-time text blasts, etc).

Here you can see the revenue, response rate & conversion for each active marketing campaign along with the RO details of customers who visited as a result of the text. Use this feature to identify successes and opportunities within each campaign.

Using Metrics to Improve Your Text Marketing

Appointment Synchronization with Tekmetric

In December 2022, we released 2-way appointment synchronization for clients with Tekmetric.

What this means:

If you currently have Tekmetric, appointments will continue to be pulled from Tekmetric to the Calendar module in the KUKUI Control Panel. In addition, any appointments that you confirm in KUKUI's Leads module (e.g. came in through your website), OR you add to the KUKUI Control Panel Calendar will be pushed to Tekmetric, automatically.

More information is available in the Resource Center of the Control Panel - look for the blue lightbulb on the right-hand side when you're on the Calendar module.

What if I don't have Tekmetric?
We continue to evaluate integrations for opportunities for more synchronization. We are currently working on Protractor appointments synchronization and will announce when it is available.

Take 5 Minutes Each Month for Peace of Mind

This is the text area for this paragraph. To change it, simply click and start typing. Once you've added your content, you can customize its design by using different colors, fonts, font sizes and bullets. Just highlight the words you want to design and choose from the various options in the text editing bar. This is the text area for this paragraph. To change it, simply click and start typing. Once you've added your content, you can customize its design by using different colors, fonts, font sizes and bullets.

The KPI Snapshot Report includes the following sections:

Website Performance
Text Activity
Email Activity
Reviews Activity
Google & Microsoft Ads
Top Five Lead Sources
Top Fives (customers, ticket amounts, postal codes, vehicle makes & models)
KPI's (car count, revenue, ARO)

Navigate to the Reports Module > KPI Snapshot Report to check it out. Pro Tip: Enable the automated email reminder when each month's report is ready!

Take 5 Minutes Each Month for Peace of Mind

This is a paragraph. Writing in paragraphs lets visitors find what they are looking for quickly and easily.

Website Performance

Top 5's

Prioritize Your Time

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 16:31:54 GMT

"Work and life shouldn't just balance. They need to be in harmony."

It's 6pm already!?!
Where has all of my time gone?
When do I have time to work on the Shop?
When do I have time to spend with the Family?
When do I have time to work with my Team/Techs/Staff?

Join our resident Rock Star host Jimmy Lea, and Stephanie Cooley, KUKUI’s own VP of HR and Program Management and former CS Super Star, as we discuss Life! We'll show you the ways, means, and methods to be more efficient as a shop owner or manager.

Register today. You won't want to miss this demonstration of how to use the KUKUI Platform to bring harmony into your work/life relationship.

Time to Think About Profit and Loss

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 20:40:02 GMT

"Oh yeah! I have a peayanelle!"

Ok. Seriously. We're talking about a P&L. Profit and loss statement. Maybe you're more familiar with an income statement? Either way, this is big stuff. Just because you're not in the RED, doesn't mean everything is working the way it is supposed to.

We're going to break this down and put it in simple terms. If you're a shop owner who is a total newbie or just looking to brush up your financial skills, this is the webinar for you.

Join our resident Rock Star Host, Jimmy Lea, and Travis Troy, Owner of Honest Wrenches, as they discuss the profit and loss statement from a shop owner's perspective.

Webinar Transcript:

So this is super awesome. Thank you everybody for joining. We're gonna have a great conversation, especially when it comes to talking about those numbers, the numbers that are your business. And there's so many that feel like, oh, yeah.

The numbers the numbers are good. I'm sure they're good.

And and thank you to KUKUI for sponsoring this webinar. KUKUI helps with those numbers. We help with the marketing, and, we are the best of the best when it comes to software in the aftermarket, the automotive aftermarket. Our software is the best of the best to prove what marketing works and what doesn't. So we bring that together to bring to you a proving ground, a platform that allows you to see what's working and what's not. And so there's many shops, many shop owners that feel, oh, you know, my numbers, my p and l, it's good. As long as the numbers aren't red, well, then I'm doing just fine.

Oh my gosh. Well, yes and no. There's so much more that goes into that, and that's where it comes into understanding the profit and loss, the p and l of your business. So my name is Jimmy Lee.

I am Kukui. I'll be here to be the voice for you as we welcome our guest, mister Travis Troy of Honest Wrenches. Travis, thank you for being here this morning. How are you?

Not too bad. How are you, Jimmy?

Fabulous. Thank you very much. And by the way, I am in afternoon now. So I'm so rote in saying good morning that I'm in afternoon now. So I'll say good afternoon to you as well because, Travis, you are also afternoon. Right?

Yes. Yes. I am. I just just clicked twelve o five.

So Twelve o five.

Well, with that, Travis, I'm super excited to have this conversation about profit and loss, about shops and shop owners.

The slide deck is yours. I believe you have control.

Let's talk about what it is we can do to help shop owners understand their p and l so they know what's working and what's not.

Absolutely. So I think, you know, one of the biggest things that we gotta start off with is is understanding KPIs and benchmarks, what they should be and and why.

I hear all the time that, you know, a lot of people are always wondering what to track in their business. There's so many different, I guess, ideas and and benchmarks, and and what do you actually track. So little bit about myself. I am Travis Troy. I have, two shops in the Des Moines metro area with my business partner, Josh.

While attending college and working a full time job, at night as a diesel mechanic.

We graduated in twenty twelve and opened the shop full time, while still working our full time jobs, at night. And then in twenty fourteen, we both threw everything in, quit our full time jobs, and went, full in with honest wrenches.

Fast forward to twenty twenty two, we've got, twenty seven team members, and we'll do roughly four point three million in annual revenue between our two locations.

So as we get, get rolling in here, what is a KPI?

A lot of people always, you know, wanna know what what KPIs do you track? What truly is a KPI?

So a a KPI is I I guess, to to make it easy, it's it just enables the team the ability to make smarter business decisions as well as track their performance based on the key performance indicators that were actually set.

And then we talk a little bit about benchmarks.

A benchmark is a standard or a point of reference against which things can be compared to or assessed within your industry or company. So we have industry benchmarks, and then we also have benchmarks that we set with inside our organization.

So your benchmark in another person's shop might be slightly different than mine depending on what our goals and aspirations are of our actual organization.

So we've got a ton of different KPIs, and it's crazy to think as I was putting this together, the amount of KPIs that are out there in the industry.

And I know Kukui does an absolutely outstanding job with our dashboard that we get to use to be able to it does a lot of this math for us.

One thing that I always like to know is is how does it get to that math in case of for some reason, I didn't have that in front of me right away. So as you can see, all of the all of the different KPIs that are that are continuing to drop in, it can become extremely overwhelming.

So let's go into the meeting and and how to calculate some of the KPIs.

So some of them may seem basic to some but advanced to others. So we're just gonna roll through them. So average repair order, it's your total sales divided by your number of ROs.

Hours per RO, it's your total build hours divided by your number of repair orders.

And then effective labor rate is your total labor sales divided by your total billed hours. And, obviously, we've got our total repair orders and then our total build hours and our GP percentage. So that would be your profit divided by your sale times a hundred gets you your GP percentage.

Any questions so far, Jimmy?

Yes. In fact, here's a question.

And the question is about the average repair order. Do you include, the zero dollar invoices on your average repair order when you look at this?

In my organization, absolutely.

Every ticket is calculated within, everything that we do.

Now depending on your situation and depending on your organization, you may wanna back some of that out in order to be able to see, I guess, a a different number. But for our organization, we we throw everything in, whether it's a zero dollar ticket, a warranty ticket, a set of wiper blades they just dropped in for. All of that we throw in. Now, I've heard shops that do in our state, we don't have, state inspections. Okay? So, you know, states that have that, you may wanna back that out and be able to track that two different ways, in order to be able to get a slightly more realistic number because you're almost kinda running two businesses with inside one management system. Does that make sense?

Yeah. Yeah. So what would be the advantage or disadvantage of not including a zero dollar invoice? Maybe somebody just came and had their tires checked for air or, like you said, the windshield wipers.

Why would a shop not include zero dollar invoices?

Yeah. I mean, if it just depends on what you wanna look at.

If it's a ticket, it's a ticket in my opinion. Whether it's zero dollars or ten thousand dollars, a ticket's a ticket, and we wanna take all of that into consideration.

That's, an opinionated it can go either way. And and I'm not saying one way or the other is wrong, but it's something that as long as you know which way you're tracking it and you track it the same way every time and stay consistent, that's really what matters.

So then we've got technician efficiency, technician productivity, shop efficiency, and shop productivity, And I've got in here all of the different ways that you're able to, perform those calculations and calculate them. Now what I will say is a lot of our management systems nowadays are going to calculate a lot of this for you.

Me personally, I still think it's extremely important that you have the ability and and the know how in order to calculate this in case if for some reason we don't actually have that, in our management system that that calculates it or if we wanna trust and verify.

Maybe we think that the management system's off a little bit, so this gives us the ability in order to be able to do that.

And then different types of of profits. You hear a lot of people talk about, net income, net profit, net operating profit, net operating income. You've got EBITDA, SDE.

So I just wanted to touch on a little bit of different ways on how to actually calculate your profits.

So net operating profit is the profit after subtracting all of the operating expenses from the revenue generated. Net income is profit after subtracting all of the operating expenses, interest payments, and taxes.

And then EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization.

So it's pretty similar to SDE, but seller's discretionary earnings is gonna allow if an owner's got, you know, their boat in there, their airplane, and all that other stuff, and they wanna back some of that in, that would more or less be sellers' discretionary earnings, and that's how you calculate those.

Okay. Travis, question for you, if you go back one slide. Mhmm. And and and this is a question for me.

Why why would we calculate our profit at these different levels? Why not just go all the way down to the earnings before taxes and interest amortization? Why not go all the way to e EBITDA? Why do we why do we have these different levels?

Why would we track that?

A a lot of it's gonna be based on your institution of whether you're trying to get a loan or, you're looking at business evaluations.

There's a lot of different reasons on why you would look at it differently.

For me, I'm big on just looking at net. I don't leverage my business on a personal level a ton.

So net is is is pretty net's probably the most common, but I think it's important that everybody knows and understands that there's other ways to be able to look at it.

Okay. Okay. Cool. Thank you.

Yeah. Absolutely.

So we've learned a little bit about KPIs, and, I guess the next thing is is how do we use the KPIs to set benchmarks for our business?

And I think this is extremely important that all of us know and understand is that we can have a good average repair order. We can have a good hours per hour, a good gross profit, an amazing car count, an awesome average written repair order, outstanding technician efficiency, productivity, etcetera, and and we can still lose money.

So if we don't look at the big picture and figure out truly what our breakeven is and set those benchmarks, we can look at a dashboard and think that we're doing really good, but but at the end of the day, we're not putting any money in the bank. We've got more going out than we do coming in. I think that's really important.

So one thing that I utilize that I think is extremely important is a breakeven sales calculator.

And what a breakeven sales calculator is is this allows you to take data from your profit and loss and, for me, also your balance sheet and perform some calculations to determine what sales are needed in order to break even. There's a few different ways that we can do this calculation based on your current expenses, current GP percentage in order to determine what you currently need. Or if you're looking to bring on a new expense or loan, you can add this into your calculation in order to determine what your new breakeven sales number would be.

So in order to calculate your required sales in order to break even, you're gonna want to follow the formula listed here. So I personally like to take no less than six months worth of data.

So take six months worth of your monthly expenses and divide that out by six, and then you'll take that divided by your gross profit percentage.

So what are your monthly expenses? I wanna make sure that everybody knows what a monthly expense truly is.

You're gonna wanna add up anything any monthly expense, cell phone, car payment, fuel, management systems, all of that.

In my shop, I exclude service adviser sales cost, parts cost, sublet cost, tire cost, and technician cost. Some people are gonna put, service adviser cost below the line as an expense.

There's no right or wrong way. Just make sure that you stay consistent whichever way that you do it.

Add all of that up, divide it out for the number of months that you're calculating it by. Like I said, I like to really do from a six month window.

The most important thing here that we have to make sure that we identify is any debt payments. So any payments that you have that's debt comes off of your balance sheet. So that's not gonna come out of your p and l. You're gonna have to look at your balance sheet or go through and look, okay. What debt payments do I have? So you're gonna wanna add your monthly expenses and your debt payments up in order to get yourself an accurate number of what your true monthly expenses are.

So let's talk about gross profit. So in order to calculate your gross profit percentage, you need to make sure that your p and l is accurate and that it has all of your cost of goods sold in there.

Parts, tires, technicians, labor costs. I touched on service adviser costs a little bit.

That can go one way or the other. You can either put it above or below the line.

Sublet costs, shop supply costs. Once you have all of that completed and and laid out nicely in your p and l, it makes this calculation extremely easy.

So what you'll do is you're just gonna take your gross profit dollars divided by your total sales, and that's gonna give you your gross profit percentage.

So we've been able to now figure out what our average months monthly costs are. We've just now we're able to calculate what our gross profit percentage is.

So now we're gonna be able to go through and really start doing some math and figuring some stuff out.

I just threw some numbers together for an example.

This is actually my numbers from a while back when I first did this years ago.

But this data is taken from six months of expenses, add it up, and divide it by six.

So our average monthly expenses plus our balance sheet items was sixty two thousand five sixty three, and we are carrying a fifty four percent overall gross profit percentage, for that same time frame.

So if I take those numbers, divide it by point five four, our required monthly sales to breakeven was a hundred and fifteen thousand eight fifty seven.

Do we have any questions so far, Jimmy?

Yeah. Another question here about the, average gross profit percentage. What's Yeah. What's normal? What's usual? What's healthy?

What's Yeah.

Absolutely.

Awesome and amazing?

Yeah. I mean, fifty five to sixty percent is going to be your your benchmark that you're really gonna wanna set.

Now there's some variables within that. If you're a high performance shop, if you're doing, you know, exotic cars, that might drop a little bit.

But realistic numbers for a general automotive repair shop, you're really gonna wanna be in that fifty five to sixty percent range. It was a really good question.

Okay. So if somebody's operating at a average GP percentage and they're up north of seventy percent, what would that say?

I would ask what they all actually have calculated in their gross profit numbers.

So if they're north of seventy percent, they probably don't have, service adviser costs involved in that. They may possibly also not have their technician costs involved in that.

Okay.

Okay. Cranking and or they're just cranking and doing really, really well.

But one thing that we'll do is is let's say that somebody was was less than this fifty four percent. Okay?

And let's say that they were running forty eight percent. Okay. So if you did the math, the sixty two five sixty three, and took that divided by point four eight, that changes their monthly required sales to break even to a hundred and thirty thousand dollars.

So a very small change in your gross profit determines what your monthly required sales are, and that's a staggering number. So the better gross profit percentage that you can carry, really the less sales that it takes to to make everything happen.

Oh, yeah. Everybody would love to do more with less, and I think that's what you're getting at here with a healthy GP percentage at a hundred and fifteen as your breakeven. So if you're going up and you're you are cracking the nut at one thirty, you're doing that much better because you're you're holding that GP percentage.

Absolutely. Yeah. I guess my point was is if you were only carrying a forty eight percent GP, it would require a hundred and thirty thousand dollars in sales in order to break in order to break even. Now let's say that you were carrying a sixty percent GP, that drops that one fifteen down to a hundred and four thousand.

So a six percent increase in your GP drops you about ten thousand dollars a month in sales required.

Oh, that's great.

That's great.

Pretty awesome. Pretty staggering numbers for sure.

Yeah. Sobering for sure. And to see that, oh, gosh. All we'd have to do is just tweak this little lever here just a little bit on our GP percentage, and it makes a world of difference.

You hit the nail on the head. It's it's pulling levers and knowing what levers to pull, and not, not pulling them too hard. I mean, we can certainly, stiffen ourselves up a little bit too much and and cause the the exact opposite of what we're wanting. So you've really gotta find that happy medium for your location, your organization, and, what your, you know, market will bear.

Nice.

So, I guess the question that I always ask when I go through this is is are we in the business to break even? Because we shouldn't be.

So if we're only focusing on what it takes to break even, and we set that as our as our goal or our benchmark, we're always just gonna break even. So I don't think that we should be in business to to break even. So I think it's important that now once we figure out what that true break even is, and this was extremely important for a lot of people in in the COVID years, making sure that they were able to manage our expenses and and know exactly where they had to be.

Now we can take our monthly expenses, loan payments, and desired profit. So you've got our monthly expenses and debt payments, which was sixty two thousand five hundred and sixty three, and now we say that we wanna make an additional twenty three thousand dollars a month in net profit, that puts our expenses at eighty five thousand five hundred and sixty three.

If you take that divided by your fifty four percent, your now required sales, okay, is a hundred and fifty eight thousand four fifty, and that gets you profit for your business so you can continue to grow.

And I think that's that's really important that we now know that range. Okay? So in my business, what I'm gonna do, I'm a the absolute minimum we can be in order to keep the lights on is a hundred and fifteen thousand. And in order to keep the business healthy, we need to do a hundred and fifty eight thousand. So we need to be able to put those with inside and and have our ranges, of where we need to be.

As you can see here on this illustration down below, I've created a sheet that I use, and I do this, in my business. I do it once a quarter, and I go back six months each time just to make sure that I run a current breakeven number, and I run a proposed if we were to change or add anything. So you'll see over here on the right, it says monthly expense average, new expense.

That's where you're gonna add in that new expense. If you're looking to add something or take on a new debt, or, you know, maybe possibly hire some admin help, an office person to help you and you know how much that person's gonna cost a month, you put that in there and it gives you your new breakeven sales number.

I wish I woulda had that years ago when we just didn't have any direction. We didn't know what to do, and we didn't know if we could afford anything or what we had to do.

Super powerful, information to be able to just kinda lay it out and and run your numbers.

So Travis.

Yep.

Question there on that that new expense.

Is this also the exercise that you would do, say, for, equipment if you were gonna get a a new alignment machine or new tire machines?

Would you add that as that new, monthly payment expense?

Absolutely. Yeah. So you've got your current total monthly expenses right now, and you're looking to add a eighty, ninety thousand dollar alignment rack and and machine, and your payment's gonna be, you know, fifteen hundred a month. You throw that fifteen hundred dollars in there, add those two back together, and then you'll get your total new proposed expenses.

Divide that out by your gross profit percentage, and then I'll tell you where you need to be on on sales.

Nice.

And and that's assuming you don't change anything.

Now if you made some increases on some other things, maybe you bumped some parts margins a little bit or maybe some labor rate adjustments, none of that will really reflect in this. This is assuming you change absolutely nothing in your business.

Correct. Right. Yeah. And so when you're running this for six months, you're doing it month by month. Correct?

No. I you wanna have a six month window. You don't wanna take a window too small.

So it's a six month window, but you're averaging all of that out for a month. Correct. So I'm taking six months of expenses and and basically dividing whatever that total is by six to to run monthly numbers.

Oh, okay. So you you've got a rolling six month average. That's what you're calculating?

Yeah. It's important that you know, I mean, there's times where, you know, maybe we had to go out and buy all new computers, one month or so. We wanna spread those out as far as we can. And for me, a six month window is is fair enough that I think, you know like, for us personally, you know, we just signed, you know, our entire team up for vision, at the beginning of this month. So if I looked at it just in the month of November, it would it would look pretty painful, You know? But it's it's all good stuff. So that's why we wanna keep that six month window, in mind, to help average out some of those onetime costs that we have throughout the year.

Got it. Got it. Very cool.

So this is kinda where it starts getting fun, and this is where I always got lost. Once I figured out the the breakeven number, I didn't know what to do next.

I'm like, okay. I gotta breakeven. Now what do I do? Here's where I gotta be. So our needed sales is a hundred and fifty eight thousand four fifty. That's what we need in order for us to be able to have a healthy business.

The questions that I ask myself, well, how many cars do we need? How many hours do we need? What does our ARO need to be? And how do we break this down so everybody inside our organization can utilize these benchmarks to help steer the ship. And it's not just me pointing fingers at them telling them, hey. Here's what we have to do.

So if we break this down, we start by breaking it down into a week. So we take the one fifty eight four fifty divided by four point three weeks in a month gives us thirty six thousand eight hundred and forty three point eight three dollars a week in sales.

Our benchmark that we created in our shop is seven hundred and fifty dollars for an average repair order, so that gives us a starting point of figuring out how many cars we're gonna need. So we take that thirty six thousand eight hundred and forty eight eighty three divided by a seven hundred fifty dollar ARO, that's forty nine cars a week.

So here's what we know so far. We've got to do one hundred and fifty eight thousand dollars a month, which is thirty six thousand eight hundred and forty eight dollars a week, and we need to carry a seven fifty dollars ARO with forty nine cars a week. We're starting to break this down into some more bite sized pieces that are easier to understand and easier for our team to be able to understand. You look at a hundred and fifty eight thousand dollars for a service adviser, and they're already stressed out, stressed to the max, and they don't know what to do, and it just it just totally derails them. But if you break it down to it's forty nine cars a week at a seven hundred fifty dollar ARO, it just makes so much more sense to them.

So we've been able to make some benchmarks that our service advisers are able to track and manage, but we're leaving somebody pretty integral out of the equation.

We have technicians with goals. So how do we make this make sense for them?

They don't really care how much the business does in sales. They care about what they have to get in hours, and that's what we've gotta start figuring out. So we've gotta figure out what our effective labor rate is and our parts to labor ratio. So for this example, we're gonna assume that we're at a hundred and twenty five dollar effective labor rate, and we've got a one to one parts to labor ratio for an x set of math. So if we assume that, we can recap. We've got the one fifty eight four fifty, the thirty six eight forty eight eighty three with a seven hundred fifty dollar ARO at forty nine cars a week, and our effective labor rate's one twenty five with a one to one parts labor ratio.

So if all of that is accurate, we'll take our needed sales per week, which is thirty six eight forty eight eighty three divided by two. We now know we need eighteen thousand four hundred and twenty four dollars in labor sales needed.

If we take that divided by our effective labor rate, we now know that we need a hundred and forty seven hours a week needed. Now this is where it starts to get kinda tricky depending on your current shop layout and stuff like that. Do you have the staff in order to be able to do that?

So we've got everything, and it's all kinda starting to fall in into place. So for this example, I'm gonna say that we have four technicians. Okay? So technician one, our goal is forty five, tech two is forty, tech three is thirty five, and tech four is twenty seven.

His general service helps clean up the shop, stuff like that. So he bills about half the hours that he's there. Now if your shop doesn't have four technicians and maybe you only have two technicians, now we've got to start looking at what we're what it's gonna take and what we truly need in order to make our breakeven make sense and start putting those people in place. So if you only had two technicians, do you think you're really gonna be able to, you know, crank out a hundred and fifty hours?

It's roughly seventy five hours a week per technician. It's probably not realistic.

So once you start figuring the breakeven out, then the puzzle pieces and everything start coming together, and you're able to say, okay. Now I maybe need to add another technician, or maybe you've got eight technicians, and your breakeven's only that and you've got a hundred and forty seven hours. Maybe you're a little overstaffed, or maybe you've got the capacity to be able to do more. So once you start getting some of these numbers together, everything really just starts falling into place.

So, Jimmy, I'm gonna put you on the spot here.

So we've got our monthly sales goal, our weekly sales goal, our ARO, our car count, our effective labor rate, and our labor sales goal, our build hours goal, and our technician hours goal. And maybe we can even ask the the audience that's out here watching, what is our hours per RO goal have to be based on these numbers?

Hours per RO, well, I would see the, one forty seven divided by the forty nine car count.

Absolutely. So roughly three point something hours per ticket?

Three hours per ticket, which is totally doable. Right?

So that's that's that's right in the wheelhouse of where we wanna be. So all of these numbers are matching up. It's passing the sniff test of a lot of different things.

Forty five hours, forty hours, thirty five, twenty seven, all those are realistic, easily obtainable numbers for a business, for a technician to even turn. You know? Possibly even a little a little under what what it could be.

So Yeah. One thing that you can do is you can take this deeper if you'd like.

Personally, we leave it into a week in our organization. You can take it down to daily goals, hourly.

If you take it down to hourly, it might make you sick, because you you figure out really what it takes per hour in order to make everything go.

We stop at a weekly goal. We have jobs that roll into several days.

So we just we run it that weekly, but you can totally continue to break this down, if you'd like. So we spent a ton of time on KPIs, benchmarks, breakeven numbers.

But, Jimmy, what are we completely missing out on?

I I think it's the, the the folding money in my pocket.

Does your four walls give you the ability to do what it takes to break even?

Is your shop capacity give you the ability to do what it takes in order to break even, to do what it takes in order to make a profit for the business? Do you, one, have the staff, and do you, too, have the amount of base that it requires in order to be able to do this?

And so this is something really cool that I'm able to do is is we run a shop capacity drill.

And with a shop capacity drill, it really kind of tells you it brings the rest of that in. So it rolls your shop capacity in, confirms that your staffing model works, and confirms all of that. So myself, I'm an ATI client.

We're alumni now, and so this is actually a spreadsheet that I get to utilize as an ATI client from them in my business that allows me to be able to run through and and determine this. So if you put your labor rate in, put your, mechanical sales, so we said we're one to one, so fifty percent, put the hours per day that you're open and the days per week that you're open, and then you also wanna put in how the shop hours. How long is the shop there versus how long is the technician there?

And the number of technicians that you have. Now for us, we're gonna consider any oil change guy, stuff like that as as a half a technician. We know that they really don't have the ability to bill forty hours, and then everybody else is gonna determine. So as you see in our previous slides where we had the three technicians and then we had that one guy that was around twenty hours, we put him in as a half hour. We've got five and a half bays in this example. So we put all of that in and it starts doing some math for us.

So what it does is it says that if we are ninety percent productive, we can do thirty six thousand dollars a week in sales with that current staff.

If we're a hundred percent productive, we can do thirty seven thousand eight hundred. Jimmy, do you remember what our needed sales were in order to be able to breakeven and have a profit for the business?

It was that the one fifty eight number?

Yep. What was that a week?

One fifty eight divided by four is thirty nine thousand something something.

Four point three would put us at thirty six thousand eight hundred.

So we've got we gotta be somewhere right between ninety five and a hundred percent productive in the shop with our current staff in order to achieve that goal.

So everything becomes fully realistic.

Point three instead of four.

Yep. So we've got, on average, four point three weeks in a month.

Got it. Got it. Got it. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah. Absolutely.

So all of this makes sense, and it and it passes every sniff test that we've kinda put to it. And now we know that if we're somewhere in the ninety seven, ninety eight percent productivity with our three and a half technicians based on our current labor rate, based on our one to one parts to labor ratio, all of this is totally doable.

Now if we increase our productivity, we can do even more than that.

One thing that I did wanna hit on. So you'll see over here, it's got if your shop was a hundred percent efficient, you your shop annual capacity is three million eighty six thousand dollars. Now one thing that I wanna make sure that you know is if we go back to this, it's got number of bays at five and a half bays, but we've only got three and a half technicians.

So when you go to shop capacity, it's saying that if you had a technician in all five and a half of your bays, that is truly what you could do as a one hundred percent maximum capacity.

Now me, personally, I think that's a little bit of an inflated number. It is a real number, but it'd be be extremely difficult in order to be able to achieve that. I mean, you have really, really gotta be we we shoot for about eighty percent.

If we can really run eighty percent capacity of what the actual shop is, we are extremely happy at that point.

Does that make sense?

Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. I would think running it at ninety five, ninety seven, a hundred percent capacity.

Productivity? Productivity or yeah. Because I'm not thinking of it as productivity point of view. It it's like, if you're running at a hundred percent all the time, you can't last that long.

Right. Yeah.

I mean, it's And this is a little bit different.

It is. So on a productivity side, we're we're accounting for that technician to be a half. So we're not putting him as a full. So it kind of it makes the numbers a little bit more realistic.

So you you should be able to ride that ninety five percent productivity.

Now on the shop efficiency side at that one hundred percent efficient with every single bay, that makes it kinda tough because that's assuming that every bay is turning the same amount every minute of the day. And and we know that's not a hundred percent realistic in in our outside world. On paper, it looks really good. But if you can get somewhere around eighty percent of that number, you're you're doing very, very well. You should be proud of yourself.

Nice. Nice. Very cool.

So we've got our total repair orders, our average repair order, our hours per RO, our labor sales, all of this stuff that we went through, we've got all of our goals for everybody.

So this is gives us the opportunity to either add or adjust our benchmarks based on all of that. So we've got a ton of data. Now we've just gotta tweak and adjust, but we're we're right in line. We're right where we need to be.

And then it really kinda puts it all together for us, and this is what we utilize with our sales team, with our entire organization of all of our technicians and everything. This is what they get in order to be able to know what it takes to get where we have to go. So each technician has their hours goal.

We have the benchmarks set for the service adviser team. They know what we've gotta be on on an average repair order. They know what we've gotta be on an hours per hour. They know all of that stuff. And if we do all of that, they know about where we're gonna land.

So we put it all together and we present this to the team.

And and you it's broken down into bite sized pieces so that way they're not just looking at that hundred and fifty eight thousand dollar a month deal thinking I'm already we're only doing a hundred and thirty thousand a month now, and I'm already exhausted. I don't even see the the path on how to even get to a hundred and fifty eight thousand. We broke it down for them. And, hopefully, we did this with them together along the way so they get to have a better understanding and and a clear understanding of how some of that goes.

So here's one thing that, there's a lot of different management systems out there. So can you trust the numbers that you get from your management So So they are unable to account for things like employee vacations, lost parts, or unreturned cores, monthly expenses, debt payments, variable tax and benefit loads, which all of that has an effect on our gross profit and stuff like that, and those are the numbers that our management system is gonna spit out at us. But those numbers can be skewed. Hopefully not a lot, but they can be skewed depending on, you know, maybe tech a was on vacation all week and you had to pay them, but they didn't bill any hours. Your management system doesn't know that. So it's important that we utilize our management system as a guide, but we know that the truth is truly in our profit and loss, and we have to make sure that our profit and loss and our balance sheet is updated and accurate at all times.

So when we have a problem, how do we diagnose it? So first of all, in order to know that we have a problem, we've got to identify it. Somebody needs to identify that we have an issue by monitor monitoring our KPIs and benchmarks, whether that's our accountant coming to us and saying, look. You guys are not making any money at all, and you're just sitting here spinning your wheels.

We really gotta work on doing something. Or maybe your team and the technician brings it to the table and says, look. I'm not getting the hours that I want and need in order to be able to live the life that I wanna live and make the money that I wanna make. Somebody has to identify it.

Maybe you as the owner. You go through and do an RO audit or something like that, and you find out that, our average written estimate is not where it should be based on the mileage of the vehicles that are coming through our door.

So somebody's gotta be able to identify it. And then what we've gotta do is we've gotta start researching it. We can't just assume.

We've all assumed before we always get ourselves in trouble. So then we wanna research it. We wanna make sure that it's real and that the numbers that we're seeing are accurate.

Go back to our management system. We may see something in our management system that gives us a red flag. Okay. Let's go to the p and l and make sure that it's accurate. If it's not accurate, then we gotta figure out the difference between the two and why it's not accurate.

Did we fat finger something into, p into our p and l, or did back office maybe screw up if we're utilizing back office in our business? There's a lot of different variables that can happen then. And then we've got to, you know, investigate. Begin investigating on what's going on by pulling data on a broad range until we dive down and actually find that issue.

Once we find the issue, we wanna go in and evaluate it.

Dive deep. I mean, we have to we have to assume no fault, assume that it's all on us and dive deep to figure out is is it a single team member? Is it the whole team?

If you're running service adviser teams where you've got, like, a service adviser with a team of technicians, is it just one team that's seeing the issue, or is it both teams that are seeing the issue? What's going on? Nobody's at fault. We wanna use blameless problem solving when we're doing this, but we wanna we we've gotta be able to dive deep and be able to figure out truly what's going on with it.

So once we get that done, then we've got to present the findings to our team.

Once we get those findings, present them to your team, educate them on the findings, and teach them how to track, manage, and fix the issue before it's too late. What we're doing in this case is we're doing a a reactive investigation, basically. We found something that's an issue, and now we've gotta be reactive.

So if we go in and educate our team and teach them how to manage, fix, and track it, then we're then we can start taking a proactive approach, and they can take a proactive approach. They can start seeing whatever it is slip and be able to to make adjustments in order to be able to do that. The next thing that we wanna do after we educate them is we wanna follow-up on it.

This is something that I've been able to learn in our organization that's helped us out tremendously is I'm I'm big on set it and forget it, and that's the the most inaccurate and wrong way and wrong way to do things that, it's human nature that we've got to they've got a lot of stuff on their plate anyway. All day. Our entire team does. But then we throw something new at them.

You've gotta be able to follow-up on it. So follow-up on it in two weeks and then follow-up on it again in four weeks and make sure that everybody's still on the same page. Make sure everybody still knows how to manage it. Make sure everybody still knows how to track it, and make sure that they're able to to identify the issue.

And then from there on out, all you have to do is manage it. You've got your team that manages the issues for you, not you having to go in and be reactive finding the issues. Your team is now proactive, and they're managing it for you, which allows you to focus on the other side of the business that you really should be focusing on, which is the growth and the people and just taking care of of everything else, not having to sit there and and dive in and investigate stuff.

Any questions, Jimmy?

Yeah. A couple of questions.

Everybody's wondering about these slides. Can we get a copy of these slides? Are you okay sharing these?

Absolutely. I'd love to.

Yeah. So we'll we'll send this out. We'll make sure that we share with everybody. And to Billy's question, yes, it is recorded, and, you will be able to watch this again later.

So Mike has a question, and this kinda goes back a little ways in determining how many hours per technician.

Yeah. How do you determine that?

Yeah. So if I know your Internet's a little laggy, but, are you able to go back to that slide?

This one here?

Yeah. There you go. So the the the question was determining hours per technician?

Yes. How do you know that technician one is forty five, technician two is forty, thirty five, twenty seven? How did you come up with those?

Yeah. And who asked that question?

Mike.

Mike. Mike, thank you so much for asking that. I completely skipped over it. So one of the things that is extremely important as we're putting this together is you have a one on one with each of those technicians.

Okay? And what we wanna do is we wanna talk about what their goals and aspirations are that's part of this. So we sit down with tech one, and tech one says that I wanna hit fifty hours a week. Okay?

And we start doing the math with them, and we realize that fifty hours is an unrealistic number for what they're currently doing.

So then we dial that back a little bit, and we agree that forty five hours is now a realistic number. So it's something that we ask our technicians for, and we make sure we do the math together based on how many hours they're gonna have to turn per day, how many hours are actually in the building, what their current productivity and efficiencies are, and we make sure that it's a realistic number, and we do that with each technician. One on ones in our organization is extremely important. It's something that we do not miss out on. We do one every month with every single team member, and I know that you guys saw at the beginning of the slide, there's twenty seven of them. We do twenty seven of them a month every single month. We I mean, our team looks forward to it, and we really look forward to it.

That's how we stay on the same page when we make sure that we're continuing to achieve our technicians' goals. That was a great question.

Nice.

Awesome. Thank you, Mike.

Alright. Let's see if I can go forward here for you on the presentation.

Number eight, manage. I believe we are right here.

We're at we're at the recap, and we've got little bit little bit of time left for some more questions. But here's the good part about this. So we've been able to know what the KPIs are and how to calculate them. We know what our breakeven number is.

We we know that we need to build some benchmarks around our breakeven plus. You'll see that I put that plus there. You need to do both. Know what your breakeven is.

Know what your absolute minimum is, and then know what your plus is. Get yourself that range so that way you know what your sweet spot is. We need to know the capacity of our shop and the capacity of our shop and the capacity of the team that we have with inside of our shop and know that we have either have growth opportunity or maybe you're at eighty percent capacity of the of the four walls that you have, and now you've gotta start figuring out what your next steps are in your in your business. Are you gonna go to a second location?

Are you gonna add on? What do you want, and, truly, what does your team want?

And then we found out that we cannot trust everything in our in our management system.

You can trust a lot of things, just not everything. It's it's not an accounting software. And then when we have an issue, use your eight step diagnostic procedure in order to be able to dive in and figure out what's going on with it.

Nice. Okay. Another question. Question coming in from John. What is a good net profit percentage?

Yeah. Absolutely. So a good net profit percentage is gonna be between twenty and twenty five percent net profit.

Between twenty and twenty five percent, you said?

Yep. Absolutely.

Okay. Okay. Cool. Other questions, comments, concerns? Type in those questions and, oops, and we'll see. Oops.

Here's the here's one thing that that I wanna I wanna hit on if we, if we just go one more slide.

Uh-huh.

This is something that dawned on me. What does KPI stand for again, Jimmy?

Key performance indicators.

Keep people interested, keep them informed, keep them involved, and keep them inspired. And when I started living by that, the the the key performance indicators just show up. Okay?

If I try to hide stuff from my team, if I get worried about them knowing the numbers inside the organization and stuff like that, I'm I'm a firm believer. Keep them wanting to learn and know more. Don't be afraid of that. Feed them.

If they want fed, feed them, and keep them involved in it. Let them work on some of this. We've got our team members that are bringing this stuff to us now, and I think it's extremely important that if they wanna get involved, let them get involved and teach them along the way because they're gonna be able to run and manage your your business, in most cases and then even in our cases, much better than we could. We build some great people, and and then they start to do it.

And and that's that's the cool part about it. I love this slide. I actually saw it on LinkedIn, and and I knew I had to slide it in there because it's just it's so true. It is so true.

Dude, I love that. I love it. The the better you're informed, the better decisions that are made, the better direction that everyone takes. Yeah, man. That's super awesome.

Keep people informed.

And so now here's a question for you. Oh, Mike's asking a question. Mike is asking, who's your ATI coach?

Kevin Allen.

Kevin Allen. So shout out to Kevin Allen. Super Yes. And Mike, who's your ATI coach? We'll give them a shout out as well. Right. So for for the Travis Troy Kingdom, for your empire that you and your partner have been, building over the last quite a few years.

Yeah. So we've been in business, we've been in business for just over ten years, but really full time since twenty fourteen.

Right.

And so if we look at that kingdom, you've got two locations. Does it look like we're adding a third and a fourth and a fifth and a sixth, or does the two give you the the lifestyle that you and your partner are looking for?

Yeah. So it's really not about lifestyle for us. It's about the impact that we can have on other people.

So we are focusing heavily on on our people right now and pouring every resource that we can into them and giving them runway and a path for growth.

So as we grow our our team and we bust through the seams of two stores, if they're happy where they're at, then we're happy. If they wanna grow and add more levels of leadership to our organization, which would potentially require more stores, then at that point, by all means, absolutely. We have no issues going to three, four, five, six. I mean, as many as it takes, but we're not doing it or running it as a money aspect of I need this amount of money. We're running it as if I have this amount of people that wanna continue to grow and improve and change lives of others, then that's our motive to want to continue to grow. So two stores right now, we are absolutely happy.

We can pour a ton of resources into our team. We're growing some amazing leaders.

And when they get to that point where, you know, they just feel capped, at that point, that's when we'll have to start looking at, potentially a a third or a fourth store. And, you know, they always say two stores are okay. You go three, you gotta go four or five really quick. So, we'd have to make sure that structurally we're sound.

I mean, I know a lot of people I just had a podcast go out, with Ratchet and Wrench yesterday and about our culture. And when we went to two stores, our culture suffered immensely. I mean, it was it was bad. Our culture really went in the dumps because we're strong really thin.

And we were able to bring that back. Our team made us aware of it. We built it back up, and now we focus on building the leaders. And now the leaders and the culture and everything stays with inside the organization even when we're not there, and that's extremely powerful.

Anybody that's looking to go multilocation, if you cannot leave your business and and leave the culture there, if the culture leaves when you leave, it's not ready for a second location yet. Don't do it because you want a second store. Don't do it because you want more money. Do it because your team wants it, and it will be way more successful. If I woulda had just that little nugget when we went to two stores, holy smokes.

Yeah. Really, we could probably be at ten by now.

Oh, wow. At ten. Yeah. You know, I I saw it said the other day. And by the way here, everybody, this is, Travis's contact information if you wanna reach out and ask him any additional questions.

Please. Absolutely. I'm an open book.

Yeah. That's awesome. I I saw the other day on oh, it was just an inspirational thought that, this person was saying, I'm not here to be rich. I'm here to enrich.

Absolutely. I love that.

Yeah.

To enrich other people's lives Yeah.

Is more powerful than being rich.

Totally. To me, that is rich. Yeah. I'm I'm a rich man.

I am I am extremely rich because of what we do for our people. To me, money is wealth. Okay?

Yeah. And inside of me, I am rich, and and I teach my kids that.

My my daughter talks all the time about being rich, and I ask her what riches, and she says it's a lot of money. I said that's incorrect.

If you have a lot of money, you're wealthy. Be rich. Be rich with your life. Be rich with your family. Be rich with your team.

I am rich.

I am extremely rich.

I have an amazing team, an amazing family, and that's that's what makes me rich.

Oh, that's super cool. So we're gonna give a shout out to Eric Twiggs. Eric Twiggs is the coach for mister Mike.

Eric's good stuff.

That's awesome.

Eric Twiggs is also the coach for seventeenth Street Automotive, Billy.

Billy. Billy Kading Kading?

Billy Billy's the guy Billy is, like, here, like, super early every single time. I want you guys to know that. That's freaking awesome. Right?

Thank you, bud.

I want you to know that that is that's awesome.

You are hungry for knowledge, and I want you to know that that is gonna take you places. That is gonna take you places.

Be hungry for knowledge.

So true. Any other questions, comments, concerns, everybody?

Type them in. We've got Travis here for a few more minutes.

And Billy says, oh, yeah. Super hungry. Nom. Nom. Nom. Nom.

That's awesome. I love it.

I do too.

I do too. Hey. You've got your smartphone real close to you. That's my cell phone number. That is my email address.

Snap a picture. If you want a copy of this deck, text me over your email address, and I'll send you over a copy so you can, review it with your business partner, with your team, with your accountant, with your spouse so you can discover what is the optimum breakeven. What is the number that we need as a stretch goal because we wanna profit twenty three thousand a month? What what is our car count? What do we actually need to have here?

Just so so awesome that that this information is here and available. And, to everybody, thank you for being here. You guys are super awesome.

John Powell, you will be early next time. We know you're hungry for this knowledge and information as well. So thanks for being here and your excuse for being late.

Great information. Mike's giving you super props, Travis.

Thank you, Mike.

Yeah.

Oh, Mike, you're you're putting in email addresses in this chat. And, you know, as soon as I close it down, I don't know if I'm gonna be able to see this again. You might have to, text it to me.

Super awesome. Thank you so much, everybody. My name is Jimmy Lee.

I'm here to help you. We are Kukui. We're here to help enlighten you as to what's possible, what you can do in your shop. And to everyone, aloha.

Thank you very much. Merry Christmas. Hope you have a fabulous holiday season. A merry Christmas.

Happy New Year. Happy everything.

Thank you, Travis.

Better Customer Retention

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 15:55:40 GMT

"What do my customers prefer?"

There is a Fortune in the Follow-up!!

Do you know all of the methods available through your KUKUI All-in-One Success Platform?
How do you know which method of communication your clients prefer?
Which method gets the most conversion?
What are the easy steps I can take in my shop to ensure I stay Top-Of-Mind with my clients?

Join Jimmy Lea, Product Evangelist for KUKUI, and Charlie Myers, Senior Client Success Coordinator as they discuss the many ways KUKUI’s All-In-One Success Platform can help you to retain current clients!

Up Your Retention Game!

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 22:33:11 GMT

"Am I losing customers faster than I can attract them?"

Every shop owner I know is clamoring for new customers. Proof of this is the percentage of their marketing budget that’s focused solely on attracting new blood. But what happens after you get them? You don’t ignore them; you work hard to keep them!!! In this fast-paced webinar I’m going to show you:

Why a single-minded focus is dangerous and expensive
Introduce you to the concept of the loyalty ladder and why it matters
How to intentionally create a program to move your new customers to raving fan clients

Join Jimmy Lea, Product Evangelist for KUKUI, and Rick White, President and Coach of 180BIZ as they discuss the information and strategies you need to up your retention game.

Webinar Transcript:

We've got a phenomenal, phenomenal discussion gonna be happening today. We've got some great information going to be shared with us as shop owners, raving fans, retention of customers.

Gonna be amazing. I'm super excited. So, thank you for everybody that's joining in. Type in the questions box. That is where you want to put your information.

You've got questions. We've got the answers. Go ahead and type them in. Maybe you've got a comment. Maybe there's the topic of discussion we wanna talk about. Put it into the questions box, and we will engage with our illustrious guest here on our webinar today to talk about our raving fans and keeping them coming back into the shop.

So who are we? We are Kukui. Anybody else that wants a shout out, put into the questions box where you are joining us from today. You are super awesome, and and my friends, it's good to see you.

Good to see you. Is from the automotive industry. We have run shops. We have turned wrenches.

We have managed the front counter, the front desk. We have we've done that. We've done that and more. And we we've coupled together with the best of the best for developers, computer software, software as a service industry.

Couple those two together, we're bringing to you shop owners the best of the best Kukui software. It is a proving ground for what marketing is working, what doesn't work. We are your website. We are your, customer retention, your email, postcards, texting, you you name it.

We we're we're the proven ground, all in one success platform with your marketing. Super look forward to working with each of you on this platform, on this program to help you be the best of the best in your market, in your patch, in your area. And I'm super excited to be today with Lighthouse Automotive because they are expanding their reach. They have, purchased another shop here in North Carolina, and it's about two miles up the street.

So the kingdom is growing. Super awesome. Great for that to happen. And, you know, I'll be traveling to many different areas.

You if if you are open for it I'm I'm in Genie Lights' office right now. I'm I'm in their office.

If you're open for it and we can do a webinar from your shop, love to love to stop by. Drop us a drop me a note. Drop me a text. Let's connect on that one.

We are talking about raving fans and customer retention. Super excited to have this discussion. My name is Jimmy Lee. I'll be the host today. I'll be the voice for you.

Go ahead and type your questions, comments, concerns into the questions box so that we can have this discussion today. And joining me today is the ever illustrious and super awesome, mister Rick White.

Rick is, managing partner of one eighty biz. He is super awesome. I met him. And, Rick, I don't know if you remember when you and I met for the first time.

Are you there, Rick?

My hair was brown.

It it it okay. It may have been.

I'm not certain on that. But Rick and I met at ASTE Yep. And it was, Lucas Underwood was there, and and Lucas was just singing the praises. You had come in and helped to coach and train him and turn his business one hundred and eighty degrees to actually being profitable.

And and and to Lucas' credit, he did what you said. He took to heart what you said and and implemented it. So that's super awesome, And and I appreciate you for doing that. I I appreciate Lucas for listening and and taking what you said to heart to be the shop he is today, to inspire the industry the way he does today.

That is just that's awesome. That's awesome.

And then I gotta meet your wife as well, miss Brenda. Yep.

She's awesome as well.

Oh, that's And she's rocking purple hair these days.

That's pretty cool too.

Yeah. She is.

Yep. So I've turned the screen over to you. Throw your, slide deck I know. Up there.

Screen now.

Boom. Shaka locka. Client retention. I see it. It's got the black bars on the side. If you wanna make it super awesome.

Tell you what. Hold on one sec.

Throw it up a little bit larger there. Larger than life as we are.

Let's see.

KUKUI Carl says, hello, Rick. Hello.

And, KUKUI Carl says, he loves your short ten minute daily Just One Thing.

Please get them coming.

Oh, we will. We will.

Alright. Yeah. Your presentation looks perfect. It is big and bold, and I can read it.

Well, that is awesome. Okay. So let's get started. What do you say?

Let's get started. The floor is yours, brother.

Alright. Hello, everybody. Please, as Jimmy said, my name is Rick White from one eighty biz. We're down here in beautiful Harrisonburg, Virginia.

So I'm really excited to be talking with you today and sharing some thoughts that maybe you haven't had before. You know, the reality is there's a lot of stuff we've already heard, and and my goal isn't so much to give you all new stuff. My goal is to give you some new stuff that you haven't thought of or heard of before that builds on what you have, but also to challenge you as to what you are doing.

There is a gap between knowing and doing, and my goal here today is to help you get that gap to be a little bit shorter. So please put your questions in. There'll be plenty of time at the end. I wanna make sure that we have, your time to get your, questions answered.

I want this to be a blessing and a help for your business. So let's get started. You know, today, we're gonna talk about, clients and, you know, kind of a a single-minded focus that I've really found to be dangerous and expensive in shops. I wanna talk to you about what I call the loyalty ladder and why it matters, and then I wanna show you how you can create a program to move your new customers to to raving van clients.

That's the whole thing. And and why are we talking about this? Because it seems like there's a lopsided focus on attracting new clients versus keeping them. You know, closing that sale you that you just made, you know, that great sale you just had, that's great.

But what you're not aware of is you just lost your best prospect.

Now what?

Typically, it's who's next, and I I wanna kinda get away from that a little bit.

Instead, what I want you instead of thinking of continually pursuing new clients okay?

Because a lot of times, what I see shops doing is it's like this giant machine just eating and eating and eating, and it's dumping refuse on the other end, either people that didn't buy or people that bought and and then but they're done. And that is not a healthy relationship to have with the community that you serve. You I'm gonna tell you, yes. You wanna grow your business, but most of your attention, in my opinion, needs to be on building the base that you have now on growing a deeper connection with them.

Because otherwise, that single-minded focus on new clients only is very, very dangerous and expensive. Let me show you what I mean. The typical buying process looks like something like this. First step they have is they have awareness of an issue.

They got a problem.

Now they're starting to get interest in, okay, what can I do about it? Who can I go to? What are my options? These are the things they're going through. And then they get to a decision.

Okay?

Once they get to that decision, now they take action.

When you're with a new client years ago years ago, and I'm gonna use my little pointer here, years ago, we would start here at the awareness phase, and then what would happen is they would come to you to get information. That was before Google, right, before the Google. They would come to you because you were the keeper of all information.

But today, that's not the case. Today, they can learn more about what's going on in their car than you know in ten minutes.

Okay? Today, they're not engaging you until the decision making process.

And that puts you at a real disadvantage because sometimes you gotta back up. You gotta get you know, you they're gonna think, hey, man. I need this. I need this. I need this.

You gotta be able to stop them, slow them down, and say, okay. Wait a minute. I understand that's what you believe you need. What are you trying to solve? Write that down. What are you trying to solve?

Because a lot of times, people will come to you with a mistaken solution.

I see it with shops coming to me all the time. I need better help. I need more cars. Those are the two things that I hear all the time, and a lot of times, that's not the issue.

That's not the issue. God bless you, Jimmy.

So that is a big deal. But here's the thing.

When you because when they get when your client gets down to your new client gets down down to this action notice here, and please forgive me. I'm looking at my screen over here that I'm presenting. When they get to here, now they get to decide, okay. Am I done and I'm not going back, or am I coming back and I'm gonna repeat?

And the goal is to get them to repeat, and I'm gonna show you why this is so important. Okay?

And and what's cool about it is the awareness and interest part, the skepticism, the doubt, the fear, as you get that connection, that relationship built with people, that drops.

Right? Those things drop, and it makes it easier for you to help somebody because they're not worried about your intentions.

And that's really, really important.

There's a perception of self interest at all times. You wanna make sure that you're keeping yours as low as possible.

The easiest way I have found to do that, that we train our clients on, is to when you go and answer the phone or or greet somebody, just be curious and expect nothing.

Just be curious. Can you help?

That's all that you should be coming into. If you start pushing in on, let's get you in, let's do that, let's do this, and people are feeling pushed, you're going too fast.

So you wanna be able to know where they are in their buying process.

Right? Where are they in their buying process?

And make sure that you are somebody they wanna talk to.

Okay?

Now besides their buying process, your client has a decision making process. You might wanna write this down. They're five questions they ask themselves every time. You do the same thing when you're a customer.

Okay? So here's the first question. Do I like you?

Now understand that liking you doesn't mean I'm gonna do business with you. It just means I'm gonna let you on the field to play.

Doesn't mean you're gonna win, but you got a chance. So do I like you?

Do you listen to me? That's the second thing. The second question they ask, do you listen to me?

Do they feel seen and heard and appreciated? How are you showing that up in engaging somebody right off the bat?

Are you trying to impress them with all your knowledge, which, by the way, doesn't work?

Or a much better way is to be completely obsessed about what they're going through when they're doing most of the talking. That makes all the difference in the world. Number three, do you make me feel important?

Do you make me feel important? And let's face it. If you listen to them and you're hearing them and you're asking questions to clarify, and at the end of it, you're using reflective listening and saying, hey. You know, Jimmy, based on what I hear you saying, this is what's going on. Is that correct?

So that I'm sure I'm asking questions that nobody else has asked. I wanna ask you questions no one's ever asked, and I wanna get you thinking about your problem with me as the solution.

That's my goal.

Okay?

Now as we go through this whole process, it's very, very time consuming to do with new people all the time. It gets way easier when you're doing it with the same people over and over again. Okay? So let's talk about some marketing definitions that are really important to client retention today.

And I've got a super, super cool giveaway at the end. I actually built a series of web not web. A series of Excel spreadsheets that you can use to measure your effectiveness with client retention. And I'm gonna give that away to you at the end.

Okay? So here's what's gonna happen. Our first definition is a client acquisition cost. This is basically the cost related to acquiring a new customer.

That could be the campaign itself. It could be in, discounts, etcetera. But those are all there. You wanna measure those, okay, so that you understand what your acquisition cost is.

I'm telling you today, it's not unusual to see a two hundred, two hundred fifty, even three hundred dollar client acquisition cost today in our industry.

That's a lot of money.

Then we have what's called client lifetime value. This measures the value of that client to the business through their full lifespan.

Now the problem I have with this is it's on retail sales.

I've got an intrinsic problem with this. Okay? Because our next talk is about a break even point.

This is where the sum of the profit from a client overcomes the amount of money that you invested in acquiring them. Okay? That's when you've covered your initial cost in getting that client to come into that customer to come into your into your shop.

That's a big deal. And then the last one we wanna be watching is what I call an attrition rate. That's where you wanna measure how many people you've lost over a given period of time compared to the number of people that are coming in as a percentage.

I'm going to tell you that through my experiences over the last hold the five. Hold the phone. Ninety five. Two thousand five. Two thousand fifteen. For almost thirty five years, I have found over and over again that the average shop loses somewhere between seventeen and twenty one percent of their database a year.

That is a real number. You start looking at it, it will surprise the heck out of you. But it's an important number to understand. We're gonna go into each of these as we go forward.

So now your client acquisition cost is simply the marketing dollars divided by the number of new clients that you got through that. And what let's give you an example. So you have a thousand dollars in marketing.

Right? Two hundred dollars in discounts, that's twelve hundred dollars.

You got four new clients from that.

That's a three hundred dollar client acquisition cost.

Okay?

Now think about this, though, for a second. Let's say you have one guy come in one time, one visit. That's it, and it's two hundred bucks.

Okay?

So think about that. Annual value, two hundred dollars. He never comes back again. Two hundred dollars. So you're thinking I'm upside down a hundred bucks.

No.

You're upside down by the amount of that profit. What if the profit on that two hundred dollars is ten bucks?

You're down two hundred ninety dollars.

You can go out of business chasing new clients to the exclusion of anything else if you're not aware of what your what your acquisition cost is and what your breakeven is. Okay?

So, again, look at this. You got two thousand in advertising. Here's another example.

Two thousand in advertising, five hundred dollars in discounts. So that's twenty five hundred dollars. You get a hundred new clients.

That's amazing. Right? Because that's a twenty five dollar acquisition cost. But that's fantastic.

But wait a minute. What about the lifetime value?

Right? Because if they come in at twenty five, right, and they come in, their life hundred bucks and you made five dollars, then you're losing twenty dollars on every vehicle that's coming in.

Twenty bucks.

That's not good. So there's a couple of different numbers you really wanna watch that I didn't talk about today.

When someone comes into your shop the first time, please understand they're a guest.

What I want you to do is find out what percentage is coming back a second time.

Now they become a customer. It's my job to get them from customer to client and from client to raving fan. We're gonna go through that. Okay?

Now you don't wanna be losing twenty bucks on each one. Look at it this way here. You have the original investment in the marketing right here.

And then based on the profit that you generate from that those the the work you do with that person, you're gonna have some period of time, and it's gonna be different for different shops. And it's gonna be based on two things, your client acquisition cost and your profit model. Right?

So if I have a five percent profit model, which is a national average is five to seven percent, that's gonna take me four times longer than if I have a twenty percent profit model.

Okay? But what happens is, and I really hope this is showing it to you, you don't actually break even on this client until right here, the payback.

Then for that entire time going through here, right, continuing on the on this, spectrum, now the green is the profit. This is where you actually get to benefit from the relationship.

And what we wanna be really careful about is the churn.

I was talking to one shop who very proudly told me they had eight hundred new clients in a year.

And I said, wow. That's really amazing. And then very quietly, I said, how many came back?

Less than a hundred.

Less than a hundred. So there's something to be said to make sure that your marketing message is going to the right market, right, the right client base, but it has the right message and the right method of getting it in front of them so that it resonates with them. Basically, marketing is simply recognizing a problem your ideal client has, and the marketing is a promise that you can fix it.

And the better you can do with your marketing as far as getting it in front of the right message, in front of the right people, your churn rate will be really low. But when you're going after just price and you're just, you know, trying to fill the base, you're gonna find that your churn rate is much higher, and you're not gonna be happy with that. You're you're gonna find that it's disappointing, and you're gonna feel like you're always chasing your tail. So this is a very, very important, diagram to be aware of.

You gotta be aware of your lifetime value with your clients. If you don't know, do some studying and find out. Okay? And if there's anything you need help with, anything I'm recommending right now as far as implementing, you run into a snag, you reach out to me, rick at one eighty biz dot com.

I will help you through that snag. There's no cost, no expectation.

Ultimately, I I grew up in this industry, and I know it's it's filled with the most honest people.

I'm here to help you get better. That's my goal. That's my crusade. Okay? So this is a very, very telling diagram.

So now let's talk about attrition rate. Attrition rate, right, is comparing the number of clients that haven't been in for a given period of time compared to the number of new people you've attracted over the same. And, ultimately, your database is gonna do one or two things. It's either growing or it's shrinking.

And, you know, a lot of times, people aren't aware of it shrinking until they're on the react side of it. All of a sudden, I don't have enough work. I don't have enough work. What happened?

Oh, we're too expensive. No. It's not that you're too expensive. You've been losing people and not aware of it, and because of that, your database is shrinking.

So you wanna make sure that's there because I need you to understand that there's a huge difference between attracting somebody and keeping them, and that's where the loyalty ladder starts. Right? That's where it steps in. So the loyalty ladder, what this is is the first thing we do is we start with suspects.

These are people that don't know you even exist.

Now this is hard to understand, but we because when you own the business, man, it's everything to you. Just about every breath you take. Right? Every move you make.

Sorry. That's a song pun. But every breath you take is revolving around your shop. That's normal.

But I guarantee you there are people driving by your shop every single day that don't even know you're there.

So we have suspects. And your goal when you don't have when you have people that don't know who you are is to make them a prospect. And that's where they've come to know that you exist, but they haven't done business with you yet. Right? They don't know enough about you and what you do to justify the hassle of changing.

Because let's face it. A lot of times, people will wanna change their providers, but you gotta fight the devil you know versus the devil you don't know.

Okay? So that is your major factor here. It's not the competition.

It's getting them to feel safe enough to do business with you.

That's really important.

And if you could change your focus on that, like, how do we make it safe? How do they know that when they come here, this is what we're gonna be do? This is how we do it. This is the way we're gonna do it. That's your marketing.

Please understand that your marketing is there to show them that you can address their problem in a very unique way and do it in an amazing way. How are you doing with that?

That's the goal.

That's why today you can't think anybody with four wheels, I can fix their car. That's getting harder and harder to do anyway, isn't it?

I mean, holy crap. I was talking to one of my clients, two weeks ago about a Land Rover that had a computer for the damn steering wheel. Come on.

It's a steering wheel. Right? But these are things you gotta be aware of. So now once you've got them past that hump, they've seen you online, they've seen your your your maybe, hopefully, you're doing some videos, and and you've got testimonials on your website or on on your social media, And now all of a sudden, they're like, okay.

I'm coming in. So now they're a new customer, but I don't call them a customer.

I call them a guest because they've gotta try you on for size.

Number one, are you who you say you are? Do you do what you say you're gonna do? Will I get what I what you say I'm gonna get?

Does it feel good to do business with you? This is important. You know, I see people all the time, you know, stressing the quality of the work they do to get a Google review.

Quality doesn't get you the Google review.

Experience gets you the the Google review. How you made them feel while you were doing business with them, That is what gets you the review.

So now we got a new client. Right? They're a guest. So now they become a repeat customer. They've done business with you more than one time. And as they do business with you, right, and there's a we have a whole another thing on this.

As long as what you're doing is what you said you were gonna do and, you know, you're who you say you are and they're getting what you said you get every single time, then trust is gonna build or it's gonna go away. If consistency isn't there, if caring isn't there, if credibility isn't there, then you're gonna lose them. Right? This is where they become an ex customer, where they have done business with you in the past and they don't anymore.

And, typically, it's either a lack of trust or a lack of perceived value, where they don't understand what they're getting from you. Okay?

So that's really important. But if you can circumvent that and I'll tell you what, you can use marketing to the people that left, and you can do some pretty amazing things.

Excuse me.

Now one of the things I started to tell you was if you got somebody that comes in one time and they never come back again, call them up.

Ask for their feedback.

Find out what what were they expecting, what did they get, what what can you do differently.

Because if you're having a problem retaining new people, that is a really good place to go because you may have the wrong message to the right people, or you may have the wrong message, to the wrong people, right, to the right people. But you just gotta know whether it's your message or who you're going after, or is it execution that is a problem? Because I tell people all the time, there's only one thing worse than not marketing, and that's marketing something you can't deliver consistently.

If you can't deliver it consistently, then don't talk about it.

It's gotta be something you can do every time, every time, every time. Yes. Consistency is boring to a service provider, but it's safety and comfort to our clients.

They wanna know that they can depend on a certain experience.

That's important.

But now that we have the repeat and they keep going, we go to relational now. This is where they've done business with you multiple times. The relationship's grown, and they no longer see you as a salesperson, but, hopefully, they either see you as an adviser or, even better, their advocate, where they got an issue with their vehicle and they know that you're gonna step up as their advocate in the shop and help them achieve the goals that they're looking to have.

Right? Now the whole team should be, but when you can position yourself as that advocate, the amount of trust that goes with that is off the hook good.

Then our final rung is raving fan.

These are people where they are advocates of your business. Right? Well, they'll walk down the street and top peep stop people going down the street telling them they gotta come to see you. It's absolutely amazing when you can get that. And I'm pardon me. I'm willing to bet.

I'm willing to bet that if I could see you right now, we were staying I was standing in front of you asking you this question. How many of you have raving fan clients now?

And people will raise their hand. Everybody will.

So now I'm gonna ask you one more question. How many want more?

And everybody's hand goes up all the time. What I need you to understand is the raving fans you have now, honestly, it's been kismet.

The way you're doing stuff is exactly what they want. They love it, and they become raving fans, and that's a natural byproduct.

If you wanna grow your raving fans and be more intentional about that, then you have got to step up and do something different. Let me show you why.

Let's say we calculate the lifetime value of a raving fan.

Let's say they got two vehicles. They're going to come in between two or three times a year.

Very, very conservative numbers here. Three let's say it's three hundred dollars, average invoice, which is really low.

Then that would give us an eighteen hundred dollar a year annual value. And let's say they stay with you for five years. I know you've got people that have stayed longer. You have some that have stayed less. Let's say the average is five years.

Then that would give you a lifetime value of nine thousand dollars for that client, And that's pretty cool. But let me ask you a question. How many clients do you how many referrals do you get from that one great client? Right? That raving fan. Let's say really, really conservatively, you got one per year.

Now think about this for a second. They're gonna be referring people that are just like them. So birds of a feather flock together. That's the rule. Right? It's not it's not the hard and fast, but for the most part, they're gonna they're gonna send you people that are just like them. They're gonna hang out together.

That lifetime value is gonna be worth about nine thousand dollars per, which gives you a value of referrals of forty five thousand. Now we could actually go out even further than that.

Excuse me. I'm getting over a cold.

You could go even further than that and go multigenerational, but we're just gonna keep it on this single level. Your value of referrals of forty five thousand, So that gives you fifty four thousand dollars for that one client.

Now I've got this built into an Excel sheet so you can figure this out, right, using your numbers, so you can figure out what the natural value is.

Okay? It's in the Excel sheet. You don't even have to worry about this.

But then what creates a one time client? So now we've gone well, if we don't get if we only get somebody comes in once, we're not gonna get our money back on what it cost us to get them. But if we get a raving fan, that's amazing. So now let's step back and talk about what are some of the things they're gonna make someone come in once and never come in again.

Number one, they feel like a number.

They feel like a wallet with legs. If you've ever seen Madagascar, the movie with your kids or grandkids, you know, the lion at one point's looking at the zebra, and it's a steak with legs.

Right? I I just love that graphic.

How many people go into an auto repair shop today, change the dealers, etcetera, and they feel like a wallet with legs?

That's a big deal. You don't want them to feel like a number. You wanna create an experience for them. You don't wanna make it miserable for them. You know, in every interaction with a client, you have one of three possibilities.

You can create moments of magic, moments of mediocrity, or moments of misery.

You wanna make them moments of magic. And what's the amazing thing about this is?

You, because you're the owner, are the author of that story. You get to decide what that story looks like.

So be intentional about it. Don't be so busy doing it, doing it, doing it that you don't step back and get you and your team to see the people you're working with and for, because that's a big deal.

What else creates a a one time client, A one time customer? A lack of trust.

Right? When they feel trust has been broken, hey. I'm gonna have your car done tonight. Oops.

Sorry. Not tonight. Oops. Sorry. Not tomorrow. Oops. Sorry. Not the next day. Or, hey. Right?

Because that's a character issue.

Trust part of trust is character. Part of trust is caring. Part of trust is credibility.

Part of trust is consistency.

These are all the different ingredients in trust. If you fall short on any area, then you're have a problem.

Right?

I have people I trust. Like, I trust the person, but I don't trust their skill.

Like, I don't believe they're credible in doing some of the work that I need done.

How have they taught me that? Because I've brought them something with my car. I live in Virginia. I bring them my car.

They can't fix it two, three times. I love you to the end of the earth, but I can't keep bringing it back to you. I gotta find someone that can fix this. So it's a lack of trust can cause a onetime customer.

And the last one, and it's the worst one, is no connection.

When you have advisers on the front counter that are like Joe Friday from Dragnet, and if you don't get that, Google it. But it's just the facts, ma'am. You don't wanna connect with the client. But the reality is until you can connect with them, you can't get to the wallet.

You can't get them to see you as a valued provider until they understand how much you care, how much you see them, how much you wanna help them.

This is really, really important.

Your number one goal should be to keep people safe, not fix broken cars. Yes. Keep the vehicle safe, keep it reliable, and keep it efficient.

My goal when I had clients come in, I wanted them to have their car to five hundred thousand miles, and I wanted them to have it fifteen to twenty years after they bought it because that's when the car made money for them. Think about that for a sec. If you've got a five to thirteen year old vehicle in your shop, I'm finding that's about the average, fleet age right now in a shop, getting your clients to invest twelve to eighteen hundred dollars a year in maintenance and repair is like a hundred to a hundred and fifty dollars a month.

Compare that to a used car payment of six hundred plus today.

Used car.

And the average loan is seventy seven months.

So you gotta have that connection.

What I need you to understand with this loyalty ladder, it's very simple. What fuels the climb, it's trust that fuels the climb up. When they feel like you're in their corner, right, when it's not about making a sale, but helping them get to where they wanna go, and when they know you've got their back, that is when you become that trusted advisor or advocate, and you both win.

So how do you deal with this?

Jimmy, before I get going on any of this, do we have any questions?

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. We we actually have a ton of questions.

And I are you good to answer questions right now? I mean, you're opening this up, so we it's yes. There are questions. Are you ready?

Alright. Tell you what. I've got six more slides. Let me finish the slides.

Okay.

And then we can get to the camera so we can see each other and talk.

And I think that would actually be a a little better. What do you think?

Okay. Six slides and and the questions will come. So everybody, type in your questions. Use the questions box.

Put in your questions there. Keep asking them because I've got a lot of questions. So I know you have a lot of questions as well because we're we're hearing some some great information coming from Rick, and and I can't wait to ask these. So go ahead.

Type those questions in, and, Rick, back to you.

Alright. Appreciate that. So how do we deal with this? There's really two ways to do this.

For you to keep your client retention and to get it so that you're more profitable quicker, there's only two ways to do that. Number one is to lower your client acquisition cost.

Right? When you can go from three hundred a ticket, right, for off the street refer you know, off the street, got somebody off the street through a bunch of ads and such to maybe a referral from a great raving fan, now it's significantly lower.

Okay? Now the other way is to increase the lifetime value amount, where you can keep them in working with you for a longer period of time with you helping them get to where they wanna go. So it's not so much, you know, when you're in a shop and you're just fixing broken cars, your customer is the one instigating the visit every time.

When you switch that to keeping people safe on the road, now you are instigating the visits.

So you wanna instigate those visits in a moral, ethical, and legal way and help them achieve the goals that they're looking for on that vehicle. And it's really important that you understand what those goals are. But let's look at the different stages of a client relationship.

Okay? These are the the seven phases. Number one, they gotta get to know you, like you, and trust you. Now I'm gonna push back on trust a little bit.

Trust is a big word to use. Trust is earned over time. Here's what I'd like to say instead.

You're credible. They know you. They like you, and they believe you can do what you say you can do.

That's not trust. That's the beginning of trust. Right? So trust is gonna be coming over time. And, again, caring, character, consistency, credibility, all of those have gotta be there every every time.

And what's really cool about this, please understand that every relationship you have, I want you to imagine an imaginary trust account right here.

And every interaction with that person, I don't care if it's a client, a vendor, an employee, a or a team member, a, family member, your spouse, significant other, mom, dad, I don't care what it is. Every interaction you have is either a deposit into that trust account or a withdrawal out of it. Let me give you an example. I'm married. I'm sure a bunch of you are.

I have done something stupid.

I'm a man. I have done something stupid in the past. And when the trust account is high between my wife and I, she just laughs it off. It's no big deal.

But when the trust account is low, that same stupid little thing has momentous proportions to it, not because of what I did, but because it's a reflection. Her reaction is a reflection to where the trust account is. So I'm gonna ask you, if you get nothing else out of this, I'm gonna ask you to make sure that you're intentionally making deposits.

Okay? Now the other thing I think I did, and I wanna forgive please ask for forgiveness.

Five questions we ask in a buying decision.

Do I like you? We talked about that.

Do you listen to me? Talked about that. Do you make me feel important?

Got that.

Do you get me in my problem?

I apologize. I did not talk about that.

Do you get me and my problem?

The only way we can show them that we get their problem is when we let them talk.

Don't listen to somebody for thirty seconds. Go, oh, yeah. I know what it is. And then in an attempt, honest attempt, to show them that you know what you're talking about, you diminish what they're going through, and you're like, oh, it's no big deal. It's just this. We'll take care of it.

That does not make them feel heard, and it does not make them feel important. It doesn't make them feel like you've got their problem.

Listen to them. Yes. It might be the thirtieth time you've heard this, but it's the first time they're saying it. It's really important they feel good about it. So that's the fourth question. Fifth question, do I trust and believe you?

Again, trust is more a belief. Do I believe you can do what you say you can do? Credibility.

But those are the five questions each and every one of us ask every time we're in a buying situation.

So now let's go back to this know, like, and trust. Now we do try. That's where they're a guest.

Now they buy, and they repeat.

And then at the end, they're raving fans, and they refer.

Please understand that referrals are the highest form of flattery that you can get, bar none, highest form of flattery. So watch your referrals.

Watch your testimonials. Are you tracking them? How many a month are you getting? What percentage are you getting based on the ticket you're working on? What if you set a goal up for ten percent? I wanna get ten percent referrals. I wanna get ten percent testimonials and reviews.

Rick, you're on drugs. Maybe.

But if you're only getting two or three a month now and you go you kinda jump onto the dark side with me, right, And and all of a sudden, you're saying, holy crap. Now I'm getting thirty, forty, fifty a month?

It works.

So please understand that as you're going through the different relationships, right, the different stages, your marketing method and message is gonna change as you go throughout. In other words, what got people to start doing business with you isn't gonna be the same message that keeps them doing business with you. So you've gotta be aware of that. So let's talk about some strategies.

Number one, be consistent.

Right? Consistency means you feel the same every time. You're gonna make people feel safe and they're gonna have confidence in you. Secondly, offer value.

You gotta know what what differentiates you from your competitors.

I can't tell you how many shop owners, when I ask this simple question, If why would I, as a prospective client, drive by three of your competitors to do business with you? You'd be amazed at how many people can't shop owners can't answer that question.

And that's scary because if you don't know what your value is, then the only thing you can compete on is price, and it's a race to the bottom.

Next, deliver on your promises. Keep your world, keep your word. It's pretty rare in the world today to have someone that does that, and the best way to do that is to stop overpromising.

If you think like, I I've seen it before. Advisors are looking. It's one o'clock. Right? And they're thinking, man, it's a three hour job. If I get the parts, you you know, when they say they're gonna be and the tech can get on it and everything goes right, I can get it done today at five.

So they make a promise for today at five.

I have a very simple question to y'all.

When when does anything ever go perfectly the way it's supposed to?

Never build that into your presentation.

If you think it's gonna be done tonight, tell them tomorrow night.

Better to be done early and and and amaze them than to have something go sideways, and you've painted yourself into a corner, and now you're just killing that credibility.

So deliver on your promises.

Number four, make it an experience. Go beyond just fixing or servicing their vehicle. You wanna see them. You wanna hear them.

You wanna appreciate them. You wanna make it easy for them to do business with you. Right? That's the big thing.

You wanna get this so it's just so painless to get their car serviced and repaired. I'm a tell you now. If I had a shop in this area, because I've I've been here now for seventeen years. I still haven't found a shop, man, that can do stuff the way I wanna get it done.

If I had a shop that called me up and said, hey, Rick. Your truck's due for service. Can we pick it up tomorrow?

I gotta tell you something. I would just about fall on the floor, catatonic.

That would be the that would mean the world to me.

How easy can you make it with your clients?

And then next, set reminders and follow ups. You wanna make sure that you're helping them keep that vehicle on the road safe, reliable, and efficient. The way you're gonna do that is by staying in front of them with the things that you found.

You're not there to sell them anything.

You're there to let them know what their vehicle's condition is, know where they wanna go, and then show them a path that's gonna help them get there. That's it. And then the next thing is stay in touch with me.

I don't wanna hear fumia only when you need money.

I want you to stay in touch with me. Send me an article that you think I might like or, you know, hey. Let's talk about something or, you know, you you you just different stuff, man. It doesn't have to be a big deal, but stay in touch.

Newsletters.

You know, one company that's amazing at this is American Express. Even today, we have the, American Express, American Express gold and platinum cards, and they're in touch with us twelve, fourteen times a year, but it's with relative data. Like, it's stuff we want to get.

What are you doing to stay in front of your team? Your your your clients, I should say. And then last, ask for reviews. Ask for referrals.

It's really, really important.

Okay?

Now the other thing as far as staying in touch, use live videos.

It amazes me how many shop owners will not put the time into put using a video because they're afraid of how they're gonna look.

I hope that my time here with you has dis you know, just dispelled that whole myth right there. I have been anything but perfect, but my heart is in the right place, and I wanna give you a great message. And I'm hoping that that message will overcome and cover up any improprieties as far as the words I've used or starting a sentence and kinda change in midstream. That's really important.

Okay? And then the last thing is use technology.

Use technology, texting, messaging, email, snail mail. Man, whatever works, do it. Okay?

Next, the secret weapon that very few shops consistently take advantage of, excuse me, that is connecting.

Right? It's creating a relationship that goes beyond selling repairs and maintenance. It's getting it's about getting to know them and and becoming their car guy or car gal. And there's really four easy ways. There's an acronym of doing this, and it really works out well in getting to know them. I call it FROG.

Okay?

FROG stands for family, recreation, occupation, and goals.

So here's the thing.

I've got seven grandkids.

You wanna start talking grandkids? You better pull up a chair. I got so many stories and just some insights and stuff that I've had as my in my journey as a grandfather. Or recreation.

I love camping, and I'll I've I've worked with, the scouting, the the scout organization for years and years. I'll talk to you about that and the difference it's made.

I love it. I'll talk to you about the impact I get to make every day with people and what an amazing blessing it is. Or I'll talk to you about some of the goals I want, how I wanna make that impact even bigger. So, yeah, these are things that you can talk to people about.

It's good to ask, and you can use little, signals around. Like, you see car seats. Wow. Kids or grandkids. Now you gotta be careful with that one. Some people might get pretty offended if they're, you know, parents.

Or you see a, you know, an honor student sticker on the back of the you Okay? So now here's what we're gonna do. I promise you that Okay? So now here's what we're gonna do. I promised you that Excel sheet. I, put that together especially for you guys, for.

Just bring your camera up on your cell phone.

Don't take a picture of the QR code. Just scan it, and you'll see a little button pops up. It'll say open in Chrome or Safari. Click that, fill it out, and you've got it. Or you can text retention to eight three three six zero two eight four six three, and you will get sent it will send you back a link in text so that you can get that Excel sheet. It's very, very cool. It's completely yours to use, and it's my thank you for being here today.

Now in conclusion what's that, Jake?

Rick, we got questions, brother.

I got one question.

Go to conclusion. You better you better whip it out quick, brother.

I'm gonna. Number one, track what you're spending on marketing. That's a big thing. Don't just spend money.

Nineteen o two, John Wanamaker, father of the department store, once said half my advertising is wasted. The problem is I don't know which half. Today, that's a sin. There's no reason for it.

With Kikuy and everything like that they've got, the tracking numbers and everything, you should know. And please understand that when you're tracking your marketing, you wanna track your marketing to phone calls.

That's it. Don't compare it to the campaign spend. There's too many pieces in between.

So number two, measure the number of people it brings in. Calculate your your acquisition cost, measure your current long term value lifetime value, and then create a program around connection that's gonna increase the lifetime value exponentially, making your days easier, brighter, and more profitable.

I'm done.

Okay. Now, Sue, I've got questions here. And and, Matthew, thank you very much. He sent in about six questions all in. One one one little post here.

At the beginning, you mentioned that it is How do we get our cameras showing, Jimmy?

You gotta stop sharing your screen.

Stop sharing your screen.

It should come right up.

There we go.

Okay. So, alright, so to Matthew's question, I'm gonna ask his questions first because, my questions can wait. To his question, you mentioned at the beginning, it's isn't always about just getting the customer in.

You mentioned at the beginning that it isn't always about just getting the customer in. Can you explain this more?

Absolutely.

Once you've got them in like, I'm gonna start off expecting nothing. Right? So low perception of self interest.

That way, they're they can see me as making their agenda my agenda. That's the goal. Okay? Mhmm. But once I get them in, I had no problem telling somebody, Jimmy, if you brought your car into my my shop, I would say, hey, Jimmy. Listen. I'm not here to fix your car today.

I wanna become your car guy. Like, if anything goes wrong with the car, my goal in this relationship is that I'm the guy you're gonna talk to. In fact Mhmm. I don't wanna be your car guy. I wanna be your kid's car guy and your grandkids' car guy.

That's the kind of relationship I'm looking for.

Okay. So so to that idea, don't we want to get those customers in so we can show them that we can be trusted, that we can be the guy?

Yes. Absolutely.

Because I think we're talking about two different things here. Go ahead.

It's two different well, we definitely wanna have new people coming in because, again, remember, about twenty percent of our database is going away every year. So because of that, you wanna have I tell shops all the time, you wanna have a twenty percent growth rate to maintain and thirty to grow, thirty to thirty five to grow. Okay?

It's really, really important to understand that while you're doing that, that's important, but most of your time and effort should be spent on the people you already know and do business with because you get a lot more bang for your buck with people you've already doing business with versus new people you gotta pull in off the street. Right.

Right. Yeah. I mean, there's always a fortune in that follow-up, and and if you can get those customers to come back in a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth time, man, now you've got them as the raving fans. Now you've got them as that referral source for you. So, yeah, there there's a fortune to follow.

You mentioned, to call and call those one time customers. So I'm thinking specifically of that shop that said, oh my gosh. We had eight hundred new customers this year. How many came back? A hundred. Okay. So they've got seven hundred phone calls to make.

Are you are you really saying make seven hundred phone calls?

If they had time and could make the time to do it, what kind of information could they pull out of it?

I think they could pull valuable information for sure. Absolutely.

It's bigger than you gotta be careful. You gotta be careful, Jimmy, because if I only call five people, I don't think that's a big enough, spread.

Yeah. It's not a big enough sample.

Right? It's not a good data sample to get.

So I wanna get because here's the truth. As an owner, what happens? You see eight, seven hundred people not come back. You're already telling yourself stories inside.

My my prices are too much. We we try to oversell them, and it's all crap that's not true. Right? Typically, it's a bad match.

Right? Either they weren't the right person to be bringing in, or you were making a promise you couldn't keep, something like that. So you wanna it it's a way for you to fine tune your market, your message, and your method. That's what we talk about all the time when we're coaching.

Yeah. Yeah. For sure. K. So I'm gonna I'm gonna summarize the this final question that I have for you into the message, into customers, retaining customers versus new customers.

You mentioned a little bit about that the message will change. The message that got them in is not the same message that will keep them. So my question is, with all that in mind, do you treat a returning customer the same as a new customer?

Yes.

K. Like, now? What? To what degree?

Go ahead. So let's say I'm gonna give you a real quick here's probably the best example. Let's say you've got a really good customer. He throws you the key, says, just fix it. You don't give him an estimate. You just fix it.

One of the most dangerous things you could ever do with a relationship in the world. Here's why.

Because that great relationship you have, what you're not aware of is that client, that raving fan right now, is walking out of the shop with a price in his head.

And as long as whatever you're doing is at or below that price, you guys are still in love, the honeymoon's going, and we're all good.

But if that price is more than what he expected or she expected, They're not gonna be mad at you. They're gonna be upset with themselves for not keeping control of it, but they're gonna blame you.

And it's gonna take remember I talked about deposits and withdrawals in that trust account?

Mhmm.

That's a withdrawal in the trust account. What I see shops do is we work all this time really, really hard doing this and this and this and this to build these great relationships, and then we stop doing it.

We start taking shortcuts because I don't have to.

My recommendation is you treat them just like the day they came in the first time, right, so that they never feel like they don't matter.

Right? Let me give you another quick example, Jimmy. I have a shop. I I got two cars that are supposed to go tonight, but only one can go. One's a new client. The other one's a really, really great client.

Right?

Nine times out of ten, the shop will ask the great client if they can hold their car one more day so that they can impress the shit out of this new guy. Pardon me. I'm sorry. They can impress the new guy. Right? But for me, that's like a bird in the bush versus a bird in the hand.

I am always gonna take amazing care of my great clients first because they're the ones that got me here. They're the ones that are gonna keep me coming here. They may tell you it's okay, but I guarantee you, you just did a withdrawal on deposit, you know, in the trust account. So for me, don't stop. Don't take shortcuts with your best clients.

Do everything you possibly can to do everything to keep them there.

You just hit on exactly what I wanted to hear.

Good. You only took me an hour.

Care of those customers that got you there and continue to impress the crap out of them because you've got them as that raving fan. Continue to keep them as a raving fan. Don't try and convert the new client that you've never met, that you've never taken care of before.

It's like how do we treat family versus friends versus associates? Some people treat associates and friends better than they do family. Mhmm. Don't do that. Treat your family the best you can possibly at all costs. The family is the most important.

And and raving fans are the most important.

Absolutely. It's like being married, Jimmy. If you're married and you want a great relationship, but you're not willing to put the work into it Yeah. You just give and give and give to that relationship, it'll never become what you want it to become.

And at some point, they don't feel valued, loved, and important anymore, and they go away. Yeah. What is the leading cause of people leaving a business? Sixty eight percent indifference of an employee.

Yeah.

That's a sin. That's a sin. Oh, it is.

That way. It's terrible. Well, thank you very much, Rick. Really appreciate your time today. Mahalo, brother.

You you definitely helped us out. Thank you so much. Appreciate you being here. Everybody, this is my cell phone.

Give me a text message. Give me a phone call. This is my email address.

What can we do? Let's lock arms so that together we can be that driving force in your market so that you're the best of the best in everything you do. With that, thank you very much, and we'll see you again.

Small Town Auto Shop Gets Big Time Results Using KUKUI

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 18:00:00 GMT

No Shop’s Too Small to See Gains from KUKUI’s Advanced Customer Care Platform

In Northern California, Rocha’s Automotive has made a name for itself despite being in a small town of just 9,000 people. They’ve built up a steady stream of clientele by providing expert service along with exemplary customer care and leveraging KUKUI’s advanced platform.

The Right Tools to Reach Higher Goals

When Ken and Angie Rocha first heard about KUKUI, they were the #2 ATI shop in the country. Clearly, their services were next level, but at the same time they were sending out personal service reminders manually. That’s about the time Ken set even higher goals for the business and the Rochas began looking at how to nab the #1 ATI shop title while providing even better service.

Treating their customers like more than customers has always been a cornerstone of their business, which is why Rocha’s Automotive took the time to send out personal service reminders. They wanted to maintain a personal touch; they just needed a more efficient way of going about it.

The Rochas fully understood the importance of investing in technology to grow their business and improve services even further. Rocha’s Automotive had been the first auto shop in their service area to offer digital vehicle inspections (DVI). When they came across KUKUI at a SuperConference the Rochas saw the value in being the first shop in their area to implement KUKUI’s communication, marketing and DVI tools .

Their only concern was whether KUKUI was too advanced for their small shop. That the suite of tools may be more than what they needed. As they soon discovered, KUKUI turned out to be everything they didn’t know they needed and could easily be utilized to grow their customer base.

KUKUI helped build a wider bridge of communication between Rocha’s Automotive and their customers. It was a connection that proved to be highly beneficial during the COVID pandemic when in-person interaction was limited. They had professional phone features, live web chat, text and email communication at their disposal all from the KUKUI platform.

Rocha’s Automotive has fully utilized KUKUI’s relationship building tools for everything from reviewing recordings of phone conversations to improve employee training to measuring the effectiveness of email marketing campaigns as soon as they’re launched. For the Rochas, their investment in KUKUI has clearly paid off.

Technology That Supports Company Culture

Rocha’s Automotive company culture is centered on building relationships with customers, and they recognized KUKUI as a tool for supporting that. From giving their website a much-needed update to helping analyze Google Ad campaigns, KUKUI has helped Rocha’s Automotive communicate their company culture across multiple channels.

Part of effectively communicating their company culture is connected to how Rocha’s Automotive manages and responds to their online reviews, which have increased dramatically since using KUKUI. With KUKUI review management tools Angie and Ken can see when they have a new review. Each review is an opportunity to show how much they care about their customers and meeting their needs.

Better Technology Leads to More Business

Since implementing KUKUI Rocha’s Automotive has experienced several benefits and significant return on investment. Key improvements include:

● 20% increase in number of clients

● Projected 2021 annual income $2 million ($200,000 higher than average)

● Increase from 50 to 200 Google reviews

The Rochas will tell you those impressive numbers don’t fully represent what KUKUI has done for their auto shop. Because for Rocha’s Automotive, being able to provide their customers with unbeatable service is priceless.

Learn What KUKUI Can Do for Your Business

Our team is ready to help you expand your business with a comprehensive platform that was engineered for the automotive industry. It has everything you need to manage your marketing and client communication, plus a whole lot more.

Request a free demo to test drive the KUKUI platform and see what it can do for your automotive business.

Customer Acquisition

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 19:31:05 GMT

"Feed Me Seymour!"

My retention is high, and my time per ticket is strong.

I need more new blood into the shop.

I have the space, capacity, and ability to service more new customers. How can I use my KUKUI All-In-One Platform as the magnetic tool of Acquisition?

Join Jimmy Lea, Product Evangelist for KUKUI, and Ben Boyce, Customer Success Specialist as they discuss the many ways KUKUI’s All-In-One Success Platform can help you to attract new customers!

Should I Join an Association?

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:27:42 GMT

Why would I ever want to join an automotive association? I'm only one shop, what can I contribute?

Many hands make the/our job easier! What is the job you ask of an association?!? To provide value to the industry via education and training, networking, learning from fellow shop owners, trade shows, conferences, and keeping you aware of current government events.

Your participation protects the Independent Automotive Industry from overreaching government laws and regulations. You will not be asked on day 1, nor day 365, to run the entire program. It's all voluntary and one person can't do it all.

Come join Jimmy Lea, KUKUI Product Evangelist, Sheri Hamilton, Executive Director of MWACA, and Travis Troy, Honest Wrenches shop owner, as we discuss what an association can do for you and your shop.

Webinar Transcript:

This is a webinar talking about an association. Why have an association? What's the value of an association?

Is there any value for me to be part of an association? Oh, you know what? I get value from an association even if I'm not a member. But that's not the point. The point is that together, all of us can lift this behemoth and make things happen. Together, we can be a value to each other. This is going to be a great discussion, a great conversation.

The questions box is where we want to put in those comments, questions, concerns in your question box. So go ahead and go to your questions box on the control panel and type in where you are joining us from today in that questions box. Go ahead and type in where you are joining us from today because I will be the voice for you to make sure that these questions are asked of my guest form today.

Super awesome. Thank you, Joan. Joan is logging in from Denver, and Bobby's from Leesburg.

Who else is here? And Carl from Renton, Washington. Carl, thank you. Mike from Santa Cruz. Rick from Phoenix.

Who else is here?

McKenna from Texas.

Oh, you guys are awesome. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I'm super excited.

Awesome that you are here. Awesome that we can have this discussion together.

And for those of you who know, that's what we're here to have as a discussion. Kukui is about bringing value to the industry, value to you as a shop owner.

Kukui, are these beads that I am wearing. Kukui, the word, has deep meaning to our company. It's the name of our company, and the name the word Kukui translates from Polynesian to English to say, enlighten or to enlighten or enlightenment.

And that's what we're here today to provide is enlightenment for you so that you can see what the future holds or what you can do in your patch, in your area, with your people.

This is super awesome. I'm excited to be able to bring this to you. And thank you to KUKUI for sponsoring our event today as we are discussing an association.

There are associations all across the country. Which is the right one? Which one should I get involved with? Which one is has the value for me?

Where are we gonna go? So my name is Jimmy Lee. I will be the host for you today. I'll be the host with the most the product evangelist for KUKUI.

You've got questions. We've got the answers, so go ahead and type those into the questions box as we are going along. We'll go ahead and ask those questions of our panel. Speaking of our panel, our panel is made up of some awesome, awesome people, really good friends.

I I love to call them friends. I'm honored to call them friends. First is mister Travis Troy with Honest Wrench. Travis is a co owner of Honest Wrench, went through college and university thank you.

To be a technician and now finding himself as a co owner. Thank you, Travis. I appreciate you being here, brother.

Appreciate you having me on. Thanks a lot.

Cool. Thank you. Thank you. As well is mister Brian Kelly, owner of Valley Automotive Repair and Electric. Brian, good to see you. Thank you very much.

Yeah. Thank you, Jimmy. Appreciate being here, and, looking forward to the conversation.

Yes. Awesome. Awesome. Thank you. And, let's see who else. And we also have miss Sherry Hamilton, executive director of the Auto Care Alliance.

Thank you, Sherry. Thank you for being here. Really appreciate you being the voice of all associations today.

Thank you. Thank you so much for having us.

Nice. Thank you. So we we have some awesome things to talk about, specifically going into associations.

What is an association?

What is an automotive association?

Sherry, what is what is an automotive association?

An automotive association is a group of automotive repair shop owners and others who support the industry. They come together, they group together, and they're working, networking, training together. They have mentoring programs together, benefits, a lot of resources that are difficult to find if you're just out in business, kind of doing business on your own day to day, you know, doing your eight to five or or some, it's more six to six AM to ten PM, and you don't have time to get out and connect. This gives you a form, a platform to be able to meet and connect with others with like minded issues and challenges.

And, you're not in this alone. That's the best thing about associations is you are not in this alone.

Yeah. I agree. There's a lot of shop owners that really feel like they're on this desert island that they're the only ones.

And this allows them to rub shoulders, rub elbows with others in the industry that are also part of the industry.

And I I wanted to add to that and just say, you know, they're an association's about relationship, and that is so much of what you find when you get into any association.

It's it's relationship. It's it's the people around you. It's so much of of what you you mean. Sure. You said it beautifully when you said you're working nine to five. Where do you have the time to find these other things unless you can go for that network exists? And and I to me, that's always the backbone.

Well, and like Sherry said, most shop owners are working just over just a little bit more than a half a day. You know, that six AM to ten PM, that's just a little bit more than half a day. Where do you find the time? So, Brian, to you, you opened this up here. What does what does the ACA what does it do for you? What does the Auto Care Alliance do for you?

So when I think of the, ACA, the first thing that, the obviously, the first thing that comes to mind for me, as I said a minute ago, is relationship. It brings people who are in the industry and who care about the industry and are dedicated to the industry together. And and being in a room full of those people, I mean, I I think back to the first first time I ever attended a meeting even before I was a shop owner. And the amount of love that I saw in the northwest, just true caring for people, caring for others' business.

And and it spoke to me ever since. And I you know, I've been a member, I mean, pretty much, I think, the second within two weeks of opening my shop doors, there was somebody there to tell me about the association, and I was a member. And, you know, that's back in two thousand four. So I I think back, and and I I can tell you I wouldn't be where I am today were it not for the association.

I would have taken probably a much different path, much more painful path.

And I I can tell you the success that I've enjoyed would look much different. And maybe I wouldn't call it success. Maybe I just straight call it failure.

You know? And there's and there's a good story to share at some point that, that I I may put out there to to even even emphasize where that goes. So that's that's really what speaks to me in this.

Alright. Well, let's get Travis's idea on what the association does for him, and then I'm always good for a good story.

Absolutely. I mean, you guys you guys have hit some amazing points.

The association for me, I mean, deep down inside it, it means everything to me.

Josh and I, when when we opened, back in two thousand and eleven and and couldn't rub two nickels together, you know, trying to figure things out and and learn, you know, that the current now president of Midwest Auto Care Alliance, Tim Davidson, stepped into our doors and introduced himself, and, that's how we got a part of the association.

And this, you know, this association here, that I become extremely passionate about, I I would not be where I am today, you know, without the help of the association and the people that I've met along the way on a local level. And not only that, on a national level, you know, we've got, members all across the country. So, those connections, those people that you can reach out to and talk to and and just get advice from or provide advice to.

That's really what an association is. We've got that ability as independent shop owners to be a part of that where you've got, you know, large franchises and or dealerships and stuff like that. They're large enough that they have those resources.

Us smaller independent shops, we don't have those resources. We need to be a part of an association, in order to be able to to be a powerhouse and have those resources and work together.

Yeah. Yeah. So so we're all we're all working together. And I appreciate you saying that that this is where we can come together.

And I think both of you probably have a similar story about the success or failure of your shop and how it is that the association helped you, which is really what I wanna get to. This isn't just a a a banner on your wall. You know, Travis, you've got the Milwaukee there behind you. It's just not just a banner and a a ribbon and and a meeting once in a while, the dinner once in a while.

There is more to it. But before we get into that, Brian, what what is your story of your success or failure of your business?

As I was listening, one other thing occurred for me as well, which is I really haven't heard the benefits, you know, the financial benefits mentioned so far. And, you know, that's often the case for long time members. The financial benefits mean so much less than the personal benefits. And the story I was gonna share really is about that personal side, and I found myself locked in a and I'll make this as as brief as I can because it's a it's a ten year story.

And, I found myself locked in a just a absolutely awful, awful legal battle that I've been fighting for. I think I was at at the ten year mark at this point, and, I was fighting with the city. I was fighting with the county. I was fighting with a neighbor who, I mean, just when you when you see what was going on at her level, the only word I can use to describe it is, chaotic and and borderline crazy.

And as this as this, was, you know, tumbling down in my world for ten years, I mean, it took it took a toll on me. And I found myself, you know, becoming more ingrained in the fight than I was in the business.

And and I continued to fight because I justified it in my head that if I didn't fight the fight, the business would fail and then everything fails. And so my focus became really about winning this battle. And, you know, ten might have been close to twelve years, and then somewhere in that realm, we went to an association meeting with, my local guys from the northwest.

And little did I know they had another agenda.

And, that agenda involved I think this is twenty thirteen or fourteen. Yeah. So it's right on the ten year mark. They, they dragged me into a hotel room, four of them.

And I I I always explained it as verbally assaulted me for the next two hours, fed me a few cocktails, and then booted me out the door. And, and the whole intent of what they did was to to really bring to bring my awareness up to what was happening. And they cared enough to speak truth. They cared enough to literally just cram it down my throat and then stuff me out the door so I had to think about it.

And, you know, it well, I'm gonna tell you it was about midnight, maybe one o'clock in the morning when they booted me out of that hotel. There's no cab service. I mean, I I had to find my way back to a room with all of this going on in my head, which is the greatest thing they ever could have done for me. And and that's what positioned me to later on within two months of doing this, I found myself knocking on a person's door to purchase the building that my shop exists in now.

So were it not for that conversation, were it not for that that heavy handed approach that they knew that I needed. And and really, it all all came out of love in their heart because they could see that this battle I was going through was it was insignificant. It was about land. It was about a building.

The real the real answer was go get another building.

And they brought that clarity to me. And and they did it they didn't do it because they had to. They didn't do it because anybody paid them to do it. They did it because we we had gotten to know each other through this association, and they cared enough to to make that impact on my life and complete world of change. You know, it it I I can tell you to this day, I would I it was a high chance I might be divorced.

There's a high chance that I wouldn't have my business, and my life would look completely different. Did did those guys not drag me into that room and, as I always say, verbally assault me for two or three hours and and boot me back out in the world. And and and that's the kind of stuff that happens when you build relationship, when you're when you're willing to get real in the association and draw upon the other people around you because they have stories to tell. They've all been through something. I guarantee you. You don't go through ten, twenty years of business and not have a story.

And and how else do you get to hear those stories than put yourself in a room full of people?

I agree a hundred percent. And, Brian, I've actually never heard that story. That is that is pretty powerful. And, you know, our our local association has had several of those success stories, you know, where we've been able to step in and and help local shop owners. You know, we had a a very small, one man operation, and it was too him and his wife. And, you know, he fell out of a tree and and broke his collarbone.

And, he was the technician.

That was him. And so, you know, several of us local shop owners conquer, divided, and we went to town and started sending our technicians down there fixing cars for him while he was in, you know, recovery and and bringing cars to our shops. And, that's really what an association is. You have got not just you. You don't have the people inside your four walls. You've got an entire association that cares about your well-being and your success, and it doesn't matter if you're right next door. That's that's really what it is.

Yeah.

It's family. I mean, it's it's another layer of family is what it becomes.

Exactly. And where else would you find that type of community?

That quickly. So being connected. And if you join an association and you just sit back as a member and you don't get involved, you don't attend meetings, you don't get involved in, you know, online training and other networking opportunities, you have a really hard time getting connected to these type of resources. And where else could you find something like that if you're a shop sitting on the corner all by yourself with no connections?

This gets you immediate connection, And there's no, oh, you're my competition. I'm not gonna help.

That doesn't that doesn't exist. I mean, this this is a community that, is just what the what I've seen happen in the way of they become friends, they become your family.

You know, I grew up in this industry and my parents had a repair shop and were members of the association.

And to see that love and support that they received when they had their business, when they retired from their business, and then when they had health crisis later on, is absolutely amazing. So this is this is really more than an association. It can become a family, but it takes action on your part. You can't always expect the association to come to you. You come to them, and then you're gonna experience that outreach very easily and with open arms.

So so you're saying, Sherry, that that the, verbal assaultment that Brian got, that's not normal.

That's not encouraged per se.

No. No. No. No. No. That that is a very rare but much needed situation in that.

I I'm sure with the the leaders that I don't know that that verbal assault is the right word, but Right.

Yeah. His words.

I'm serious. I think It's the right it's the right word. It's it's a loving assault. And It was And you'd have to know me you'd have to know me well enough to know that nothing else would work.

Right. And they and they loved me enough to know that. And they cared enough about my family, the the business, my employees to say, hey. You know what?

Brian's Brian's not gonna just listen to a casual conversation.

We're gonna have to disarm him, and we're just gonna have to lay it out there. And once once you once you beat him hard enough, he'll you know, I'm thick headed. I don't I don't just, you know, I don't just do. So they but they knew that well enough to to do it.

And and where else would you find that? And where else would you find the quality of people and the experience and and all of the things that are needed to cause what I what I call a mental shift. Because when you're locked and loaded into something, all you see is what your aim is is pointed to. And and in my case, in that scenario, my aim was to win the court case.

And I was I was over three hundred and eighty thousand dollars of financial cost at that point. And, I mean, there was still another there was still another hundred and twenty to go from that point. So so when you when I say locked and loaded, you know, I'm an all in guy. And I was all in, but I was all in for the wrong target.

I was all in to win the fight, not not the war. And and they, you know and when I say verbally assaulted, that's what I needed. But Yeah. But again, they knew me.

Yeah. They knew me well enough to know. If they did anything else, I was just gonna blow it off and and move on. And I don't know where else should find that.

I've never experienced anything to that level other than in the association world amongst the people who are dedicated to one another and who care enough to actually do it.

And that's and that's the part that speaks to me.

Yeah. And and I love that we can come together as a group. We can lock arms together, as a group.

Guys that are longer in the tooth have been around a while, as well as the younger guys that are just coming out of college thinking, oh, hey. We're gonna go start a business, Travis.

Or start it while you're in college. I mean, hey.

Hey, Josh. We got, like, eight months left of school. Let's go start a shop.

Right. Yes. Yeah. That's, you know.

That's the bold, brave move out of, I call it, ignorance or arrogance. I don't know which one, but you guys you guys went out to do it.

And and for those that are starting brand new, this is this is a great story that helps those that are starting new with the the with the help and assistance that they need. What what's your story here, Troy Travis?

Yeah. So, you know, Josh and I, we were met in college. We were working, you know, in a garage and, got shut down by the city, and we were just working to to pave our way through college. I mean, this wasn't a business. And, got shut down by the city and went in. Eight months left to college, went in and and opened a legitimate company in a storage unit. And, we we had a four hour gap between classes, so we'd go work on cars while we were still in college and then work a full time nighttime job after that.

And when we finally graduated college, then we worked at the shop full time and then stuck up our full time jobs for another four four years.

So, twenty When you say you went worked at the shop, is this the storage unit?

Yeah. So we're in the storage unit for just over a year. And then after that, we found another shop. Actually, right down the street from the from the place that I was working at at night, I was a diesel mechanic.

And, so found that. And so it was pretty easy for me to just basically walk down the street to the to my other job. And, so yeah. I mean, we worked, close to eighteen hour days, for about four years straight, and, I can't get the eighteen hour days out of me yet.

I'm still working on it. I'm getting close. I just it's a passion of mine. So, but, you know, when that time came, we said, hey.

We've either gotta, you know, sink or swim. We gotta put all of our all of our chips on the table and go all in with the business, and that's when we did. And, extremely thankful. That's when, you know, like I said earlier, Tim Davidson came along and and scooped us up and and brought us into the association at that time.

And, you know, a lot of a lot of times, it can become extremely intimidating when you get yourself surrounded by a lot of of heavy hitters, is what I would call it or or extremely successful people. And we didn't take it as intimidating. We took it as I wanna be them, and I'm I'm willing to do whatever it takes in order to become them. And I may never become them a hundred percent, but if I can become them eighty percent, that's eighty percent closer to than where I'm at.

You know? And so as we as we have new members joining, associations and stuff like that, it can be extremely intimidating.

And Yeah.

You you've gotta set the ego aside and the intimidation aside and going with open arms and open ears.

And, you're gonna have more value to provide than you think, and you're gonna be able to gain so much more than than than you might think as well. And that was what was really powerful for us, when when we jumped in. We we didn't bring an ego in. We didn't bring intimidation.

And and the other thing is is you're gonna hear so many different ideas.

And and I've learned along the way that not one idea is the only is the only way. Okay? Right. And if you're not willing to try different things and your way you're stuck in your way, you are stuck in the mud. And that was one thing that I feel, and a lot of people have said along along the years short years that we've been in business, is that, you know, we we go to these associations, we go to these meetings, and we grab these takeaways, key takeaways, and we debrief afterwards.

And then we create action, and we take off, and we're not afraid to try this stuff. We're not afraid to fail.

And what happens is we've probably failed more times than we've succeeded, but look to where we've where it's got us today. Right? And that's really what it is. But every time we fail, we've got a huge family of an association around us to help pick us back up, keep us on the straight and narrow, and keep pushing us. And that's really I mean, it's it's amazing. It's it's amazing.

That's awesome. Sherry, are are you surprised, shocked?

Is it planned? Is it oh, yeah. That's exactly what we wanted to do. Are you shocked by some of the stories you hear that come out of the association?

Actually, I'm not, simply because of my personal experience with the association, my parents' experience with the organization, and the changes that I saw evolve in their business.

And so I come from a different aspect of seeing the organization, so I understand the challenges that the shop owner faces and that they take home with them and the impact that it has on the family.

And so I see and I understand I've lived the bigger picture, and that's what gives me the passion to do what I do on this side and to keep this you know, keep the organization going and growing is because I I get the impact that it can make if somebody gets involved, and and becomes part of an association. And it's not just you can connect with them during the meetings. I mean, so many of our members have a problem, have a question in the middle of the day, and they'll pick up the phone and they feel comfortable and have to call another shop owner across the city, across the state, across the country and say, hey.

I've got this. What would you do? Where else do you get something like that? You don't you can't always go to Google, Google dot com.

It won't always it won't get you the answers, or maybe it won't get you the best the best answers that you need. So to have experienced people that you can also rely on as that, as your, what do they call the, the number you your, phone a friend.

You know, you you've got that and a great a great panel, you know, a great resource of of tons of members to do that with.

Oh, I love it.

I wanna I wanna interject real quick.

Yeah. Go on.

So Sherry brought something up that I I think kinda struck a nerve for me. She brought up about the association and who leads that association and that team.

That is extremely, extremely important in the success of an association.

In Sherry's team, I mean, we've gotta give it up to them. They are absolutely hands down phenomenal at every aspect of managing this association and making sure that they provide everything to the members at a flawless flawless every single time. I mean, it is phenomenal to see the inner workings of what goes on and the amount of powerhouse of a team that she truly has.

And that's that's a big, big thing that it takes in order to make an association truly successful. It's not all of us shop owners. It's not all of us phone a friend. It's not all of us get together just on a local level. It's what they do behind the scenes that I honestly feel they don't get enough credit for that that really makes all of us look good.

You know, inter interesting, Travis. You you go down that path because I I have a a slightly different take on it as well, you know.

And I I wanna I wanna, you know, flush Sherry up and make her feel good too, but I'm gonna I'm gonna pull back just a hair because I think this this radical ask right now that needs to happen at the membership level.

And Sherry's got a stellar team. We've got a a stellar team over here in in in in Nuwaka side. And what what occurs to me is that no matter how strong that team is at the top, it requires the shop owners. It requires the small boards. It requires the small chapters.

And and this notion of leadership, you you can have the best leaders at the top, but if they're not bringing it down through the whole organization and and, sure, you do a great job with it. You know? So this isn't taken away from you. But this is just saying that we have to have the others stepping up into those positions because that that is where I have seen the actual the the the fruits occur. And and quite honestly, I mean, if you look at where we are in the industry right now, we are at a changing of the guards.

And and, frankly, the change isn't happening in a way that I think is it meets up to where the guys are exiting.

And so the the younger guys and I'm I'm kind of in the middle, so I I don't really fit the the the old I you know, I'm I'm somewhere in between both ends of the spectrum.

And and when I look at it today, I don't see the guys coming. I don't see the young faces. And I didn't see the young faces when I was the young face in the room. And whatever whatever's going on, we aren't grabbing their attention like we should be.

And And maybe part of it is Travis, maybe it's your story, my story. It's the it's the stories that happened because maybe they're not hearing those. But but without that group, I mean, it it it becomes a daunting task for the very top to run all of the things that need to happen. And and I think when they when they really operate effectively, it's really done where you almost don't see anything from the top.

You know, the top is almost almost quiet and and non observant, and it just happens. And you and you take them for granted because it runs so smoothly because all the other things have been put into place. The leadership training's been there. The people below are bought in, and they're running with it.

And and that's my cry. That is my cry to get those people out there, get them involved, and get them building our industry even further than it is today.

You are so right, Brian. And and what we have to realize is leaders grow leaders. Right?

And so when we get to that that local level, that local chapter level, those leaders need to be growing their replacements.

And and we we do that by you know, when I was on the on the local level board, it's it's a huge honor for me to be a part of that. And, you know, if we don't show that and and make it known that that is that is something special. There is four seats on a local level, and there is a lot of members. And in order for for me to have that opportunity, I took that, I mean, as, like, a holy cow.

They actually thought that I could be here. Wow. I really need to provide for our members. And I think when you bring that and then you lead that, lead that group and then always be looking for your replacement.

And and we need to do that in our businesses as well. And you do that by by growing yourself as a leader first and then growing leaders below you, and then you get two, three leaders below you, and then those two, three leaders are now building two or three more leaders. And so, you know, before you know it, you've just got a powerhouse of leaders, and, that's that's really what we've gotta focus on.

Sherry?

Well, you know, this generation, this new generation of shop owners, I think, you know, the younger shop owners, it it's hard to find a way to get them to connect. They relate a lot differently to organizations. You know, they would rather text. And so I think as associations, we have to reach out and modify how we're reaching, how they learn, all the different things to to get to this younger generation. But there are so many incredible things that they will get involved, that they'll just take the step that where they can learn incredible leadership skills that will enhance their business, make their business even stronger, and they get more connected and more knowledge about the industry, and get partners. And then as they as they grow their business, they now have a network that comes across the country.

But getting that young shop owner, if they're, you know, talking to any young shop owners out there, you just need to get connected, get out of your comfort zone, and I promise it will pay tenfold.

There that's that's our challenge for organizations today.

Yeah. The key is being uncomfortable.

They enjoy the discomfort, and and you'll go a long ways. And that's that's not just in the association world. That's in life, and that's in business. Enjoy the discomfort.

Hundred percent.

So one one thing I haven't heard us talk about, which I love, are vendor relationships.

You know? And and, in my business, we have a thing called the wind wheel, and it's four quadrants. It's, it's the business. It's the internal customer. It's the external customer, internal customer being the employees, external customer being who pays the bill. And then and then lo and behold, it's the vendor. And and I always say, if all of those are in balance, the wind wheel serves the community.

And and I I look at this, and I I talk about, you know, vendor relationships, and you look at what the association brings in vendor relationships.

Where else can I get a one on one connection with the person who is in charge of, we'll say, the entire department of my my parts my parts delivery? Right? So I don't just I know the bottom, which is the person who hands it to me, the person who usually takes the most flack for, you know, lack of any other word. They show up, they're late and then, you know, everybody's upset it.

I'm here. Or maybe they're your best friend because they got it there on time, but they they live in the seesaw world. Right? And and, unfortunately, we get to know them when we're in our shop.

And maybe that's a fortunate thing because I've met some awesome delivery people, and I've met some that some that don't care so much. But but at the same time, how often do I get a hold of the the top end? Because you might get the salesperson who delivers to you, or you might get the salesperson who makes the call to your shop, but do you get who's in charge of it all? And through the association, we get to meet all of the contacts.

And when there is a problem or when there's something going well that you wanna you want maybe to even assist with, you pick up the phone and boom, who do you have? And they they know you by face. They know you by name, and and that relationship's already established.

So it's not they're not questioning whether or not you did what you said because they've met you. They know that you're a person of integrity.

And and when something goes wrong, they're going, you know what? Let's let's let's jump into this and let's get it fixed for you because I agree that shouldn't be happening this way. There's no barrier to correction and and getting things where it needs to happen. And, again, it's relationship, but but it's so key to have those vendor relationships. And I don't know of another place that you get them all, short of the association.

And many times, they come to us and ask us for solutions. You know, hey. We're needing some insight on this. How is this working for you? Or, hey. Can you participate in in this survey or this advisory board or, task force to to tackle a problem? So there's many times where you do your voice is heard much louder than it is as the independent businessman on the street, when you're part of an organization.

It's true. It is true. It is true. I love it. I love it. And I see this, Sherry, that you are the gardener, and you are you are laying the ground, planting the seeds, fertilizing it, watering it.

You know it's going to happen because of your past experience in the industry. You know that these stories are gonna be there.

I love the stories. I find them, amazing. I find them awesome. I find everyone unique in their story of how they came to success or how they got there.

And I see a lot of association being the value of the association. I I wonder if this next gen is questioning the value. What are they gonna get of the value of being involved in association? How much time is this gonna take, you know, because this they want that balance to happen, which I I don't know what balance people are thinking they're gonna get.

I we work half days, whatever it takes. Right?

What what what is balance? Balance, balance will be coming down the road a little bit.

How how can we how can we recruit more? How can we get that value translated to this next gen? What what can we do to get that new shop in here? Maybe even an old shop.

So so balance we all have twenty four hours a day. So we're all balanced in within twenty four hours a day. Right?

And we put more time towards stuff that we're more passionate about.

Right.

So I think our true goal is to get them passionate.

And when they become passionate, it's it's no longer more of a balance.

Okay? It's them chasing their passion.

So our true challenge is is we've gotta get them passionate about this. And in order to get them passionate about this, we've gotta bring them in. We've gotta make them feel welcome. And not just make them feel welcome, make them welcomed.

Okay.

And get them involved.

Let them get a taste of what it's like, and then they start building that. And it doesn't happen overnight, especially with the younger generation.

It takes even longer. But as soon as they become passionate about it, they become passionate about video games or YouTube or whatever. That's where they spend their time.

Yeah.

Okay? Get them passionate, and then it's no longer a balancing issue.

Yeah. You hit on a keyword there being welcomed. I I think of have you guys ever been the new kid at school?

Oh, it's so awkward. It's so difficult. I don't have any friends here. Who am I gonna talk to?

Make them feel welcomed.

Bring them into the family. Make sure that you introduce them to everybody and introduce yourself to them and find out who they are, where they are, all this. Yeah.

Brian.

Yeah. So as I was listening, you know, one of the things that's occurring for me right now is, Travis and I think we're all guilty of this, so I'm not picking on you here. But I heard you refer to them as them and them and them and them and they.

I and I think that's part of our problem. And and as I think about this and and this is I was listening to this occurred to me, but, I think all of us, myself included, refer to us as them because we are in this together.

It's not them. It's not us. It's we. We are all together in this. And you nailed it a second ago when you just said, what's it like being the new kid?

We we aren't none of us are new kids.

We are all together working in this industry. And until we can embrace that and and fully, fully bring ourselves to it, it's gonna be a it's gonna be a them, and it's gonna be I want they, and and and we're gonna we're gonna struggle with this. And I I don't have the answers perfectly on this one. I just know that in order to do it, the inclusivity has to be there. And we have to be embracing, and we have to involve all of the entire industry. And and when you think about the independent world, we we have seminars that are set up to talk to the millennials, and here's how Gen X works, and here's your baby boomers. Screw that.

We are all automotive shop owners. We are all automotive shop industry.

Mhmm.

And and and create that group and and I love Travis on your passion because you are spot on. My my I was just I was getting excited when you said that because that's what it's about. We make we we create a space that we can be passionate about what we believe in. We didn't we didn't come into automotive because we don't like cars.

We didn't come into automotive because we just happened to fall into a shop. And and there's something about us that drove us here because it's not an easy profession. There's nothing there's nothing nice about getting your your knuckles beat up and and oil in your face and, you know, my favorite diesel or gasoline in your eyes. There's just there's nothing nice about that.

Right? So nobody subjects that self to them unless they have passion to begin with and and continues to stay in it unless they have passion.

So when you talk about building that passion, how do we get them to have that same passion that keeps them under that car in our group?

And how do we all embrace each other and say, this is the network that we need, and this is the network that we should have? And quite honestly, I believe the network that once existed at a stronger level.

You know? So so bringing that back together in that sense of community is critical.

And the more we the more we have seminars on how we speak to Gen x and how we speak to the millennials and now it's Gen z, In a lot of cases, I think we were actually doing ourselves harm. Because I I have a millennial who works for me and I love him to death. And he says, if I hear one more thing about how you should talk to me, I'm gonna lose my freaking mind.

And I go, well, then you tell me how to talk to you because I'm not good at it.

But but the more we focus on us and them, I think the tougher it becomes. And, you know, that's that's my thing is we need to embrace it all and know that we're all in the same thing and we're all cut from the same cloth.

We all put our pants on one leg at a time at the end of the day.

Well, Sherry does both his I'm a double legged.

You just I just run it. Boom. Snap.

Well, you know, and I think for shop owners that say, I don't have time.

My day is so busy, and then I wanna get to family, and they're already feeling the pressure at both ends.

They need to take the time. Just that little investment of time, what you can come away with from a meeting can make a difference in your day, in your month, in your month end, in a challenge that you're dealing with that's keeping you at the shop late at night, that's keeping you awake at night.

Just make the commitment and that time, it will pay off. What you invest in the organization pays off personally and professionally.

Truth.

Truth. That's the that is that that's a hard lesson, though. These guys I mean, I walk into a lot of shops, and I've I've spent weeks and weeks working with our outside sales guy going into shop after shop. And and I I mean, I I when we walk into certain shops, I almost chuckle because I go, oh god.

Here we go. You know? And and the first thing that happens is the guy comes up from the back and he's he's the owner and he's covered head to toe. He didn't stop to wash his hands before he walked up front.

And I the first thing I always say is, hey, I'm really sorry. What do you mean? Obviously, we interrupted you, so I'm sorry for that. And I, you know, I I we probably should have called and set something up, but but we're here anyway.

How is this how is this working for you?

And and that always gets quite the interesting reaction. What do you mean? Well, you you seem pretty busy. Yeah. I just I've got no time. Oh, okay.

By the way, I own a shop too, and I'm out here visiting you. And it's not because I'm some different guy or I'm I'm some high intellect or I'm I'm just some some ultra driven dude. It's it's because I I manage people, and and I care about my my team, and and I care about the industry. And I I think you do too. But for some reason, you've made a choice to to grind it out in the way that you are.

And it's enticing people and getting them to understand there's other ways of doing things, and and there's nothing unethical about it. There's nothing that you're you're less of a hard worker. It's it's there's better ways to do things. And the only way you gets to see you know, the only way to know what you don't know is to see others who do know.

And and that is so often the key is to get them to you can if you can give them that that realization that, oh, gosh. What I'm doing, other guys did this, and I don't have to do it this way. And so when I go into that shop, I always I almost try to, you know, once I've apologized, once I've set the stage, then I almost try to get them angry with me. And because I want them to have to think about what's going on around them. I wanna challenge their belief, and I wanna create friction. And I I want to make them, you know, get them agitated to where they actually think about it.

And and so many times, it comes down to what Sherry just said. They think they're too busy. But in reality, they're just busy being busy.

There's no there's no there's there's no order to what busy is. It's just the next fire on top of the next fire on top of the next fire. And you if you can explain to them that fire prevention works a whole lot better, then all of a sudden their whole life changes. And and back to what Travis said a minute ago, that's where the passion comes from.

The minute they see that their life can be different than it is, and it can be exponentially better than it is today, that's where that passion comes from. And and that's where that's whenever I think about the tension I create, that's what I'm thinking in my head. Yeah. This is uncomfortable even for me because I've had guys almost throw stuff at me.

Right?

Who the hell market practice.

Yeah. What are you thinking? Oh, oh, hey. I just I just questioned something you're doing.

But but to me, that's where the the meat really comes down, and that's where caring about the industry comes down because they've got a family. And I've watched too many guys go out of business. I've watched businesses burn down to the ground and because they didn't have the right coverage, because they they wouldn't come to events that I'd invited them to for over a year or two, I've watched them lose everything. I've watched guys take and remortgage their house to pay for their shop that they didn't correct.

They lose their house. They lose their business. They lose their wife. Their kids hate them.

And then they they end up working and and become an alcoholic on top of it. And Yeah. And you watch these spirals happen, but yet there's resources out there that can pull people up. And and you don't have to be at the bottom to get pulled up.

Sometimes it's just walking into the group.

And, you know, I've seen it happen too many times that when I stand there now, that's what goes through my head. Hey. You're you're busy being busy. Let me show you another way.

So no matter how how bad that tension might become, it's it's worth it to me because I don't wanna see another one of them go through what I've seen people go through.

Like a great evangelist, you're going door to door, Brian. I appreciate that.

Helping to bring people in. That that is super awesome.

That's what it's all about.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

It really is. So, Sherry, I I know that the, Auto Care Alliance, does stretch all across the United States.

If a shop did wanna get involved Yes.

How do how are they gonna do that? How do they do that? Is there is there a chapter everywhere?

So there's not a chapter everywhere, but we do have what we call a virtual chapter where they have access to resources, our training library to, we're gonna be kicking off the SOS or shop owner support groups that are gonna be virtual.

They have access to everything no matter where they are, and then, hopefully, they will want to start a chapter there locally. So they'll want to work. And so we'll work with them if they don't have something in their area to where then they can, get like minded shop owners together. And we will help support a chapter and the growth of a chapter to where we can begin getting this concept across to even more, more of the country. So we're really excited. There's some there's some great opportunities ahead, and it's been finding those new leaders. And those leaders in those local areas very well have an opportunity to be, you know, national leaders, within our organization, with other other, organizations and industry advisory boards.

There's really there's really no limit, and I'm excited to make the opportunities available. So all somebody needs to do is go to auto care alliance dot org. We have a site in there that says where you are. Depending upon what state you're in, we do have some alliances that already have an organization, open and, functioning. You would join one of those organizations. Or if you're outside of those areas, you would join the virtual, which would which is under the umbrella of the Midwest Auto Care Alliance.

We have the the support and everything to, already online, there's over a hundred different management and technical training classes that you have access to in a library, as well as numerous other resources and benefits.

Beautiful. So real quick, Brian. You brought up a pretty strong point that our industry has a lot of issues with, and that is, you know, substance abuse or, maybe that's alcohol.

I might put Sherry on the spot here a little bit.

But is there a benefit that might be releasing really, really soon that could, potentially help with some of that stuff?

Actually, yes. There is a there's an email and press releases that are going out this week. We have an employee assistance program. So many times, a small shop can't afford that.

And, you know, if you work for a large corporation, you have that where you have access to a counselor, who can help you through. Maybe it's, you know, putting a parent in. Maybe it's the death of a loved one. Maybe it's struggles with a child.

Maybe it's your child needs some assistance. And this EAP program will actually help all of your employees plus their household family members.

And we've come together, and we're ready to announce the SHOP care benefit program. Thirty dollars per employee per year is all it costs.

Did you hear that? Per year.

Yes.

When I heard that, I about fell backwards.

Yes. Pretty much.

You get you get twenty four seven, three hundred and sixty five days a week. If you have anything at all, you pick up, call this number, and you've got somebody within seconds to help you navigate through whatever issues it is, whether that's substance abuse or marital issues or, it it doesn't matter.

That is a enormous benefit.

And that that again is is another reason why it's so important to be a part of association. A small company like us, we can't afford to to bring some of those large, large benefits to the table.

Those are multibillion dollar organizations that can do that.

So having an association that backs you and supports you in those ways, that's just another huge reason why it's so important to be a part of association.

So we do Let's flip that on its head too, Travis. There's no way for thirty dollars you could provide this level of No.

Not a chance.

No. No. So, you know, we're really taking the care of the shop owner and their shop family, to heart. And so we've unfortunately experienced, several employee suicides, shop owner suicides, So and some really difficult times, and I think the last couple of years have really brought us to, really look at things differently, having some some challenges emotionally, mentally, as well as our children. And we need to address those, and those impact the shop. And those impact your team culture and your efficiency.

And you know what? Let's let's find a solution. So we went out. We found this EAP program that we can implement on a nationwide level for all of our members for just an incredibly low price.

And, you know, if you end up with a situation and, heaven forbid, you have a shop you know, you have a shop employee that, you know, commits suicide. There's a support program that you can enact. It does cost extra for that support program, but you don't have to scramble on what do I do because it impacts everybody in your shop, and we've seen it happen. And we don't want any any other businesses to experience. And so let's try to find the solution ahead of time before it reaches those crisis points. And we're we're really excited. It's, ShopCare is what we're calling it, ShopCare, and it's an employee assistance program.

You have to register before December first for an open enrollment, and it's good for a year.

We've really we've had some some incredible response to the announcement, and there'll be official announcements and press releases going out this week.

Oh, that's super awesome.

Great stuff. You know, so one thing we we haven't mentioned either, and I think this is actually another one of the largest things that the associations offer, is tech training.

And and you look at and you look at what goes on there and what that requires from a shop. And and and were these associations not in place, there's absolutely no question that we couldn't we could not compete at the level we do without them. And, you know, whether it's vision, whether it's, oh, gosh, whether whether it's vision, whether it's ATE, I mean, we've got shows across what what was that? Bimmers. Bimmers. Yeah. Bimmers.

You know, as you as you talked about all the Saturday.

There's so many of them.

Yeah. And were it not for those, I think it's just what the cost alone would be to train our technicians. And, you know, in some cases in the past, I brought in trainers to the shop.

You try and catch some of the parts ones that challenge there. If it's done by a parts vendor, how much of it is their mantra that they wanna stick into into it?

And and when you when you have the associations in charge of it Yeah. We're gonna push out and say, hey. It's gotta be to the subject. You know? It's gotta be education.

Exactly. It's not a sales pitch.

Not a sales pitch. Yeah.

And that and that to me is one of the the greatest pieces that's been put out there. We're not trying to brainwash our technicians to where you're only gonna buy this brand of part. No. Here's how you fix the car. Now figure out what part's gonna work. And and we can show you the advantages of certain parts, but but it's not just about that manufacturer. And and to me, that's that's one of the biggest benefits of the associations that are out there right now.

I love it. I love it. Thank you. Yeah. The training is freaking amazing and awesome. I wanna throw one last one out as well, and that's the legal, the lobby, the government.

Yes.

I I've been a lot of shop owners, people aren't aware or don't know that there's a lot of laws being passed or proposed that benefit or to the detriment of our industry. How does the association help out there?

So we have an eye on the legislation.

In Missouri, the Midwest Auto Care Alliance, we actually have an on staff, lobbyist now, to represent us. And then we are working on something nationally, as far as grassroots efforts, that will be announced soon, as well as some other partnerships to have representation and have a voice in that legislative arena. There is a lot coming down on the national level, you know, federal level, and state level.

We're we're very excited about some of the, the new, partnerships and and organizations. So the ACA is now getting the recognition of other organizations who are now coming to us and saying, hey. We wanna partner with you. We love what you're doing. We wanna partner. And so there'll be there'll be a lot of new developments that you'll be hearing about over the coming months as, as all of these come together and some some big meetings coming in Vegas at Apex and CEMA and, and even more. So I you'll you'll be hearing you'll be hearing from us.

Nice.

Beautiful. To to piggyback on that, though, don't be afraid at your local level. And and I've spent a lot of years at my local level, at at both the, I would say, even county all the way to state level, fighting for what you know needs to happen. You know, don't be afraid to go to, your legislative days where they walk on your capital.

Don't be afraid to join up with some of your business groups to go experience what's out there so that you can be a voice. And and the associations need people at grassroots level. We need people at the national level. And and it's critical that, again, it's back to be involved.

Because if you don't do it, you might be the one who's getting the hatchet. So find the people who are passionate about it. You know, it doesn't happen by itself. And Yeah.

And with as many states as we have in the union, it's not it's not like one person can do all of it. Although they do have nice software, if you if you're into it, they can they can find a lot of the details for you. So so, again, it's it's so much of it is still just get involved because you'll find out where the needs are too.

That's beautiful. That's beautiful. Well, let's put a a beautiful bow on this. Any last thoughts, words, comments, Travis, then Brian, then Sherry, and and we'll close this thing out because I I tell you, this association talk is strong, and I love it. I love it. Travis, to you.

Yeah. I mean, final thoughts is if you're not a part of an association, it's a must.

It's it's how you grow. It's how you continue to to take this industry and transform it, to what you see and and what you want, and then also learn. Learn and grow. Learn and grow.

So So the first thing that comes to mind, I hear people say, well, it's the association.

And my response is always, it's not the association. It's our association.

And and understand that the ownership is right here for every person. It's not it's no one else's association other than yours. And to not belong to an association, you're just flapping in the wind. I mean, we we have so many, not just benefits, but people that wanna stand with you and for you.

That if you're not a part of it, I quite honestly, I think you're lost. And and that's the that's the piece that sticks out to me. It's our it's always our association. And and that's that particular comment came from one of my past presidents of NWACA.

And and when he said that to me, because we were talking about and this started in monetary context at the time, that is our money that we are spending. This is our association.

And that's right. We make the decisions. We drive it. And the more people we can get to understand that, the stronger the association becomes.

How do you, how do you top those two, two good closures?

You know, I would say if it's not you, then who will it be? If you want changes in the industry, you can't keep looking to other people to make those changes. If it's not you, then who?

Get involved, be part of it, and you will benefit, leaps and bounds beyond, what you ever imagined. Just give it a try.

Totally agree. Totally agree. Dropped.

Boom.

As we focus on collective we, the collective us, the collective family, we're gonna lock arms and together we can do this. It reminds me of an experience I had recently. We were trying to move a piano. Shuffle shuffle shuffle, person person person shuffling around, and we had, like, ten of us around this piano trying to move it. And finally, we said, alright, listen. Everybody just stand where you are and lift.

And we did. And together, we were able to move the piano. Grand piano, huge, big, heavy duty. Mhmm.

This our industry our industry, us, let's lock arms. Let's us together make the difference because we can and we are.

And this is our industry. This is us.

With that, my name is Jimmy Lee. Aloha to you all. Mahalo. Thank you very much for you being here, Travis and Brian and Sherry and those of you who are listening, whether it is live or in the recording. You guys are awesome. Thank you so much. We look forward to seeing you at our next event.

KUKUI Provides Customer Communication That’s on Cue

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 17:00:00 GMT

Autotrend Diagnostic improves customer retention by implementing KUKUI’s automated communication tools.

Being too busy to answer every phone call is a great problem to have as an auto shop. But it’s still a problem because it means you’re losing business. That’s the place that Dave Kusa found himself in when he came across KUKUI. Dave is the owner of Autotrend Diagnostics , a shop in Campbell, CA that provides auto repair services.

For Dave and his team, calls are the most important type of contact. Emails can easily get filtered so a call ensures that a customer is being taken care of and communicated with on a regular basis. On the phone Dave’s team can also gain information they would have never learned through a text or email. There’s also a higher likelihood of recovering a customer that had a bad experience if a follow-up call is made.

Even leaving a voicemail can make a positive impact since people are more likely to listen to their messages than read every email they’re sent. The one hang-up for the Autotrend Diagnostics team was finding a manageable way to make follow-up calls consistent.

Follow-Up is Automated and Assured With KUKUI

The solution for Dave and his team was KUKUI’s Follow-Up module . It has proven to be one of the most valuable tools for Autotrend Diagnostics. It’s helped solve the bottleneck of backlogged calls by reminding employees when calls need to be made and who needs to be called. Team members can also use the tool to look up customer information and make notes for future reference.

A perfect example of how Autotrend Diagnostics has leveraged the Follow-Up module is their “Thank You” call. The shop set up the system to send an alert to call customers within three days of getting a service. The goal is to ensure that the customer’s expectations were met and thank them for their business. It’s an important step in providing exemplary service that retains more customers and gaining valuable feedback that has helped improve the business.

Dave has even found that a timely thank you call can win back customers that weren’t happy with their experience. In doing so, Dave notes that reaching out and correcting the error strengthens the relationship with the customer.

But all that is only possible if the follow-up calls are made. With KUKUI’s automated features all Autotrend Diagnostics had to do was set up the reminder once and then watch for the alerts.

Another essential feature for the Autotrend Diagnostics team is the Recommended Services tool. This sends an alert to Dave’s team about contacting customers with service recommendations that were made during past inspections. As soon as the service recommendation is put into Autotrend Diagnostics sales system it’s also added to KUKUI. The team will then get alerts at 30, 60 or 90 days to reach out about the recommended service. Factory service recommendations can also be added to the alert system so that customers are always in the know about how to make their vehicle run better.

Better Customer Retention and Sales from KUKUI’s Communication Tools

It’s one thing to notice the difference, it’s another to see the actual gains. Dave notes that since using KUKUI, Autotrend Diagnostics has seen an increase in customer retention and sales. This can partially be attributed to KUKUI’s advanced analytics that have helped Autotrend Diagnostics fine-tune their communication with customers.

The KUKUI shop analytics module provides visual metrics to help users analyze the performance of their communication strategies. The system aggregates all the data, including call notes, to give clients like Autotrend Diagnostics an accurate gauge of ROI. With the KUKUI shop analytics tools it’s easy for Dave to see what is and isn’t working when a team member contacts a customer.

After years of using the Follow-Up module, Autotrend Diagnostics still relies on the tool today to maximize the outcome of their outreach.

See How KUKUI Could Benefit Your Automotive Business

KUKUI gives you the opportunity to explore the platform and get a firsthand look at how everything works so that you know exactly how KUKUI will support your business. Request a free, no obligation demo to learn more.

Technician Magnet = Careers Page

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 21:15:49 GMT

Does your shop need to hire more technicians? You’re not alone.

The entire industry needs more technicians. Don’t worry though.

We might just have a solution for you.

Join Jimmy Lea, Product Evangelist for KUKUI, and Bryan Stasch AMAM, ATI Vice President of Program & Content Development, as they discuss how to attract more qualified help through your website!

Webinar Transcript:

Kukui. Who is Kukui? What are we about? Well, we're about to make this an interactive webinar. And to make sure that you know how to be interactive in this webinar, want you to go into the questions box because you're gonna have a lot of questions as we're having this discussion today, talking about a technician magnet.

Go to the inbox inbox question box. Go to the question box and type where it is that you are joining us from today, city and state. Tell us where you are joining from so we can see everybody that's on here. And and a little shout out to Dory. Dory Dory was the first one on.

Wanted to make sure they didn't miss anything. So, Dory, where are you from? We got Rich from Baltimore, Maryland, John from McAllen, Texas.

John, glad to have you here. And, John Powell from Richmond, Virginia, Scott Brown from Springville, Virginia.

You guys are awesome. Thank you for joining. Thank you for typing in because this is going to be an awesome conversation that we're gonna have talking about your technician Magda and what you can do to implement this in your shop. I mean, this is stuff you can implement.

Take notes. Do it today. This is stuff you can do today. So it's gonna be awesome.

Jenna from San Antonio, Scott from Temecula.

You guys are awesome. Thank you for joining.

Thank you for joining. Anybody else gonna be joining in? Type in the city and state in the questions box. So this is so you can ask the questions. I'll be the voice for you, and we're gonna ask my guest today about your questions that you have for your technician magnet.

So who is KUKUI? Why are we doing this? What does this have to do with your KUKUI software? Well, a little bit to do with KUKUI software, but a heck of a lot to do with your shop and your success. And that's the greatest judge of success in my book is your success. Your success equals Kukui's success.

What is Kukui? Kukui are these beads that I'm wearing. Kukui are, this is the the the nuts that fall from the kukui tree. They contain a high level of oil content. And with that, they're able to burn like a lamp, a candle, a lantern. And and to translate the word kukui from the Polynesian language to the English language is to say to enlighten.

We're here to enlighten, to inspire. We're here to enlighten you as a shop owner as to what you can do in your patch, in your market to make a difference with your techs, with your people.

So I'm excited for this discussion today. Kukui, the name Kukui has deep meaning for us, and we're glad you're here joining me today for this Kukui enlightening conversation as we're gonna talk about who Kukui is and what we can do. So technician magnet. So how is it that this works with Kukui software? Very little portion of that. It goes towards your about us page.

How are you using that? What does your about us page say? What does it do for you? So we're gonna let's jump into this.

My name is Jimmy Lee. I am KUKUI. I'll be the voice for you today. You've got questions.

We've got answers.

We've got a great discussion gonna happen right here, right now. Joining me today is mister Brian Stosch.

Brian is the, VP. How come this is not advancing? There we go. VP of, programs and content for ATI. Brian, good to see you. How are you doing, brother?

I'm doing great, Jimmy. And thank you for having me, my friend. Thank you for having me.

You are so welcome. You are so welcome. And you're coming through loud and clear, so we've got connection. It's, you and I here right now as we're gonna have this discussion.

So here we are talking about a technician magnet. How can the about us page become or be a technician magnet?

Well, you being the website expert, my friend, there's definitely two things in a website that I think really are gonna help, but you mentioned that the about us page.

And to me, that really is the owner's opportunity to tell the world who they are.

What is their story?

What do they believe in? Who do they wanna be? What kind of shop do they wanna be?

What is their mission and what is their purpose?

Did I say what do you believe in and what are your goals?

Now Yeah. At at ATI, we work with a lot of different things. And I work with members on several things, and a lot of times they wanna talk about compensation models, comp plans.

And the only problem with comp plans is it doesn't motivate all. And this goes right back to what we're talking about with your about us page because I'm two believers at two two or a believer in two ways to motivate humans. Yes, one is money, but the other one is give them something to believe in. Most people want to be part of something bigger.

And by you demonstrating who you are, what's your mission, what do you believe in? That's just your opportunity to give somebody a feel that you are something bigger, and they want to be part of that. And I hope that makes sense, Jimmy.

Yeah. So so does your about us page, does it demonstrate who you are? Does it show your story of your shop?

And what you're talking about is a tribe. People wanna belong to a tribe.

They do.

Is your tribe attractive to them? Does your tribe show who you are as a shop?

Yes. Definitely. And and and I don't wanna use this term, the younger generations of workforce, but that's that's who we're or we're trying to find. That's yes.

They do. And again, that even and I'm a Gen Xer, but and I've always wanted to be part of something bigger. But, yes, this is your opportunity. But some things I also think need to be part of their helping you with the tribe, helping you with the story is on that about us.

I love pictures of the team.

And a little bit about who they are, what type of skill levels and search do they have, and maybe how long they've been with you.

And we'll get to the, careers page in just a minute. But also some other things that I think help, what work do you do in the community? What things do you do as far as charities? What where do you give back? And I still think that all fits back into who you are, what do you believe in, your story, your mission, your purpose.

Right. Right. So pictures go a long way, especially pictures of the little league team with you having, what, putting out a pizza party for the team that won the championship, what whatever that picture might be or look like. Maybe it's the launch of the season.

Yes. Yep. You know, and Jimmy, and you've seen this happen at our conference. We like to give away humanitarian awards. But my point, you know, my point about this is there's a lot of them out there in this industry that just give a lot back. They give a ton back, whether it's time, people, resources, And they really are kinda bashful about that kind of things, and I think they should be proud.

Yeah.

It it it they're bashful because they're not doing it for the glory. They're not doing it for the spotlight. They're doing it for the goodness of their heart to give back. And and this is a scenario, a situation where on an about us page, you do wanna highlight it. So if you're sponsoring a little league team, if you are are are doing the the boy scouts and the girl scouts, their merit badge classes, if you're you're putting that information out there for people to see.

Maybe it's a a women in auto care. This is a a a car care clinic.

Yep. Awesome. All great.

So we put all these in the about us page. Is there such a thing as too much information on an about us page?

I'm sure if you knew a website expert kidding. He might be happy to but I I don't believe so. I don't believe so either. I but I'd want them to know truly who you are and what do you believe in, because people like doing business with people like that as well as people like to work with people like that.

Yeah. For sure. Now on the about us page, what about putting in video?

Video is cool. And I and and again with the careers page. Now couple different things. And in this world of trying to recruit technicians, and and I think we all know this that ads and typical ads, newspaper ads, even the Indeed and stuff like that, they're really not as effective as we would like them to be.

And the one and the ones that we find that are effective, yes, are videos.

But two different types, two different resources. Do I talk about videos on social networking, Facebook pages, and all that kind of stuff where somebody could simply do with one of these?

Yeah.

And they're cool and they're fun and people like fun. People like seeing people.

When it comes to an about us or a careers page, and with careers pages, yes, I love video of your people talking about what it's like working with them.

Right.

But I think that's a little different. Facebook social networking is cool.

But and again, you'd probably recommend to all the all of your folks that you work with. But when it comes to putting video and stuff like that on a careers page, it's gotta be a little bit different level.

I think that needs to be more of a professional level, but I see grade.

Yep.

It's more permanent and not meant to be I don't wanna say not as fun, but probably a little bit more serious than the social networking.

But a lot of the members that we work with or even websites I've seen or people that don't have issues finding, attracting people have great videos of their people talking about what it's like to be there, what it's been like, what has it done for them. So, I that's that's gotta be a different level, but I want videos. I want people talking about what it's like because that's what seems to get the attention today.

Yeah. Well, and and, you pointed out an interesting thing here, Brian. Not only do I see that being attractive to the next technician that wants to come work for the shop, but I also see a prospect coming in here and and searching around to see the careers page.

And here, they're looking at a technician talking about the great environment, the the meals on Fridays and Wednesdays or whatever the the training that we do, the training we provide.

And we're seeing I, as a consumer, am seeing a technician who likes to work on cars.

Yes. Definitely.

And along with those things that you just mentioned, I mean, things that you'd want in there are also anything culture related, anything teamwork related. And again, from both sides, whether it's a prospect or whether it's a customer.

And you also picked on something, and I don't know if you realize how important that really is.

One thing I don't think we do well as an industry k.

We don't do a good enough job sharing with people what kind of a career path this really could be for a young technician. And when I'm looking to attract lifers, I wanna talk about the training. I wanna talk about what type of career path there is for you here at Brian's Auto. So career path and train. Yes. Jimmy's super sharp.

But, yeah, I I I'd ask them I I mean, the the importance of it, I think we've kinda conveyed Yeah. That, yes, it's a professional image. It is well done.

And I'm not saying you have to spend a million bucks, but it's gotta be a next level above something like this.

Yeah.

It's gotta look well put together.

It's gotta look professional.

And again, talking about your team, talking about their tenure, what it's been like working for you, the culture, the teamwork, what what they've trained, what training potential.

I don't think think we do a good enough job at the career path.

Yeah. You know, I was just at, Christy and Donnie Hudson's shops in, Troy, Michigan, and they have a lot of what I would I would call it a lot of apprentices. They have three apprentice at one shop, three at another, and two at another. That's a lot, and they're they're homegrown these. And I was talking to Christie about it, and she says, Jimmy, my apprentice program, anybody that comes to my shop to work for me now, BTECs, CTEC, ATEC, it doesn't matter. They've gotta go through the appearance program to demonstrate our level of understanding.

Yep.

So an ATEC could just go whipping right through those exams. Right? I mean, this is second nature. We we know all this information.

Bam, bam, bam. We're done done with the apprentice program in in a week or or whatever the scenario is. Right? Yeah.

So anybody that comes to work at their shops has to go through the apprentice program. Those that are truly apprentice starting out as a GS, they're gonna work their way up.

Yes. And couple other little points on that if this is okay. Yeah. If not, I mean, yes, I'd love to be able to show a young technician that over x number of years, I'm gonna get you to a position to be an a technician or master technician.

And what's that timeline look like? And I'd love to demonstrate what earning potential should look like. But Yeah. And I wanna talk about our apprentice program because I dig it, and I love everything Chrissy said about it.

But also thinking about areas that they're having troubles or or rechecks or comebacks on. When is it time to put a BTEC or back end of something training? So agree with everything you just said. We just don't do a good enough job demonstrating that I'm gonna get you there.

And why there's a lot of go ahead.

I was gonna say Well, to that point to that point, is the careers page the appropriate place to put out that outline?

Outline, no. The verbiage, yes. Default that, yes, is what you do. I think something like that might be a little bit more behind closed doors or even in in the interview process.

But I want them to see that message along with what it's really like working for you, what benefits, and stuff like that, but that there is a career path.

Yeah. And we're gonna provide the training. And if you wanna be that master technician at someday, we're the place for you because we're not hiring, we're mentoring, which I think is just really cool.

Okay. You bring up a good point. How do we convey that we're not just hiring, we're mentoring? How can you convey that?

And this is why I like, in the videos or even on just about us, who the technicians are. In that description or along with title, the mentor and their training levels, and the and their experience.

But in there, a little bit more talking about that that they are the mentor, and they're young like, growing young technicians. And how we would do that would be with the curriculum timeline, the proper skill steps, and some of the accountabilities that go with it.

And, that's a really good question you hit me with there, Jimmy. No. I don't wanna put that in my careers page, but I want someone to understand that we do that, and I'd want the technician talking about how we did it. And, no, maybe even some of their apprentices on that page.

Yeah.

Career telling about what they've learned so far working with Jimmy Lee.

So Yeah.

Yeah. Because at Jimmy Super Shop, we have Brian Stosch, the the lead ATEC, the also the mentor, the instructor, and and you can talk about what you have done in instructing and bringing up the next generation.

Then we also, on the flip side of that, have the next generation talking about what they have learned, what they've implemented, the process procedures, the training that they have learned, the trainings they've attended, the raises that they've gotten?

And where I am today compared to where I started at Jimmy Super Super Shop. So yes.

Yeah.

Yeah. I like that. I like that. And and so it's showing the the culture, showing the training, showing the career path. We can do this with with video.

We can do it with pictures. We can do it with some content. Yep. Interesting. And and those that are listening, I wonder what they are doing in their shops to show that next gen the possibilities, their career paths.

Because I've seen them. I've seen it, Brian. I've I've seen thousands of websites that you go to the careers page, and it is fill out the form, drop us your resume, Shazam. And somebody will contact you maybe.

And along with that list of requirements for the job and a list of responsibilities, nothing that make it look really attractive, at least to the level that it really needs to look today compared to what it did ten, fifteen, twenty years ago. And video gives you great opportunities to do that, as well as a careers page and about us page.

Yeah. Yeah. Here's the question.

Can a customer customer can a customer be used as a technician magnet?

Oh my gosh. Yes.

And Okay. How?

Well, I know Jeff likes to talk about Jeff as an instructor that works with me at ATI and works with a class on employee engagement, staffing, and hiring.

But, he talks about six degrees of separation and that everybody knows somebody.

So that this is why talking to your existing customers, letting them know that you might be looking for someone if they have somebody because you never know who they know, nieces, nephews, so on and so on. Social media is so important because of that six degrees of separation. You just don't know how many or who this message is really gonna hit. It may not always be looking for or hitting somebody that's looking, but it might be somebody that's hitting somebody that knows somebody that's looking or an interest.

So great point, my friend. Great point.

Yeah. Six degrees to Kevin Bacon. I think that's what the game is.

Yep. Yeah.

So yeah.

Yeah. Customer testimonial, they that could show their elation, their joy, their love of the shop, and and that could attract that next person or the person that they know. There there was a shop owner that I I I'm trying to remember who it was. I was visiting their shop, and they introduced me to the friend of the friend. They were hunting technician number two, but he wasn't available. He was happy. He was good where he was.

So this the the the the shop owner asked the beautiful question.

Okay. But who do you know? Right.

Who do you know that's looking for a job? Because technicians know other technicians. They went to school together. They worked together. They've they've busted knuckles together.

And this guy, technician number two, knew a technician that was looking for a new shop to be at.

Exactly. Yep.

Yeah. Oh, that that's cool. And and okay. What about, resources available to technicians? Do we do we list this out on on the careers page, on the about us page? Where where do we list out toolboxes and scanners and brake cleaner and shop towels. I mean, you know what I mean.

Yeah. I think this probably be better suited for the careers page compared to the about us.

Yeah.

So in that careers page, I mean, yes, there's why would you wanna work there? Any of the resources, whether it's digital inspections, each technician has their own individual workstation with the tablets and things of that nature. So me, that would be probably better suited for, the careers page, but Yeah. Always willing to try to learn more.

And then on that careers page, few great reasons why to work here. What do we offer that and I hope I say this right, that the next shop does not.

What do we have to offer? Because you gotta remember, not only I talk about value proposition a lot and what makes you different to a consumer.

But the reality is you need to talk about what makes you different than any other repair facility that's also looking for that technician. And you need to be the most attractive one on the list at the time. Just just my humble opinion.

Yeah. Yeah. No. That's very true. What separates you from the competition? What makes you special?

I I was at Seth Thornson's shops in, where is he? Minneapolis, Minnesota, just outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, And his shops are amazing. Every technician has a toolbox at the shop.

It's provided.

Yep. Awesome.

Oh my gosh. That that's amazing. I mean, that's thousands of dollars that you're providing as to the tech.

Exactly. And it really looks cool. It sounds cool, but the reality is one of there's several reasons that push young folks away from our industry, and that is one of them right there. They realize that you have a huge investment.

And for the business owner to be able to provide that definitely eliminates one, and to pay for the training would be another. And we don't wanna go down that road, but, yes, Jimmy. I'm a dude that probably invested sixty or sixty or seventy grand in the tools and boxes over my career. And it would have been much more attractive to work for somebody that was gonna provide that with me and for me, especially a young tech about to enter the industry that has a lot to learn, a lot to go, a lot to grow, help them acquire those as a either basic hand tools or as they meet certain growth levels to be able to provide that. What a great motivator. So I'm glad you brought that up.

Yeah. Yeah. In fact, I'm gonna grab something here real quick.

I I I was at Eric Prosser's shop. Eric Eric has this, toolbox.

The toolbox alone is, like, eighty thousand dollars. It must be, like, twenty five feet long and, like, ten feet tall. And there's probably three hundred thousand dollars worth of tools in there. Now that's his toolbox.

Uh-huh.

He converted his old toolbox to be the scanner box. So any technicians that come into his shop, they have access to any of the tools that they need to do the job. Awesome. Awesome.

It was super cool. And and at at Eric Prosser's, shop, his GS's, when they come in, they have a certain color of uniform. And then a a c tech has a color of uniform, and a b tech has a color of uniform, and the a tech. And then the the shop foreman has his own color of uniform for easy identification. You can look around in the shop and see right where right for the people you're looking for. I thought that was brilliant.

It is. It's brilliant. Very good one, Eric, because I really haven't heard that one before, but very cool. Very cool.

And go back to what you said about the tribes. I think that fits in there about a tribe. I think that fits in there with a young wanna make it to that next level, get to that color uniform, under that color uniform, or that I I just think that's kinda cool. Heck, I might even steal that one from him.

Yeah. Well, give Eric a call. Because I think I think the GS is when they come in, they have a a gray uniform, and then it as a c, it's like yellow or orange, and then it goes to a blue and then to a red, and then the the, shop foreman is a green or something like that. So, I mean, as you as soon as he pointed it out to me, I was able to look right around the shop, and I could tell exactly who was where Right. Because of the color of the uniform.

And that kinda goes along with something that me and the coaches at ATI been bouncing around because I think we gotta change our thinking with a GS tech, a C tech, a B tech, an A tech. And that's what most of us grew up with.

I mean, but at some point, does that really sound condescending? And do people want to be a general service or a C? So I kinda love that make it to the next color compared to a number one, two, or three, or an a b. I I kinda like that, because I've been looking for a solution for that, man. I've been looking for a solution for that.

There you go. There you go. And his GS is equal to an apprentice.

Yeah.

And he has a couple of apprentices to shop as well.

Yep.

Cool. Yeah. Mister Coleman is online, and he says it's almost like the belt colors in martial arts.

Yep. Everybody wants to achieve that next level. Awesome. I really dig that.

Yeah. You're right. I might have to reach out here. Oh, gotcha. I got that one. I got that one.

I bet. I can't keep it up here anymore. I have to write it down, Brian. I I forget. I just forget way too quick, man.

Oh, I know how you feel, sir. I know how you feel.

Yep. Yep. I think Don Donald Donald? Yeah. Donald Cousin, he's raising his hand. I don't know if he has a question or if he is agreeing or applauding or giving us a high five.

Cool. Good. But we'll take that one. Yeah. Alright. So we we we talk about the story, their mission, their culture, their goals. This is on the about us page.

Also, to in include community involvement, charities.

One that that I've seen here recently, we didn't even touch on it yet, is recycling.

It's on my list. And, yes, a hundred percent agreed.

And there's a lot of people that that really means a whole lot too. What do you do with that waste? And they wanna make sure you're there to protect that environment. So I'm glad you brought that up, my friend.

So how? Where where are we putting in because I I think in sustainability, there's a couple of different areas. One is the recycle area, but also we've got creation area.

Cool.

So where do we put recycle, scrap metal? Go ahead.

The fluids, the chemicals, all that. And Yep. But I had that down under my notes, and I don't have to be right, but originally on an about us page.

Yeah. Because I think that that fits again, goes to internal as well as external customers, prospects, and, it means a lot to people. And they wanna know that you fit right there in with it and not doing anything that's gonna wreck our environment.

Again, our industry doesn't have a great reputation.

So anything we can do to raise that level of thinking to anybody would be would be great.

So Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. We're we're not pouring those chemicals down the drain. We are recycling them. And and now let's go to creation too because I I go across the country, and I get to see this. This is so awesome. The solar panels on the roof of these shops.

Yep. Yep.

The creation of power.

So in Vegas, totally makes sense. Three hundred and sixty days of sunshine a year. Yep.

Do you know I see more shops with solar panels, Midwest, Northeast, Northwest.

This is places that have a hundred days of sunshine a year.

They're still implementing these solar panels Right.

Yep.

In a strong method.

Anything that would help and reduce that impact, I think that'd be very good. Even in like, my friend Rich on here earlier from Baltimore.

Rich, I'm from Baltimore, a little town in Pasadena, just south, where I wish I would have three hundred and sixty five days, but, any little bit can help, man. Any little bit can help.

Yeah. Yeah. And it does help. It does go a long way. There are some tax benefits. There's some some ramifications that come from that that just really help out, and and that's cool.

That's cool.

What it really goes towards is what we're doing to make things awesome and amazing.

LED lights in the shop, they're so much brighter. They consume so much less electricity and power. Yep.

I was in, I was in, let's give a shout out to Fred Geswicki.

Geswicki. Fix it with Fred. Yeah.

Fix it with Fred? I was in his shop. I'm like, dude, you seriously gotta change out these mercury light bulbs. He's like, dude, they're all LEDs. So he had the old dome, and he had converted them all and changed out the transformers and everything. It was so cool. It was super cool.

Cool. Good.

Because the old mercury bulbs, you'd have to heat them up.

Yep.

Once you did, then it was pennies to keep them operating. But he switched everything over to LED now and super awesome. So I I love Fred's. Alright. To, to technical resources, we talk about in the careers page that career path, what they can expect, the training that you're gonna attend. Maybe you're going to Bimmers.

Maybe you're gonna attend vision. Maybe you're going to ATE or ASTA or ASTE in North Carolina.

What what training do you attend as a shop?

Love that as well. I love that as well. And again, that goes back from the consumer's perspective as well as a prospect because my guess is a young technician wants to see a future. They wanted to see that someone's changing their mindset, learning to go and grow with their business so they know that there's a future for them here as well. Because I know a lot of people don't think about this and I mean, the chance for business ownership in our industry is much stronger, at least in my opinion, than others.

Something else to think about for the future of that shop, a future of the of the next generation of technicians or whatever, but also a great point, Jimmy. Love it. Love it.

Yeah. Yeah. And and so take this to the mentoring idea too. If and I agree with you, but there's a lot of technicians in our industry that go on to be shop owners. It's a totally, completely different skill set being able to turn a wrench versus twirling a pen. Yeah. Maybe that's not the right way to put it.

Managing a business.

What about what is there a place in a careers page to say that I'll mentor you into owning your next shop?

I believe there could be. I believe it could be.

Yeah. Because you never know what what they might be looking for. So anything that you think what separates you from the next and I hate using that term, the next shop, but what would truly separate you?

What makes you more of an attractive option than the other shop that they might be looking at or in their market or whatever?

So, again, I love that. Love that. And I love this concept of of mentoring the the technician. So so you're gonna enroll him into all these management classes and HR and bookkeeping and and and and and all the business law, business ethics courses that you can, management classes.

And and what I what I see happening is two different things. One, a technician is gonna grab a hold of it, is gonna love it, and say, yes. This is the path I wanna go on. I have a five year plan.

I have a ten year plan. I have a fifteen year plan that by that fifteen year plan, I will be running my own shop and pulling in five, ten, fifteen million a year running the shop. Or plan b says, oh my gosh. Running a shop is way more than I wanna do.

I know how to fix cars. I can fix them really well.

I'm gonna dig in and not only be a a master technician. I'm gonna be an inspiration. I'm gonna be a mentor. I'm gonna provide the instruction for that next gen coming through so that they can obtain the same skill set, so that they can have the same passion, the same love for repairing cars.

Yep. Just a lot of options out there for a young technician, anybody that wants to get into this industry.

And I think they get rifled down into, as you said, the tech world. So anything you can do to open somebody's eyes up to what's possible, I think should be in a okay, a careers page.

What about, so because we talk about individual workstations, toolboxes, tool shop tools, scan tools, all that sort of thing. What about where does a a digital inspections fit into careers page or about us page? What what are your thought what are your thoughts there?

Both.

I think people like hearing about technology. They want you to be cutting edge, and anywhere you have opportunity to demonstrate that, I would do so.

And that the generation of not only workforce has changed, the generation of consumers changed. So I want that on both sides of the who who are we, the about us, but definitely the careers page. So and I think it just helps attract somebody that's grew up with this in their hand.

Digital natives? Yes.

Yes. Yes.

That's what I call it. Digital natives, they they were born with a smartphone and Shazam. They're in like Flint. So to the digital inspections too, I think technicians who have done them and done them successfully, digital inspections, have seen the difference. They've seen the amount of additional jobs that they can sell because the pitcher sells the work.

Yep. Pretty much.

So if a technician is comfortable with digital inspection, sees that your shop is doing its digital inspection, they're gonna be drawn towards that, attracted towards that because their bonuses, their raises, that they know that they will be able to book more jobs, book more hours, book more services because of your shop having digital inspections.

Earn more of this as well as help them go and grow. I mean, it's the digital inspection has been a game changer for this industry and just phenomenal. Love it.

Alright. Question coming in from, mister John Powell.

What about the recruitment of the experienced technicians?

Where do you find that?

I'd still think that would go if you're asking where this might be on the website. I'm a believer, and all of this still goes into, a careers page, but also with what are your other options of looking at, how do you attract techs, how do you find how do you get them to even look at you? And, there's a list, and some of you do a lot of this, some maybe not. But I think all that applies to whatever skill level of technician we're looking for. What really is attractive about that role, and what do you have to offer for that role.

So Yeah. Mister Silverman, thank you for joining. Appreciate you being in here. We get to travel the world. You get to see shops all over the place. To John's question, what about recruiting the experienced technicians? Where can a shop find experienced technicians?

Well, I don't know what you talked about going into this call. So so I was, late to the party. You might have already covered it.

Level zero and and go.

Level zero and go.

Personally, if I'm going to poach somebody, I'm gonna poach from the dealerships, and and I'm gonna do it very politically correct. I I went with one of our members out to lunch, and he took me to a really cruddy taco place on a Tuesday. And he said I said, why'd you go here? We're paying for this. And he said, well, it's Taco Tuesday. And I'm like, okay. I'm paying for this.

And then he walked around the room and he gave out his business cards to the guys that were there wearing dealership shirts.

Wow.

And and because they were all going there because it was Taco Tuesday. That's the most simple target thing you could do.

Target, Rich. I mean, yeah, that talk about shooting fish in a barrel. Holy cow. That was easy to finish in right there.

So are you talking about recruiting cards, Jim?

I am. This this particular shop owner said, hi. My name is, and handed out his card and said, I've got a shop down the street, and I'm, you know, full of work, and I need people to work. If you know anyone looking for a job, please reach out to me.

And and he did that, and that was how he got his experience, guys.

And I love that that he asked that you know anyone, not just that one particular person he approached.

Yep. Who do you know? Yep.

I followed a there was a there was a string on the Internet this week about people going after their tool truck driver.

Yep. Tool truck.

And and and I understand that, and I love the idea because the tool truck drivers know everybody. My concern has always been he also knows all of my guys for the other person that's asking for technicians.

And hopefully, your shop has the right environment, the right culture, the right people, the right satisfaction, the right tribe that your tribe never wants to leave, never wants to go. Cool. So I agree with you. I I think the tool truck driver, while they do know everybody in the industry, that might be just a who do you know question rather than a recruiting, and I'll pay you a thousand bucks if you get me a technician question.

Yep. Have you ever heard of the oil filter stickers, Jimmy?

I have, and I thought that was brilliant.

I do too.

But Tell us about it. Because because there's people there's people that don't know about it, so you gotta tell us now.

I got a list, of course, but, anyway, the oil filter stickers is just basically that.

When when you service a car, when you change the oil on whatever service you're doing, unfortunately, we will lose that customer here or there for light services for an so So on every time you do an oil service, there's a sticker that has your shop name on it, a little bit about you guys, and talk about things could be tired of working weekends, tired of working nights, working for a four day work week. What do you have sexy? This is what we have to offer at Jimmy's super shop. Now this is a love it or a hate it idea, but a lot of people are putting the oil change stickers on an oil filter, who they are, and why it might be cool to work for Jimmy's Super Shop. And some are getting phone calls or going to the websites and their career pages and stuff like that, off of an oil change sticker. It goes on the filter, not the windshield.

So Yeah.

I I love that. And in fact, Brian, you lightning has struck my brain while you're saying that.

Here's a technician under the car getting ready to change out the the filter. Here's a QR code. Jimmy Super Sharp QR code.

Love it. And now that now you got said something made me think too because we're talking here about probably a more experienced technician, which had a question got brought up.

So why not also a sticker that goes under the hood right on the core support that tells you a little bit about are you looking? Because I used to put them out there with Liberty Auto. I want just the services we did and when.

But instead of that, why not change that to a recruiting effort and put that onto the core support that, yes, I'm looking for technicians. If you're interested in looking at a place that has this, this, this, or this, hit this QR code. And I love the QR code idea. Imagine that from a a technical guy like yourself, Jimmy.

Right. So here here's here's my vision of what I'm seeing, and and I will I can't wait for a shop to implement this. I scan the QR code and, Shazam, the first thing that pops up is a technician testimonial talking about how awesome it is to work at this shop. Yep. Awesome.

Love the QR. You got my attention.

Oh, I'm picturing his attention.

An experienced technician.

I'm picturing him dropping is I'm picturing the shop owner saying, what are you doing there with your cell phone under that car?

It's gonna happen anyway, brother. It's gonna happen anyway.

Yep. Yep. Yep. Try and mitigate it as much as you can. But, yeah, I that's a brilliant one.

What else have we got? How else you say you've got a list, Brian. You got any others off the top of your mind?

We've talked about the career pages, which I don't think enough shop owners put enough effort into that. So please do so. And again, Facebook, it is more than just checking out the people you went to high school with and the kids. There's a lot bigger efforts than that. I love Jim's tool raffle. I love the recruiting cards. I love the oil change stickers.

And some have great success approaching the military, trying to get in touch with former military or veterans that, because remember, they also have their motor pool, they have technicians there, whether it's airplanes, tanks, cars, trucks, whatever, just other different resources.

And, again, the six degrees of separation, I don't know how many others really work that as hard.

Current employees, whatever a a recruiting bonus to the customer's recruiting.

And, again, years ago, Jimmy, when I opened up a cup I opened up three independent shops over a period of thirteen months, myself and a partner.

And I some people love this or hate this.

I visited all the quick lubes in that area. I was looking at those because I'm looking to find somebody that had walked with a purpose, seemed to have some pep in their step, and that's where you might use that recruiting card. This is who I really am. And if you're looking to be that master technician or have a mentor to help you grow your career, this might be the one to call. Now I've had some people not like my efforts there, but, boy, did I hit the ground running with techs that already did belts, hoses, filters, and fluids. They're taught teamwork and they're taught how to sell.

So there's my typical list.

And and you know that you're getting somebody that, feels like they're working below their capability because they're only working they they think I'm a great mechanic. Why am I working at a quick loop? And so, you know, you've got somebody that wants to grow. They they're perfect for a mentoring program like ATI has, and they're perfect for for, somebody that wants to bring on an apprentice.

Yeah.

And I think and I hope this comes out of me right, I just think way too many business owners put all their recruiting efforts into one basket, whether it's Indeed, whether it's this. You need multiple different avenues to be able to hit the right people at the right time to hit as many people as you possibly can. So as many times as you can get your name in front of people or QR codes, which I just love that idea, and utilize that careers pay. I the more eggs, the better. Not just the one. Bingo. Bingo.

And also, Brian, you did talk about you did talk about asking your your customers to refer technicians to you. Right?

Yes. I did, sir. Okay.

Yes. So we've got two suggestions that just came in on the questions box.

Ed is saying that the QR code links to the careers page on the website. I love that. And I'm wondering, Ed, is that something you're already doing, or are you saying, wow. That's a brilliant idea that I'm gonna implement that?

Number two, and I'm gonna work this into a story here in one second. John is saying, love the filter idea. The QR code should also go to on your business cards, Jim. So you passing out on Taco Tuesdays, QR cards I totally agree.

In fact, KUKUI has gone to this as well. We have a QR code on our business cards that say, you know, fill out this information for for a demonstration.

Ed says he's not yet, but he needs to, and it's Nate. Nate. Nate. Glad to have you here, brother.

Nate is sitting in, so Nate's gonna do this. Alright. So here's the story. And and this is a George Siekes, Tammy Shoemaker, Chris Shoemaker story.

The challenge was go out on a Saturday with Gatorade bottles and have your business cards attached to these Gatorade bottles. In the middle of summer, go on a Saturday to all the big box, to all the dealerships, to to places where people are working, they're outside, they're sweating, they're hot, and you're gonna hand those technicians cold bottles of Gatorade with your business card.

Hey.

I'm tired of working weekends.

Yeah.

I'm tired of working weekends.

Tammy did this. She went out and and as Tammy tells me this story, the way I heard it was George has given out this challenge for a decade and nobody's ever done it. She went and did it. And in doing so, she handed her card to a gentleman who said, I'm in school right now.

I need nights and weekends because I've gotta finish my schooling first, and then I'm going to be ready to move up. Well, he finished his schooling. She didn't think he even sang about it, but this is the rest of the story. She he finished his schooling, and this shop kept him pushing a broom.

They wouldn't even let him do the lube oil filters, changing wiper blades, changing bells, nothing like that. So here he is, a a trained technician, still pushing a broom, still taking out the trash. He calls Tammy and says, hey, Tammy. I don't know if you remember me, but, you know, three or four months ago in the middle of the summer, you handed me a bottle of Gatorade and a business card. I'm finished with schooling.

Is there an opportunity?

Oh, heck. Yeah. There's an opportunity. And he is now working at her shop, working right up the ranks. They have a career path. They have the training outlined so that he is absolutely killing it on his future career path. And he has gone from a shop that did not appreciate him, had him pushing a broom and taking out the trash to he's now doing the majority of the work at Tinley Automotive.

Awesome. That's pretty cool.

Yep. So on those business cards, the next step for the next time you go out, have that QR code that links that technician right to your shop to show what's amazing and awesome about you. Love it. Love it.

Nice. Very cool. Very cool. Okay. We we've talked about a lot. We've talked a lot about the, careers page. We've talked about the about us page.

Doing video, recording video with your cell phone, definitely appropriate for all social media outlets.

Definitely wanna be on the Facebook. You wanna be on the Instagram. You wanna be on the TikTok, because this is where technicians are spending their time. This is where they are putting their time, effort, and energy.

So as a shop, you need to be there. Yep. And as a shop, you need to demonstrate that your company culture and tribe is there.

Link that to your website where you've got the professional grade, professional videos, good lighting, good audio, great questions.

Give a technician two, three takes. Yep. Might take him a minute to put his words together, and that's okay.

Right. Yep.

Nice. Final words of wisdom. Jim, we'll start with you, Brian, then to you.

Well, okay. So you invited me to come sit in on this panel, and I said why? But because, again, you know, it's royalty. And plus, once Brian's in the room, no one knows as much as Brian.

So I'd like to just be among greatness. So, thanks for letting me come in here. It's the culture is why you work for a company. And and if your culture is not right, it's gonna be hard to attract and retain somebody.

So so keep your culture good, and and that's what I'm gonna say. And so and I didn't get the message on the black shirt either. I apologize.

So thank you all for, letting me come in for a few minutes, but, it's really all about Brian and Jimmy, and I'm just here to support. So thank you.

Cool. Thanks.

Brian, to you, brother.

I'm gonna go back to and I could be wrong about this, but I don't think a a lot put enough effort into that careers page and the mentoring and the training and what makes you different than anybody else. And you gotta think about what does everybody else's marketing look like or their recruiting.

Looking for a a certified technician, looking for the experience, a must have, must have. That doesn't work. That doesn't excite anybody. What makes you different in the technology, the cool tools that are available for service advisors and technicians out there are just really attractive, and you look cutting edge, especially for somebody that wants to be cutting edge.

So that would be my main message.

Yeah. The the the bait that you're putting out there, are you hunting moose or are you hunting aardvarks or armadillos? Yeah. If you're hunting moose, you've gotta use the right bait.

Yes.

So you're looking for that that top quality technician. I I agree with you. I echo everything you guys have said.

You're looking for the right people. You've gotta put it out in the right places, the right information. I love the lube oil stickers.

I love the QR codes, the business codes. I love Taco Tuesday. That's an awesome way of getting those technicians.

Social media.

The Gatorade idea? Yeah. Saturday? Take a Saturday. By the way, she went out four Saturdays in a row.

Tammy did. Tammy Shoemaker went out four Saturdays in a row to, pass out Gatorades. And she had them in her car, nice ice cold, brought them in, handed out to the guys, and, and there you go. She because Chris was turning the wrench.

He was eight hours, ten hours, twelve hours, fourteen hours. He did all the work, and he can't he can't sustain that.

Nope. Not at all.

He need three, four technicians in that shop.

So they they've done a great job. Absolutely love it. Thank you. Thank you for coming on. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, your knowledge, your information.

Thank you for, inspiring the industry.

Thank you for leading the industry, helping us to take those next steps in the right direction. You guys are awesome. Thank you very much. Thank you to all of you who have joined us today.

You've got questions. We've got some answers. This is my cell phone. This is my email.

Send me a text message. Let's connect. Let's see what we can do to take your shop up to the next level.

Counting Cars

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 16:36:29 GMT

"I love to count cars! 1, 2, 3 Muahahaaaa!"

I HAVE HEARD THEM ALL:

I need to increase my car count.

I don’t need a higher car count I am already busy enough!

I can’t handle any more cars I’m already too busy!

I need only a few more cars to be successful.

Have you been mislead by this lie?!?

Join Jimmy Lea, KUKUI Product Evangelist, and Gary Norenberg, Client Success Senior Manager, as we direct you in the proper method of increasing the correct car count. What is the Correct Car Count you ask? It's actually quite simple. It's the cars that make you the most profit!

Knight Automotive Uses KUKUI to Drive More Business from Their Website to the Shop

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 17:00:02 GMT

An Indiana shop goes from word-of-mouth marketing to generating 4-5 times more business online with a website overhaul.

Bill Knight started his auto shop in 2006 the same way many people did in the early 2000s - mostly by word of mouth. Knight Automotive certainly wasn’t bringing in many customers with its outdated website, which was done by a client in exchange for services.

But a talk with his business coach changed all that for Bill. The fateful conversation directed Bill towards KUKUI and ultimately gave him the ability to truly manage his automotive shop like a profitable business that’s primed to grow.

KNIGHT AUTOMOTIVE LLC

Online Improvements Lead to Real World Results

Bill never questioned the decision to partner with KUKUI. That’s because the results were clear almost immediately. Soon after KUKUI’s team revamped his website customers began to show up at the shop saying they had found Knight Automotive online. At least 4-5 customers a week were directly from the website whereas before that was never the case.

Just like that Bill no longer had to rely on word of mouth alone. That’s when the realization hit him. Leveraging online marketing channels was the secret to serious business growth. And KUKUI gave him the tools to do it.

New Website, New Goals

Bill made it a goal to get his new auto shop website to the front page of Google search results and bring in even more customers. With the help of KUKUI, Knight Automotive was able to quickly achieve top positioning that gives his shop a massive amount of exposure.

More importantly is it giving his shop exposure to a new type of clientele - Millennials. This has proven to be an outcome that has helped Knight Automotive grow over the years. As more Millennials bought their own vehicles, Bill’s customer base grew, and the website kept attracting more drivers.

Personal Assistance and Personalization Make the Difference

These impressive goals were accomplished through exceptional personal assistance and personalization. KUKUI’s marketing system is designed to adjust to the user’s goals so that it meets a shop’s unique needs. Bill’s KUKUI representative was another key factor. The rep is always a call or email away to help Bill craft marketing campaigns that hit his goals or simply answer questions about using the KUKUI platform.

In addition to the day-to-day support, Bill has a monthly meeting with his KUKUI representative to make sure the platform is being fully utilized for the benefit of his business. They go over the data to make sure no important insights are missed. He leaves the meeting knowing exactly what his team should focus on to keep growing the shop. It’s a level of customer service that has made Bill a loyal client that can’t imagine operating without KUKUI.

The one thing that Bill regrets about working with KUKUI is that he couldn't do it as soon as he opened his shop doors. He notes that, “you don't realize what the return on investment is on digital marketing until you actually bite the bullet and invest in a partnership with a great company like KUKUI.”

Can Your Website Bring in More Business?

Let’s find out! Schedule a complimentary demo to see how KUKUI’s website develop, marketing and data tracking tools come together in a single platform that empowers automotive entrepreneurs.

KUKUI Text Connect Brings Fox Run Auto’s Message Right to Customers

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 17:00:00 GMT

A Delaware auto shop attracts customers by using text communication and campaigns for more targeted marketing.

Mike Defino knows that taking care of customers is what made his auto shop successful. His entire team at Fox Run Auto takes a customer first approach, and customer relationship management (CRM) is a top priority. When Fox Run Auto began using KUKUI their goal was to revolutionize the way they stayed in contact with customers. It was a decision that proved to be profitable.

FOX RUN AUTO

Maintaining Personal Contact with Thousands of Customers

Over the years, thousands of customers have been added to Mike’s active contact list. With each new contact, personal communication became harder to manage. However, contact with customers wasn’t something Mike was going to shortchange or let fall behind. In fact, his goal was to continue wowing clients with even better CRM .

The solution for Fox Run Auto was Text Connect from KUKUI . It gave the auto shop another way to stay in contact that was extremely efficient to manage. And as Mike quickly found, many customers prefer text communication. Numerous reports have noted that Millennials in particular prefer text communication over phone and email. Many Gen Zers are now old enough to drive, and they are even more comfortable communicating solely by text.

Fox Run Auto discovered text wasn’t just another means of communicating with customers. It has also been an effective part of the shop’s marketing efforts that encourages repeat business even when customers are less inclined to come in the shop.

Leveraging Text Connect During COVID

As the COVID pandemic took hold it became clear that it wouldn’t be business as usual at Fox Run Auto. With people driving less and staying in more, the team needed to adjust how they communicated with customers and what they offered.

Text Connect was a key part of the strategy that got Fox Run Auto through the pandemic. They created a text marketing campaign that offered deals on car detailing and disinfecting services. Mike says they saw an increase in business that can be directly contributed to their texting efforts.

Not only has KUKUI’s texting tools brought in more business, but it's also lowered marketing costs. Mike says compared to the post cards they were using, the text campaigns he can run through KUKUI are much more cost effective. One other advantage is that the texts are much more targeted. The message is delivered right to the customer in their hand. It’s almost guaranteed to get seen unlike other forms of marketing that the Fox Run Auto team has tried in the past.

Simple Features and Over-the-Top Customer Service Make Texting Campaigns Easy

KUKUI doesn’t just provide access to a comprehensive platform. Accounts also come with personal assistance aimed at helping clients fully leverage the tools. Mike appreciates that the tools are intuitive to use even if a person isn’t very techie.

And though he has a firm grasp on using the platform, Mike says he enjoys the monthly coaching calls with Ronnie, his dedicated KUKUI rep. They go over the key objectives and activity to make sure Mike is getting the full benefit of the system. “I didn’t expect this platform to be as easy as it is,” Mike said, “But with a little help and a solid crew it’s been very successful for us.”

See What Else KUKUI Can Do for Your Auto Shop

Get a personal demo of the KUKUI platform to discover more of what this powerful All-in-One-Success Platform can do, and more specifically, how it can help your business grow.

Control Panel Dashboard

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 21:59:23 GMT

Jimmy Lea will be your divemaster to success on an exploration of the depths of the KUKUI Dashboard ! It's like a treasure chest of data for your business!

Join Jimmy Lea and Olivia Earp , Client Success Coordinator , to learn all about your shop and marketing data as we take a Deep Dive into the KUKUI Dashboard Module .

Your Greatest Asset

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 21:38:18 GMT

When talking about your business do your eyes light up? How about when you talk about your people? When you get into the people business, beautiful things occur.

Join Jimmy Lea and Julianna Sih, the Founder and Head Coach of Crescendo, as we discuss the most valuable asset in your business, Your People.

Learn what you can do to improve the relationship and communication with the greatest asset to your legacy. Take interest in their health, wellness, and vitality. Expand leaders and develop a happier life!

Turbo Charge Your CRM

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 21:37:46 GMT

Maintain customer relationships and the revenue will follow.

Have you ever wondered why it's called CRM? Is it for Customer Retention Marketing or Customer Relationship Management? Maybe it's Crafty Revenue Maximization?

Regardless of your abbreviation or definition, a better relationship with your customer will result in a higher retention! I hear you saying, “Yeah, but it needs to be easy to use, because I have a business to run here!”

Tune in with Jimmy Lea to learn why your CRM program is an essential part of running your business. And, learn how you can personalize and automate your many campaigns for remaining top of mind. Be sure to fill out the form to register. You won't want to miss this one.

Is It Time to Add a 2nd Location?

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 15:40:53 GMT

Have you ever been in a situation where you knew there were things you didn't know?

Join our own Host with the Most, Jimmy Lea, ATI High Octane Podcaster, Kim Hickey, CEO & Shop Owner Paul Campanella of Paul Campanella's Auto & Tire Center, CEO & Shop Owner Leon Anderson of Integrity Auto Care, and CEO & Shop Owner Al Oramas of Pro Auto Care as we discuss the ant hills, mountains and molehills of shop expansion.

We'll cover everything from breaking down walls and converting warehouses, to taking over existing shops and building from the ground up! What is the best method for expansion and adding shops? Join us for what is sure to be a lively discussion. You might even pick up something to help you decide if you're going to expand your legacy and kingdom.

New Paragraph

KUKUI Customer Map Tool Directs More Business to Pro Automotive Services’ Shop

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:00:00 GMT

Upgrading to the KUKUI marketing system provides Illinois auto shop with easy-to-use tools that attract more customers.

When the owners of Pro Automotive Services, Jennifer and Mike Baggett, first heard about KUKUI they were immediately interested. The thought of being able to track marketing efforts to better direct their budget was very appealing. Not only that, the one-and-done platform could also help them improve their marketing channels to drive more business to their shop.

Little did they know, making the transition to KUKUI wouldn’t just prove to be a good investment. It was also a remarkably easy, pain-free process.

PRO AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

Easy-to-Install Tools Prove Making a Transition Doesn’t Have to be Complicated

Many small businesses don’t even consider upgrading their website and marketing platforms because they think it will be more hassle than it’s worth. They aren’t wrong for making that determination. They’re used to platforms and content management systems that are far from user-friendly. The Baggetts quickly discovered working with the KUKUI platform that isn’t the case.

They were thoroughly impressed by how seamless and smooth the transition was for their shop. A team member was there to help them set up their branded auto shop website before the dedicated account manager took over to help them start utilizing the platform. At all times there was someone to facilitate the process, so the Baggetts didn’t have to go it alone. Instead, the one-on-one assistance helped the Baggetts take full control over the data almost immediately.

One and Done Website Management

Most business owners understand that their website is an essential part of attracting customers today. But what they don’t know is how to improve their websites and keep them looking fresh. It was an issue for Pro Automotive Services. Before using KUKUI the Baggetts described their website as “stale.”

KUKUI’s web development team quickly changed that. A direct point of contact at KUKUI helped the Baggetts get their website where they wanted it to be. But one of the many advantages of KUKUI is the ongoing support. The Baggetts can continue to update and improve their website by simply putting in a request with the KUKUI developers. In just 24-48 the website is updated, and it took very little effort on the owner’s part.

It really has been a one and done website management tool for Pro Automotive Services.

All-in-One Shop Performance Dashboard Shows the Results

The Baggetts knew the Pro Automotive Services website had improved, but they also had the tools to measure just how big a difference the changes made. They tracked the results using the All-in-One Shop Performance Dashboard. It allowed them to track call volume, revenue, car count, customer conversion rate and email address capture rate. The Baggetts discovered that they received 136 calls in three months directly from the website. That led to 40 new customers, making the website updates well worth their time.

KUKUI delivers the kind of data that tells a shop if its marketing efforts are working. It also shows the value of making investments to gain those insights.

Driving Business from More Marketing Channels with the Customer Map

The Baggetts have created comprehensive marketing campaigns that involve online and offline channels. When they want to send out direct mail advertisements, they rely on the Customer Map tool to create a mailing list. They use the tool to look at who has been into the shop for services within a particular timeframe and what service they received.

It’s information that tells the Baggetts where to invest more in their marketing efforts. The data tells them where there are opportunities that are currently being targeted, such as in a neighborhood where a few loyal customers live. If that’s the case, they can focus on sending direct mail advertisements to all the homes within a certain radius of the current customers’ homes.

The data could also reveal that a marketing campaign needs to be in a totally different format. For example, instead of using an email campaign, Pro Automotive Services may find that texting offers is more effective. Or the data could tell them that the ROI for a marketing campaign isn’t worth the effort.

Having the ability to track data and compartmentalize the information paints a clear marketing picture for Pro Automotive Services. There’s no question which marketing channels are converting the most customers or bringing in the most calls. They’re no longer driving without direction. They have a map to chart a course to even bigger and better growth .

Get a Platform That Supports Your Business Growth

Request a demo of the KUKUI platform to see how the dynamic yet intuitive tools can be used to improve marketing efforts and help your business grow.

KPI Snapshot

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 15:08:25 GMT

Reporting that Matters

Proper reporting enables businesses to make better and faster decisions. It is common to utilize several vendors to manage different aspects of the business which can be time consuming. This often creates challenges when identifying potential marketing or process improvements. This is where proper reporting can save a lot of time, digging, asking, wondering and headaches.

There are a few core elements for reports to be useful (and not a bunch of noise).

Frequent and Recent Data

It’s important to look at current information in order to make quick and effective decisions.

Catering to Business Needs

In some cases, highly detailed reports can be a hindrance. It’s important to look at both financial and non-financial data in order to identify trends and potential areas of opportunity.

Taking time to analyze granular information may take away from actual business development especially when the subject matter is not the businesses’ speciality or core focus. Snapshot reporting provides businesses enough information to feel confident they are moving in the right direction or a meaningful starting point to begin digging deeper.

Creating Team Engagement

Digestible reports assist teams/departments to work towards a common goal and provide a tool to measure performance. This can create collaborative teamwork and engagement.

The KPI Snapshot Report

KUKUI is excited to announce a new reporting feature! These elements along with KUKUI’s expertise in the auto repair and service industry went into building this feature.

This report is a compliment to all of the products and services already available. The KPI Snapshot is a monthly overview of key performance indicators with KUKUI products and features delivered in a concise report. We built this feature with the intention of displaying trends, historical and recent performance comparison, and to provide a snapshot summary of your monthly website and ad performance.

The KPI Snapshot is organized in different summary sections in order to present data in a digestible manner and for shops to better focus on the items important to them.

Let’s get into the details…

Website Performance

The website performance section provides current and historical data on website traffic, behavior and lead generation. This section presents data provided by Google Analytics and Google Search Console along with KUKUI lead tracking tools.

Did you recently make changes or additions to your website or SEO efforts? This section allows you to measure the effects of those changes at a high level.

One handy feature in this section are the various time periods presented for comparison. Easily compare current performance to the previous month, YTD average or the same month last year. This industry surely has seasonal trends but recent years have come with changes and challenges and we recognize that sometimes 12 months ago may not be a relevant time frame for comparison for every shop.

SEO is a hot topic and often misunderstood. The ultimate goal of SEO is to increase website traffic, feel confident that your website is being engaged with on Google and ultimately generating more leads and more revenue. If you are focused on SEO performance below are some items that may be helpful to you, all included in the KPI Snapshot:

Total Web Visits
New Users
Search Queries
Channel Sources
Appointment & Phone Leads
Matched Revenue for Google Organic leads

Top Lead Sources

The lead summary section allows you to analyze marketing channels that deliver the most leads. Here you can also view the conversion rates for different lead types: phone lead vs website appointment leads and see the matched revenue generated from your top lead sources. This section should help shops identify areas of success and areas of opportunity when it comes to marketing channels and the process of converting leads.

If you are looking to measure the ROI of your website, take a look at the website related lead sources in the Lead Summary section: Google Organic, Yahoo + Bing, Website - Direct Visit & Website - Unknown Source. These leads originated from the website.

Google & Microsoft Ads Performance

Do you advertise with Google Ads or Microsoft Ads?

If your answer is yes then this report will be an excellent starting point for monitoring performance and following up on any recent changes made. In the case of paid ads, it is common for shops to make frequent adjustments which is why we present performance compared to the previous month.

In this section you can discover important information pertaining to your paid ads like:

Monthly ROI
Top Search Terms
Ads Groups with the most/least engagement
PPC related KPI's such as: Click Rate, Lead Rate, Cost per Lead and more!

Did you increase your budget? Begin advertising for a new vehicle or service? With the data in this section you won't have to wait long to see the effects of those changes.

The KPI Snapshot Report is available now and each month’s report is uploaded on the 2nd of the following month. If you view the report after the 2nd of the month be sure to click the refresh button to see up-to-date data. Not a member of the KUKUI family yet? Click here to request more information about some of our offerings and request a demo today!

Website Do's and Don'ts

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 22:34:34 GMT

"Your website should attract customers."

Did you know that 70-80% of people research a company online before visiting it or making a purchase? But, just having a website isn't enough. Join your host, Jimmy Lea as we learn from KUKUI's Digital Services team the Do's and Don'ts for a website.

Michelle Lopez and Nick Martin will share proven tips for having a successful website and digital presence, as well as things to avoid. They'll touch on design, content and even some SEO tips to help make sure you're covering what your customers, potential customers AND search engines are looking for. Spoiler: search engines are built to consume content the same way a human does.

Government Credit for Shop Owners

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 22:13:04 GMT

"Up to $26,000 per employee?!?"

As a shop owner, you can get up to $26,000 per qualifying employee through an often missed government credit that many automotive shops have already claimed. Want to know if you qualify? In this short, power-packed presentation Derick Van Ness will share how to know if you qualify for the ERC, (Hint: Most shop owners DO qualify) and how to easily cash in on these credits before they are gone!

Join your host Jimmy Lea of KUKUI and Derick Van Ness, a Wealth Strategist from Big Life Financial, as they discuss how to take advantage of this HUGE credit!

Product Catch-Up

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 16:01:29 GMT

"What's New with KUKUI?"

Have you been wondering what new features KUKUI has released recently? Twice a year we will host a PADI (Product And Development Information) to do a product catch-up for all of our KUKUI Partners. We'll highlight all of the new features and enhancements that we've released as well as show you how to benefit from them.

Join our very own rock star webinar host Jimmy Lea, CTO Heather Myers, and Product Owner Kendall Harris as they run through everything you need to know to be a true KUKUI Expert!

Customer Communication Summary

Tue, 10 May 2022 22:36:44 GMT

KUKUI has launched a new feature that will help you streamline your retention efforts. We are introducing a Customer Communication Summary screen! This window can be accessed through each of your retention modules: Customers, Text Connect, Retention, Postcards & Follow Up.

The Customer Communication Summary window summarizes your customers’ contact information, visit behavior and most recent outgoing communications.

For the Retention and Text Connect modules, you'll access the screen through the Email Approval and Text Connect Approval pages by just clicking on a customer's name. Then in Customers, Retention and Postcards modules, you have a new button called 'View Recent Communication History.'

We have in-app guides on each of these retention modules showing you where this window can be found. As always, you can reach out to your Client Success Coordinator or Support Team for assistance!

KUKUI Resource Center

Tue, 10 May 2022 22:30:36 GMT

Many KUKUI clients have asked for more product guides and new feature announcements. We are very excited to announce that we have released a Resource Center in the KUKUI Control Panel. There is a blue badge in the lower-right corner of the Control Panel, with a lightbulb icon. Once you click on the Resource icon you'll find:

Guide List: This is where our module guides will appear. They will be a combination of videos and text. We have one guide posted, 'How to create a custom email blast' video. More will be coming soon! As we release them, there will be a new announcement in the Resource Center.
Module Walk-throughs: This is where our step-by-step walk-throughs will appear. NOTE: They ONLY appear when you go to the module. For example, click on Retention, and Viola! there is a walkthrough guide for it in the Resource Center. Today, we have walkthroughs for the TextConnect and Retention modules. The Resource Center will keep track for you of the walkthroughs that you complete. How many can you go through?
Announcements: This is where we'll put product announcements like new features or new guides. A red notification circle will appear over the Resource Center badge to alert you to a new announcement.

If you'd like to see more of our Resource Center make sure you come to May's PADI on May 26th as KUKUI's Product team will be covering this as well as other new features we've released this year! Register HERE .

Career Growth

Wed, 04 May 2022 18:05:36 GMT

Career Growth: from Technician to CEO

How can a technician grow into management and executive leadership?

There are three key positions within every shop. If you try to do all three simultaneously, you will fail. How does a successful shop owner make the transition from wrenching to management to CEO? Join us as we discuss the mindset and obstacles facing each and every shop owner as they venture into uncharted territories.

Dave Kusa from Autotrend Diagnostics and John Eppstein from John's Automotive Care will be discussing career paths and opportunities. Join us as we talk about these true-life examples of how employees can grow into leaders.

Dive Into the Newly Updated Text Connect Platform

Wed, 04 May 2022 18:01:00 GMT

Everything You Need to Know About the Text Connect Platform

Whether you are a seasoned pro or taking your first look at the Text Connect Platform, this webinar is for you. Join us for a comprehensive look at the industry's top texting platform, including our most recent updates. Learn how to take advantage of everyone's preferred method of communication and start driving more success to your shop.

Join our very own rock star webinar host Jimmy Lea, CTO Heather Myers, and Product Owner Kendall Harris as they run through everything you need to know to be a true texting professional.

Control Panel Exploration Parts 1 & 2

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 01:07:55 GMT

Get Familiar with Your KUKUI Control Panel

How familiar are you with your KUKUI All-In-One Success Platform? Whether you are a seasoned KUKUI client, or just beginning your KUKUI journey, this Control Panel webinar series is for you! In this series, we are going to focus on different elements of the Control Panel and the success stories they've created.

In Part 1 of this webinar, we are going to focus on...

Text Connect Platform
Leads Module
KUKUI Dashboard

In Part 2 of this webinar, we will cover...

Customer Module
Reports Module
Follow Up Module

Tune in as we discuss these valuable areas of the Control Panel and learn some of the ways that we have helped shops like yours in their quest to success!

Part 1

Part 2

Partners in Business AND Life

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 01:07:52 GMT

This Month is Mom & Pop

Business Owner's Month!

How do you balance work, life, marriage, kids, and everything else while maintaining a loving relationship? How can your spouse be your greatest cheerleader, motivator, challenger, and accountability person in making this work-life togetherness possible? Can it be done without resulting in daily rage?

Join us as we discuss these true-life examples of how business can be run with partners in life and business. Juliana Sih, a personal life coach, joins us to give us proven coping skills and methods to work together pleasantly.

Using Metrics to Improve Your Text Marketing Campaigns

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 21:44:22 GMT

A growing number of consumers prefer texting when communicating with businesses or receiving marketing materials. It makes sense, texting allows us to multi-task and communicate efficiently.

With such a demand and preference for this style of marketing it’s important to continually monitor the performance of your text marketing campaigns. KUKUI has launched a new feature to help you do just that – our Text Connect Dashboard. From here you can easily view key metrics like:

Conversion Rate
Revenue Generated
Response Rate

As we all know in marketing, different campaigns yield different results and with the Text Connect Dashboard you can view results at the individual campaign level, campaign type (Ongoing or One-Time Blasts) or overall. If you really like details, you’re in luck because the Text Connect Dashboard displays the customer and RO details that your text campaigns helped generate.

There are several elements that have a direct impact on your metrics to consider when creating and optimizing your text campaigns:

Send Settings: Are you sending texts at a time that makes sense for your customers and when you and monitor and manage incoming responses?

Campaign Types: Consider having a mix of follow up, customer specific, vehicle specific and special offer campaigns.

Message Content: To make your texts sound more personal and organic, include your shop contact name and create multiple messages per campaign so a customer doesn’t receive the same version of the text each time.

Setup a Strategy for Communication: Engage customers with conversational and relevant automated messages and utilize 1:1 texting with KUKUI Connect Chat to close the deal. Also be sure to encourage customers to sign up for Text Marketing to learn about special offers.

Experiment with these different elements and utilize metrics to determine the best combination that works for your customers and your business.

Not a member of the KUKUI family yet? Click here to request more information about some of our offerings and request a demo today!

Attracting Technicians Part II

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 16:45:52 GMT

Attracting Technicians Pt. II

So, you have created the best and most clever job posting. Better than the best, this job posting is now a masterpiece. After uploading it to: Facebook, LinkedIn, Zip Recruiter, Indeed, Monster, et al, you are not getting the applicants you desired. In fact, you are not getting any applications... You check your listing, yes, it is still there, yes, the links still work, yet, you get nothing!

Do you know why?? I do! I know why you are not getting a desired response rate from your masterpiece of a job listing! Join me, Jimmy Lea, and Tammy Shoemaker as we discuss the 4 things she implemented differently in her recruiting process. Plus, how you can implement these changes into your process immediately!

Best Practices for Marketing Email Blasts

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:33:06 GMT

Make The Most Of Your Marketing Emails

Sending marketing emails is a regular practice of most businesses with a goal of retention and branding. With an ever-competitive market, staying top of mind is key to maintaining your customer base. What is more effective in staying top of mind than sending messages directly to your customer’s desktop or phone?

Marketing emails serve many purposes. They help build your brand, generate revenue, increase retention, drive website traffic, and share special offers, to name a few! Even better, KUKUI’s advanced CRM system allows you to see revenue generated from your email campaigns so you can better understand the ROI.

We are excited to announce that KUKUI has made sending marketing email blasts easier than ever with our new Email Builder. You can customize your recipient list with advanced filters based on factors like time since last visit, number of visits, amount spent & vehicle make. You can choose from hundreds of image templates and customize to your liking! With the new Email Builder you can create and schedule an email blast in minutes.

Here are some best practices for making the most of your marketing emails:

1. Consider sending email blasts on Tuesday, Thursday, or Wednesday (that order has the highest potential for open rate) between 10 AM – 3 PM.

2. Determine a target audience and tailor your message or incentive to them. This is what marketing is all about! Utilize the filters available in our Email Builder to help you accomplish this.

3. Don’t overthink your subject line. Keep it relevant to the message or theme of your email and don’t forget to use preview text to give them a hint of what is in your email.

4. The design of your email should highlight the message and not distract from it. Use complimentary accent colors to match the design you select.

5. Engage your customers with compelling content. Here are a few tips and tricks for writing engaging content:

Ask Questions (Is your vehicle ready for a road trip?)
Give Advice (How to keep your washer fluid from freezing)
Provide insight to your company culture (a charity or locals sports team you sponsor)
Include relevant pictures
Incentivize customers with special offers

6. Don’t forget the Call-To-Action. Tell your customers what to do next and give them an easy way to do it.

7. Evaluate the performance of your email blasts using open rate and conversion rate statistics to determine a strategy that works best for your business.

KUKUI’s Email Builder and dashboard guides you through the email blast process from concept to creation to evaluation. Not a member of the KUKUI family yet? Click here to request more information about some of our offerings and request a demo today!

You can also watch the Deep Dive Webinar video below for a discussion on Email Marketing and an introduction to our new Email Builder.

Are Multiple Shops Necessary for Success?

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 23:26:56 GMT

How Do You Define Success as a Single Shop?

Most shop owners view multiple shop operations as the true arbiter of success. However, that may not be the best move for you. This month we are going to discuss how different shops define success and how owning a single shop might just be the perfect fit for you.

Have you asked yourself any of these questions:

Where is my profit?
Where is my ROI?
Where is my Work-Life Balance?
What is a good car count for my shop?
How much should each of my Bays produce each month/week/day?

If so, this webinar is definitely for you! KUKUI's Jimmy Lea is joined by Joe Pegoraro, of Pegoraro Auto Repair, as they discuss his personal story of success in a single shop.

Make a Plan with Year Over Year Stats

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 22:57:35 GMT

Let's Make A Plan for 2022 - Looking at Year-Over-Year Stats

We are super excited to be discussing your Year Over Year Stats Report. Charlie our Senior Success Coordinator will be joining Jimmy Lea for our Deep Dive Webinar where we are going to discuss how to look at your year-over-year numbers and how to maximize/improve areas in your business. This is a way for you to look at your end-of-year ROI and make a plan of action to gauge what trends you need to focus on.
Here are some of the topics we will be discussing:

How to use your YOY stats to plan an annual marketing plan
How to gauge trends by analyzing your YOY Stats
How to develop a marketing plan to decide where to focus your marketing efforts (retention vs new customer acquisition)

Power Up Your SEO

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:06:12 GMT

It's Time for Everyone's Favorite Topic - SEO!

This month we are super excited to have KUKUI's own SEO team joining Jimmy Lea for our Deep Dive Webinar. We are going to discuss SEO tips that will empower you to maximize your KUKUI website and make your competitors green with envy. We will also have an opportunity to share some information on what goes on behind the scenes in the world of SEO.

We will discuss topics like writing good website copy (aka content), a checklist you can use for your site, and citations. To get the absolute most out of this Deep Dive into SEO, we suggest the following:

Find a quiet space
Bring a notepad & pen
Put on your thinking cap
Be ready to learn

SEO Benefits of Community Involvement

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 17:58:19 GMT

What is better than neighbors helping neighbors?

We think being able to get extra visibility for the whole neighborhood takes that assistance to another level. This month we are going to talk about how artwork, murals, artists and community involvement can have an impact on the SEO for everyone involved.

In this month's webinar, Jimmy Lea will be joined by 3 shops that are making unique connections in their neighborhoods. Vinnie Lucido from CoAuto, Patrick McHugh from Bimmer Rescue, and Chris & Tammy Shoemaker from Tinley Auto Repair & Towing have some amazing opportunities in front of them that will allow them to stand out from the crowd.

Idiots or Inspiration?!?

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 19:23:58 GMT

Are You Listening to Idiots or Inspiration?

What advice would you give to someone looking to start an automotive repair shop? How about anyone short-term, mid-term, or long-term running an automotive repair shop today?

Tune in and participate in the discussion between KUKUI's very own Jimmy Lea and Tara Topel from Topel's Towing & Repair. Tara was recognized as the 2021 Shop Owner of the Year from Women in AutoCare, a branch of the Auto Care Association. She has done some amazing things in her shop and has plenty of advice for anyone that wants to take their business to the next level.

Join us on October 28 and be ready to join in the conversation. If you have any tips and tricks you would like to share, please do. Assemble your top 3 bits of advice you would share with a fellow shop owner and let's talk!

Creating an Annual Marketing Plan

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 17:49:22 GMT

Use Your KUKUI All-In-One Success Platform to Plan for 2022!

Welcome to Q4 2021! Is your 2022 marketing plan complete yet?If you are like most shops, the answer is probably "no". Don't worry though. We're here to help.

Tune in as we discuss the simple methods of planning out an entire year of Postcards, Email Messages, and Texting. We'll run through the KUKUI dashboard and show you how to visualize the seasonality of your business and plan accordingly.

Don't scramble at the beginning of each month trying to layout a last-minute plan, let the data guide the way. The time is now, let's plan ahead.

Join KUKUI's host-with-the-most Jimmy Lea and KUKUI's Client Services Manager Jeanne Garman as they discuss the best ways to plan your year.

Effective Customer Acquisition

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 15:52:03 GMT

Use Your KUKUI All-In-One Success Platform forEffective Customer Acquisition.

This month Jimmy Lea is joined by KUKUI's Client Success Coordinator, Jake Hilliard to talk about how your KUKUI All-In-One Success Platform can be used for customer acquisition.

In this Deep Dive Webinar, we will cover customer acquisition using some simple methods with easily proven ROI using the KUKUI Dashboard. Join us to learn these methods from a former Service Advisor and long time Automotive Industry expert, Jake Hilliard.

Finding Technicians and Employees

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:52:27 GMT

New Technician Acquisition, Recruitment, and Growth.

The biggest challenge right now is recruiting, acquiring, and growing service technicians! What are you doing as a repair shop owner to build and retain your team of auto repair specialists? Join KUKUI's very own Jimmy Lea, Kenneth Greffin from Aspen Auto Clinic, Tim Swiontkowski from Stellar Autoworks, and Philip Christiansen from BG Automotive for an enlightening discussion about successful recruiting programs implemented by these General Managers and Shop Owners.

These auto industry veterans just might have the lead to your newest team members.

Don't Overpay the IRS!

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:09:18 GMT

Why are you insisting on overpaying the IRS in taxes every year?

In this month's Shop Owner Success Webinar, Jimmy Lea is joined by shop owner Tommy Keeter from Christian Brothers Auto Care in Oklahoma as well as Derick Van Ness, a Wealth Strategist who is passionate about helping people reach their full potential.

Why are you insisting on overpaying the IRS in taxes every year? Why are you not taking advantage of this HUGE tax deduction? Most shop owners have been able to get back $20,000 - $35,000 using this simple tactic. Don't just take my word for it, listen to shop owners who have cashed their checks

Postcards for Acquisition and Retention

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:09:11 GMT

How your KUKUI All-In-One Success Platform can be used to capture future customer attention.

This month Jimmy Lea is joined by our Sr. Client Success Coordinator, Charlie Myers to talk about how your KUKUI All-In-One Success Platform can be used to spread a large net over specific neighborhoods and zip codes to capture future customer attention. Discover which of these neighborhoods should get your full attention and support.

Special Event or Announcement you need to make to your entire customer base? Learn the power of postcards in raising awareness for a good cause. Jimmy will also be joined by Leigh Anne Best and Laura Frank, the founders of the Breaks for Breasts organization. They will be talking about this wonderful organization and how KUKUI shops can get involved.

Don't Go It Alone. Take Your Friends With You!

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:09:08 GMT

Three incredible shop owners discuss the impact that business development groups have had on their success.

In this month's Shop Owner Success Webinar, Jimmy Lea is joined by 3 incredible shop owners as they discuss the impact that business development groups have had on their success.

Troy Vaninetti of Graham Auto Repair, Jeff Hazeline of American Import Auto, and Aden McDonnell of McDonnell's ATS will discuss the insight and support they gained by being a part of these groups. Learn from their experiences and help shape your vision of success.

Join Jimmy, Troy, Jeff, and Aden and learn why they feel their participation in these groups was the absolute best decision for their businesses.

The Past, Present, and Future of KUKUI

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:09:05 GMT

10 years is an impressive milestone and we want to share our experience and vision of the future with our KUKUI family.

This month we have a very unique Deep Dive Webinar and we are going to focus on KUKUI as a company. 10 years is an impressive milestone and we want to share our experience and vision of the future with our KUKUI family.

Join us for this special Deep Dive Webinar as Jimmy Lea dives into KUKUI's growth over the past decade. He will be joined by KUKUI's CEO Lorie Sharp, CCO Cindy Frasca, and CTO Heather Myers as they discuss how KUKUI started, where we are today, and what to expect in the future.

A Decade of Success

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 15:44:42 GMT

Take a Drive Down Memory Lane with 10 Years of Shop Owner Success

Take a drive down memory lane with Jimmy Lea and 2 shops that have been with KUKUI since the beginning. Join Lisa and Henry Carter, owners of Water Star Motors, and Dave Toole, owner of Toole's Garage, as they discuss how marketing technology has changed their shops over the past 10 years. How has their internet presence changed? How has their customer communication changed? How has their ability to track marketing changed?

Hear what has shaped their success and how they have grown right along side KUKUI.

The Most Powerful Tool in Your Shop

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 23:27:10 GMT

Are you certified to use that tool?

In this month's Deep Dive Webinar, we're going to look at how the KUKUI Control Panel can help bring back power to one of the most critical tools in your shop: your phone.

The most powerful tool in your shop is the telephone. Are you certified to use this tool? Do you know how to help your team become certified to operate the most powerful tool in the shop?

Learn from Jimmy Lea and Eric Twiggs of ATI, how to score calls consistently to provide predictable results in telephone skills.

Do You Sink or Swim?

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 23:22:52 GMT

The right attitude can produce some amazing things...

In this month's Shop Owner Success Webinar, Jimmy Lea is joined by shop owner Marty Ross "The Ford Guy" from TFG Automotive.

Marty used to fix cars in a car port at his house. Then he rented 3 bays in a building shared with another auto repair business. Now he owns the building, operates 6 bays, and is about to expand to include auto body service. This is a story of hard work and determination leading to true shop owner success.

Join Jimmy and Marty as they discuss the tools that helped shape the success of TFG Automotive.

How Auto Body Shops Can Leverage Their Existing Customer Base [WEBINAR]

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 16:21:13 GMT

Stop leaving easy money on the table!

Your existing customer base is full of potential. You could be sitting on top of an untapped goldmine. With the right tools at your disposal, and our guidance, you can make a big difference in your bottom line. Join myself, Jamie Carlson from Ervine’s Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrid, and Gary Keyes from E & M Motors as we discuss the best ways to maximize the potential of every customer.

Make the best use of your shop management system and marketing efforts. Tune in to learn how to get the most out of your customer communication.

Lead Scoring

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 18:19:47 GMT

Make Your Calls Work for You (Video Below)

The leads tab has always been one of the most loved features in the KUKUI Platform, because of its powerful ability to allow business owners to listen to the calls, discover valuable insights about their customer behavior, and train employees on their phone call performance. We are thrilled to announce that this feature just got a major enhancement! We have now added the ability to assign phone calls to employees and score each call on a scale from 1-10. Now you can listen to your calls, assign them to an employee, score them based on the effectiveness of the employees phone skills, and take notes on the call, all in the same window.

After scoring and assigning your calls, we offer several new filters that uncover valuable insights about how your calls are being managed. Filter your leads by employee to see their average score at the top of the screen, and how many calls they’ve answered. Filter by score to easily find examples of amazing calls, or calls that need work so that your team can listen and learn. These are just a few ways that using the leads scoring tool can take your internal training to the next level and be more effective than ever at converting leads.

Here are a few more tips and tricks on how to use this feature the most effectively:

Be Consistent: Come up with a set of standards that you will use to score all of your calls so that the call scoring is the same across the board. Not sure where to start? Talk to your KUKUI Client Success Coordinator and they will provide you with a free scoring sheet to get you started!
Keep it Relevant: Mark certain calls as irrelevant, such as hang ups, sales calls or quick check ins about an existing service my marking them as N/A. This will help you filter your calls to just the calls you care about when going back to review calls in the future.
Start Small: There can be a lot of leads in the leads tab (and that’s a good thing!) With a busy schedule, it can be a daunting task to listen and score all those calls. Set a goal to score 2-3 calls a week so that you can work it into your schedule on your time. It won’t be long before you have a LOT of great data to work with.
Take Notes: You may want to go back and reference these calls later.As you listen to calls, spend a little time taking notes so that you can easily find notable calls in the future.
Set Goals: After you have gotten a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of how your team is managing incoming phone leads, come up with specific goals that will allow you to measure how well they are progressing. Maybe you want to increase your average score, or have a higher percentage of calls answered by a particular employee. Put your data to use!

Lead scoring is just another way that KUKUI can help you measure your success and have your business operating at its best. Not a member of the KUKUI family yet? Click here to request more information about some of our offerings and request a demo today!

You can also watch the Deep Dive webinar video below to see Lead Scoring in action!

All About Reviews

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 17:56:04 GMT

Part 1

While so many things change in business, marketing and the world wide web – one thing has remained a constant for years – real customer reviews & testimonials are a surefire way to convert customers and build trust.

Reviews can be gathered in a variety of ways, and posted to a number of platforms. Let’s dive into the basics of each of these things.

Reviews on my Website:
Contrary to popular beliefs, posting reviews through a platform directly on to your website has wonderful benefits. First and foremost you have great ways for a prospective customer to validate the type of service they will receive if they bring their car to you – however the benefits extend beyond this. Having your reviews posted directly to your website (not imported from another site) like this example https://www.precisionautorepair.com/reviews

gives your site free, unique, regular SEO content and it also gives you the opportunity to publicly and strategically respond furthering that SEO benefit. This is the kind of content Google will reward you for.

Reviews on Google, Yelp or Facebook
Having reviews organically generated on these platforms certainly provides a direct benefit to your page on their platform, but not so much to your actual website. If you have a business goal to grow your Facebook following, or improve your GMB listing, then gathering some reviews there is a great idea. Keep in mind though that you don’t always have full control or ownership of these reviews, so the site they are posted to can decide on their own whether or not to publish or unpublish them – this has hurt reputations in the past. Remember that it is always important to respond as well. Be sure to read the rules of soliciting this type of review though, because this can truly make or break your success!

Reviews on other Third-Party Review Sites
This is the least beneficial for a few reasons. First of all, your reviews are often posted to a separate website, something like www.reviewsite.com/MyShop . While these sites may have a great way to get those reviews (more on that later) they aren’t always in a place that’s going to benefit you, or that you can truly control. Remember that every click adds value to that domain – so if you are driving traffic to a review website, you are boosting their SEO via clicks, but not your own domain.

This is why Kukui suggests having real reviews hard coded on your website. Some businesses may give you an option to insert an iFrame so it looks like those reviews are on your website, but in reality it’s the same thing, and all that wonderful content and all those clicks are benefitting the company you are paying each month instead of your own domain.

If you are doing a wonderful job serving your clientele, and they take the time to share it publicly, be sure you are getting the credit for that – AND that you are taking the time to strategically respond!

At Kukui we can help you with all of that. Be sure to talk with your client success coordinator about YOUR review strategy.

Click here for part 2 on review strategy!

Kayla Ogden
Senior Director of Client Services

How to Get Reviews for Your Auto Repair & Collision Shop (Part 2)

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 17:55:59 GMT

Part 2: Solicitation & Strategy

Soliciting reviews is incredibly important in 2021 – but it’s also incredibly tricky!

Why? Because the most popular review platforms have their own set of rules you must follow, or risk your reviews (or worse, the entire page) being taken down.

Google, one of the most popular and important platforms, is explicit about their rules here: Google Text Review Policies .

At Kukui we take great pride in not only an excellent rate for gathering your wonderful and well-earned reviews – but we always abide by the terms and conditions of those important platforms so you know your reviews and reputation are safe.

Review Solicitation & Strategy FAQs:

Can I ask customers first how their experience was, before deciding where to send them to leave a review?

No. This is called “review gating” and it does go against Google’s (and many other review sites) terms. These websites want their reviews to be diverse and include not just glowing, positive reviews. When you sift through your customers first and only ask your happy customers to leave a review you are violating the terms and conditions of these sites and run the risk of your reviews being flagged and page getting frozen or removed.

Can I incentivize customers to leave reviews with prizes or discounts?

Not if you are sending these reviews to Yelp or Google. Both sites are explicit about not soliciting reviews in exchange for product/money etc. However, if you do choose to do this we recommend that you only post those reviews to your website (where you are in full control of the review) and have the reviewer disclose that information. (this review was generated in exchange for a 10% discount).

Can I provide an iPad or phone in my shop for customers to leave a review while they are here?

Google and Yelp track IP addresses – so an influx of reviews from the same IP address will be quickly flagged and removed. You could ask for reviews this way to go to your own website, only – but keep in mind customers might actually prefer to receive an email or text after they leave, than to be solicited and handed an iPad before they even walk out the door. Remember to keep your requests as genuine as possible. You aren’t asking for a review just to try to beat an algorithm – you are asking about their experience because you genuinely care.

What do I do about negative reviews?

Two tips – Don’t hide them, and don’t ignore them. Let’s face it – when you look at a page with nothing but 5 Star reviews, aren’t we all just a little suspicious of they’re real? Truth be told having a few – not so great reviews in your queue really helps people see that these are real customer experiences, and you are a real business. Sometimes businesses make mistakes, customers know and accept this, but it’s all about how you respond. Have you ever seen a customer who originally left a poor review come back and leave a 5 STAR review because of the way the business responded and fixed their mistake. Negative reviews are really where you find your chance to shine. When you can, post a public response (be sure the customer gets notified) apologize, and tell them how you are going to fix it. This strategy works.

How to I safely ask for reviews without getting penalized?

Use this method – When a customer is checking out be sure you have their email and phone number as part of your check out process. While you’re cashing them out, let them know they will be getting an email or text from you asking about their experience, encourage them to reply because you truly want to know how you did. In your automated email and/or text message be sure you have a clear call-to-action and as few steps as possible for them to complete the review process.

Lately, text message requests have a much higher response rate than requests sent via email. If you’re looking for a quick and easy automation to generate reviews via text be sure to check out Kukui’s Text Connect Platform which offers you branded customizations and review options!

Kayla Ogden
Senior Director of Client Services

Are You Over Marketing?

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 20:10:40 GMT

Are you worried about over-marketing to your clients?

Are you worried about Spamming your clients?

Tune into the KUKUI Deep Dive as we discuss the appropriate amount of text, email, phone calls, and postcards to send. Mapping out your customer communication will assure you stay Top of Mind when the customer needs you most.

This one includes Homework to complete after the webinar is finished. Click the Download Homework button below.

Worksheets include Timeline, campaign builders, and calendaring for 12 months

Bonus Q&A!

How does the system know which customer/vehicle goes with which type of oil change so they are on the correct email campaign?

Due to your POS integration, we can identify how each shop enters in their Oil Changes. During the set up of your Oil Changes, KUKUI will verify what intervals each unique oil change campaign should be sent out at.

Is a postcard a physical one that is mailed or is it an email postcard?

We can sent physical postcards or email campaigns.

Would postcards be a good idea to do up with our services and have them put in mailboxes in the neighborhood in our area?

KUKUI can definitely help with getting those postcards into mailboxes and even help target the right houses.

Does Lori have a specific document for her Service Advisor to use for the follow-up calls?

You can download Lori's Follow-up Call Document below.

What is the highest frequency you see a Kukui shop using for each method?

Depending on what service you are sending a reminder for such as Declined Services, it might be 3 touches, and Oil Changes, 2-3, if customer does not make that appointment.

We had a customer call us directly after a text message was sent to her regarding her service and she thought she was getting a scam because the string was Kukui identified instead of our company name.

In this case, I would 100% recommend making sure to use your logo, so they understand it is coming from you and make sure you are using your name in the texts.

I had a first time customer in the other day and as we were talking she mentioned it was her birthday coming up on the Monday. Can I set up a personalized one just for her wishing her a happy birthday?

A personalized Text? Yes! You can send your customers individual texts that are not part of Retention or Blast campaigns.

In text campaigns do the customers respond through text?

Yes, KUKUI's Text Connect Platform has 2 way texting available with the program.

What generates the tracking on the follow up module?

The system has the ability of matching a repair order to a completed call from the Follow Up module IF the repair order is within 30 days of the completed call.

What is the best way to get customers to sign up for text marketing?

There are multiple ways to collect opt-ins for Text Marketing. Please go over and confirm with your Client Success Coordinator which methods you would like enabled.

KUKUI Text Connect Now Supports Recommended & Declined Auto Repair Services

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 22:35:18 GMT

You didn’t think we were done, did you?

We have released yet another update to our Text Connect Platform, and for some of you this will be the most exciting update yet:

Ongoing Text Triggers for Recommended Services and Declined Services

These triggers will send a text message to your customers if they have recommendations from a previous visit that they haven’t taken care of yet. If you assign a due date to your recommendations, you can send a text to remind your customers a week or two before the due date to make sure they don’t forget. If your recommendations don’t have due date, you can set them to send any time after the recommendation was made.

Your texts will look something like this:

Text messages should be conversational, succinct and natural, and recommendations aren’t usually written that way in POS systems, so your texts won’t have the contents of the recommendation in them. Instead, these messages should encourage your customers to ask questions, and get the conversation started so that scheduling their service will be easy and seamless.

Were you waiting for this trigger to sign up for the Text Connect Platform? Then now’s the time to get in touch with our internal sales team by submitting a contact form today!

Campaign Stacking

ricksage@kukui.com (Rick Sage) — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:49:58 GMT

How do you communicate with your customers?

In this webinar we discuss Campaign Stacking and how to efficiently and effectively communicate with your customers.

We were joined by Mike DeFino from Fox Run Auto and we took a look at his KUKUI Dashboard and how he is communicating with customers. His favorite way to communicate these days is through text messaging. It seems to be his customer's favorite way to communicate too because the responses are amazing. We also heard from some of his employees and how they share the responsibility of customer communication.

What we cover in this video:

0:00 - Introductions
4:45 - We discuss customer reviews, how much customer text communication has grown in the last few years, why its a great addition to an email campaign, and how it can impact the bottom line of your auto repair shop
12:35 - Mike DeFino walks us through his Text Connect Setup on KUKUI and talks about his campaign stacking he uses every day at the shop
19:15 - Mike DeFino sends messages to real customers through KUKUI's Text Connect platform for text communication
25:00 - KUKUI Product Manager Kayleigh answers customer questions related to automated messaging opt in, stopping auto messages and more
28:15 - Mike DeFino shows us how he uses KUKUI's Connect Chat feature to engage with customers
29:45 - Service Advisor Mike Accorsi (Fox Run Auto) talks about how he handles text and chat reminders as part of their daily service advisor calls, how they communicate progress to their customers and how they analyze all KUKUI data through Mitchell auto shop software integration
39:00 - Mike DeFine walks us through the Connect Chat feature of KUKUI, how we can analyze customer data in the KUKUI dashboard, tracking auto shop SEO leads through your auto shop website, and utilizing tracking number for phone calls
46:45 - Mike DeFine talks about 2 ways he drives organic traffic and leads using his auto repair shop website.
49:00 - Customer Q&A on how to grow your text communication opt ins when other forms of growing that list don't seem to be working.
56:30 - Kayleigh joins the webinar to announce improvements to the KUKUI platform

New Features: Texting and Webchat

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 22:14:00 GMT

What are today's preferred methods of customer communication?

These days, many customers actually prefer texting and web chats rather than having conversations on the phone or in person.

KUKUI’s brand new Live Web Chat is here!

Live Web Chat provides customers and prospects an easy and convenient way to communicate with you directly through your KUKUI website. Using the KUKUI Control Panel or a mobile app, you can manage incoming web chats to answer questions and help book appointments. This feature is now available as part of the Text Connect Platform or as a stand-alone product to clients with a KUKUI website.

Auto Shop Owner Success Drivers with NAPA TRACS [WEBINAR]

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 20:26:54 GMT

Do you struggle to improve your Customer Retention, to increase your Car Count, or to better your New Customer Acquisition? Get the most from your Shop Management System and KUKUI’s All-in-One Success Platform. Tune in to learn how to stop leaving easy money on the table.

Join shop owners Greg Buckley, Alex Woodie - CPA, Ben Dexter, and Jimmy Lea to sharpen your skills as a Shop Owner.

New to Kukui - Live Web Chat!

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 21:06:04 GMT

You Asked - We Listened!

The feature many Kukui clients have been asking for is here - Live Web Chat! Live Web Chat provides customers and prospects an easy and convenient way to communicate with your shop directly through your KUKUI website. Using the KUKUI Control Panel or the Connect Chat mobile app, you can answer incoming customer questions and help book appointments. This feature is now available as part of the Text Connect Platform or as a stand-alone product to clients who have a KUKUI website.

Here’s why we know you will love KUKUI’s Live Web Chat :

Prospects no longer have to pick up the phone to communicate with you! They can simply click the chat bubble on your KUKUI website, enter their name and phone number, and a live chat is initiated.
You can easily turn web chat on or off - you’re in complete control!
Automatic replies can be configured to let your prospects know when you are not available, including when your shop is closed.
The Web Chat form saves the prospect’s phone number, allowing you to follow up with the customer on any unanswered questions or missed chats.
With the full Text Connect Platform, you can easily manage and respond to both text messages and web chats in the same simple interface.
Messages can be managed from within the KUKUI Control Panel or through the Connect Chat mobile app.

Interested in learning more? Click here to request a demo! And remember, the Text Connect Platform comes with all the great features below, giving you multiple avenues to grow your business and deepen your relationship with your customers by communicating with them in the way they prefer:

Text Marketing - send one-time marketing campaigns, or “blasts”, to opted in customers to inform them of new promotions
Ongoing Text Campaigns - setup ongoing campaigns based on the last date a customer has visited, estimated mileage of a vehicle, date since a particular service was performed, and more
Text Reviews - increase the number of reviews your shop receives by sending a text request for a review after a customer’s visit
Connect Chat - manage incoming text messages and Live Web Chats through the Connect Chat web interface or mobile app

To learn more about the Text Connect Platform, click here .

Utilizing KUKUI Reports

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 01:12:32 GMT

Deep dive into the Reports Module Learn the great information about your shop that you never knew you wanted to know. Learn what cars are most seen in the shop. Learn which cars are the most profitable.

KUKUI: Auto Shop Owner Success - Defining Success [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 02:20:43 GMT

How do you define success? Is it by the money in your pocket? Or, Money in the bank?Join Jimmy Lea with Nyles Todd and Ryan Clo as they outline the numbers that are most important for their shop's success.

KUKUI Tips on Texting Your Customers for Auto Repair Shops

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:54:04 GMT

By: Kaeli Hall

We’ve all been there. Three days into an email thread that has been going back and forth, you realize that a call or a text would have had this conversation wrapped up in 10 minutes. Whether it’s text messaging, calling, emailing, postcards or hand-written letters, all of these channels are important parts of any business communication strategy. However, not all communications are created equal.

Some channels of communication are much more effective for certain types of messages than others. Take a look below for some tips on when it is the right time to send a text message to communicate to your customers.

Text Message Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

Send your customers updates that they should read right away: Is there an update on a service already in progress? A text message is a great way to get your customers' attention no matter what they are doing.
Encourage back and forth communications: Text messages are conversational tools! Take advantage of the seamless chat in text messages.
Share valuable business information that is time sensitive: Introducing a new service that your customers have been begging for? Putting on a special customer appreciation event? If you have an unusual and pertinent business announcement, a text message might be the right choice, just make sure it’s worth their while.
Share limited time, widely used special offers: Text message specials should be useful to most of your customers, and as much as possible, they should be relevant to the recipient. Stick to services that everyone can use, or are specific to the recipients.

Don’t:

Share small updates about business operations: Only a handful of customers will be impacted if you’re going to be closed for a major holiday, and getting a text message can interrupt your customers' days. Updating your Google My Business, posting on your Facebook and other social media platforms and sending an email are better ways to communicate that to your customers.
Advertise specialized services to big groups of people: Some services, while important, are only needed once every few years, or only needed for certain customers. Try to stick with offers that most people will have use for, or target your texts to the customers who need that service.
Send messages that need a detailed explanation: Text messages have some limitations, including character limits. If your message needs a detailed explanation to be clearly communicated, emailing or calling might be a better choice.
Send messages without a call to action: We keep our cell phones on our person most of the time. Wishing your customers a happy holiday is great, but it doesn’t need to be communicated right away. A postcard or email will work better for that.

Used correctly, text messaging can be a powerful tool to increase business at short notice. Following these guidelines can keep your opted-in customer list high and keep those opportunities coming!

Want to learn how Kukui can help you with texting? Learn more about our Text Connect Platform here !

KUKUI Partners With Shop-Ware

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 20:00:11 GMT

The Shop-Ware shop management SaaS platform is now a part of the KUKUI Certified Partner program. With KUKUI’s Shop-Ware integration, users of both platforms will have unrivaled access to performance metrics and tools to make their shops successful.

Shop-Ware users will have complete transparency in the performance and effectiveness of their marketing campaigns. Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram, Yelp, SEO, texting, email, postcards, shop videos, and review management are all clearly displayed using the KUKUI dashboard. This provides shop owners with a better understanding of their shop’s performance and the ability to identify areas of improvement and focus on efforts that are driving the most success.

Carolyn Coquillette, Founder and CEO of Shop-Ware says “KUKUI and Shop-Ware share a common purpose to deliver the professional-grade software solutions that this industry needs and deserves. We’re thrilled to partner together, to supercharge services to our mutual customers as well as to their customers, the vehicle owners.”

Being a part of the KUKUI Certified program means that Shop-Ware is committed to upholding a set of standards that is focused on supporting the success of shop owners and the independent aftermarket industry alike. Lorie Sharp, CEO of KUKUI believes that "Shop owner success is our top priority. Our experience and our software have helped thousands of shops across the country. We are thrilled to partner with a company like Shop-Ware that is just as dedicated to helping shop owners maximize their potential.”

About KUKUI

KUKUI is the maker of the All in One Success Platform® which empowers each of its clients with advanced business intelligence powered by an integrated suite of business marketing solutions and custom-built websites that are optimized for high sales conversion. KUKUI clients drive their business decisions with a single intuitive analytics dashboard that provides at a glance quantitative data showing their return on investment, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve their business. The KUKUI platform enables clients with customer engagement and trust-building solutions through real-time business messaging, digital inspections, call tracking, online appointment setting, social media management, and online reputation management. KUKUI lets business owners focus “on the business.”

About Shop-Ware

Shop-Ware delivers professional-grade innovation to independent automotive service providers. We are the industry’s premier enterprise-grade SaaS platform for shop management, and we are committed to developing sophisticated tools to help the automotive aftermarket thrive and grow. Industry-first features include: fully digital, cloud-based repair orders with native vehicle inspections, rich media, and customer live chat; realtime shop workflow and “Expeditor” dispatch; realtime parts allocation tracking for each job in progress; parts gross-profit “Optimizer” that automatically seeks and attains your parts GP target; native advanced analytics across unlimited repair facilities, and much more.

KUKUI: Auto Shop Owner Success Myths & Truths [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:36:06 GMT

A discussion about the right and wrong ways to increase profitability and establish a legacy.

Jimmy Lea - Kukui

Mike Bennett - ATI

ADAS Panel Discussion with Owners

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:35:00 GMT

Lessons being learned from owners actually doing it along with the real opportunity for Body Shops and General Repair Shops.

Keith Manich - ATI

How to Use Social Media & Tech to Build Your Bench

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:33:31 GMT

Using social media & technology & outreach to increase the talent on your team.

Geoff Berman - ATI

Kevin Allen - ATI

Jimmy Lea - KUKUI

Don’t Become a Statistic!

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:32:20 GMT

Once you get to the top, how do you stay there? Remembering the basics and what got you to the top so you don’t fall back into bad habits or unproductive business trends.

Kim Hickey - ATI

Brittany Schindler - ATI

If You Build It, They Will Come

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:30:55 GMT

What does your ambassador program look like? What are your internal and external customers saying about you?

Kim Hickey - ATI

Brittany Schindler - ATI

Marketing Training for Collision Repair Shops [VIDEO]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:29:12 GMT

Jackie Ferrier - ATI

Benefits of Getting KUKUI Certified [VIDEO]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:25:59 GMT

Tips & Tricks to increase appointments & ARO - what to do when the phone rings and what to do when the phone doesn't ring.

Eric Twiggs - ATI

Jimmy Lea - KUKUI

KUKUI Webinar: 2020-21 PPP Loan and Tax Info for Auto Shops

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:23:21 GMT

Latest updates, impacts, and other things to consider.

Brian Shepley (CPA)

Jason Andrews

Mike Bennett - ATI

How Auto Repair Shops Can Engage Work-from-Home Customers

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:04:40 GMT

Using social media & technology to 1) retain current customers & 2) attract new customers.

George Zeeks - ATI

Jimmy Lea - KUKUI

The Power of Reviews

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 01:13:24 GMT

Join Jimmy Lea, KUKUI Product Evangelist, and Jeanne Garman, Client Success Manager with KUKUI, and discover the power of Quantity, Velocity, and Diversity with your Reviews. Learn the art and proper method for collecting Reviews and responding to all Reviews, both Positive and Negative. Prepare yourself to automate the requesting process utilizing your KUKUI All-in-One Success Platform.

KUKUI: What Does Auto Shop Success Look Like? [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 02:18:59 GMT

How do you define success? Better Car Count? New Customers? Higher ARO? Higher customer retention? Join Jimmy Lea, KUKUI Product Evangelist, as we discuss success with Bryan Gossel, MSO of BG Automotive in Denver, CO, and John Eppstein, MSO of John's Automotive Care in San Diego, CA. Once they have defined success, what are the numbers, measurements, and reports they look at to discover if they are on the proper trajectory?! Starting the discussion directly with More Insight with Better Data and then leading into Higher Customer Retention and Better Customer Acquisition.

KUKUI Introduces Text Retention Campaigns to Auto Shop Marketing Platform

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 01:10:40 GMT

Our biggest enhancement yet to the Text Connect Platform is here! We are thrilled to introduce a brand new feature: Text Retention Campaigns. What are they? Our ongoing text campaign service is a text message system that uses your customers' data to send them customized communications based on triggers that you set. There are several options for triggers. They can be sent based on the last time a customer has visited, estimated mileage of a vehicle, time since a particular service was performed, and more! Join us for this special webinar to dive into the details of this new enhancement to the Text Connect Platform!

How to Improve Your Auto Shop SEO with Blogging

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 00:08:54 GMT

Welcome to another Deep Dive Webinar! This week, join Jimmy Lea and Jenn Ripley, Senior Content writer for KUKUI. We'll be discussing the importance of uploading regular blogs to your website and how consistent blogging can have a significant effect on your website’s search engine ranking. You’ll learn how to create your own blogs using the Kukui Control Panel, what blog topics to focus on to reach the right potential customers, and the best strategies to use when writing to generate traffic to your website. Enjoy!

KUKUI Launches Ongoing Text Campaign Feature for Auto Shop Owners

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 17:19:54 GMT

Our biggest enhancement yet to the Text Connect Platform is here! We are thrilled to introduce a brand new feature: Ongoing Text Campaigns .

What are they? Our ongoing text campaigns service is a text message system that uses your customers' data to send them customized communications based on triggers that you set. There are several options for triggers. They can be sent based on the last time a customer has visited, estimated mileage of a vehicle, time since a particular service was performed, and more!

Why use ongoing text campaigns?

Build Relationships: Texting is the preferred means of communication for many customers, and following up with your customers shows them that you truly care about their experience with you. Give them the opportunity to get to know you a little bit better by connecting through Text!
Increase Sales: Text customers you haven’t seen in a while to check in if they need anything, remind them of an annual inspection due date, check in for a major mileage milestone to see if they need service and make sure that when they need something done to their vehicle, your business is top of mind.
Manage Your Reputation: Following up with your happy customers can affirm their great experience with you, and if there might have been unanswered questions, a well timed text message can reopen the conversation and make sure they are totally satisfied with their experience.

We know that it’s not always a great time to start a conversation. That’s why our Ongoing Texts allow you to configure what days and times your text messages will send. Spelled someone’s name wrong in your management system? It happens to the best of us. Luckily, in our Ongoing Text Campaign module, you can review, edit or remove text messages from the queue.

All these features and more are all available today. If you’re already subscribed to the Text Connect Platform, this feature is an added enhancement to the package at no additional cost. Simply head over to your Text Connect tab and review the documentation on the Help and Resources section to see more details on your options and how to get set up. If you need any assistance, your Client Success Coordinator will be happy to help!

If you have not signed up yet, learn more about Ongoing Texts and all the other features that come along with the Text Connect Platform by clicking here .

Meet Our New Hires!

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 22:29:31 GMT

We love it when our family grows! Meet the Newest Kukuians:

Mark Pavlidis , Sales Executive - Inside Sales

Favorite Movie - The count of Monte Cristo
Favorite Thing to Do - Anything outdoors
Best Childhood Memory - Many Outdoor adventures
Favorite Quote - Do the right thing, even when no one’s looking.

Armando Ortiz , Sales Executive - Inside Sales

Favorite Movie – Boiler Room
Favorite Thing to Do – Family Time
Favortie Kukui Lead – Amazingness
Best Childhood Memory – Living in the countryside of Puerto Rico
Favorite Quote – I have so many but I will go with
T.G.I.M = Thank God Is Monday!

Michelle Salazar , Sales Executive - Inside Sales

Favorite Movie - Braveheart
Favorite thing to do free time - Read in my backyard
Favorite Kukui LEAD value - Enthusiasm
Best childhood memory - 10 years old my first stereo equipped with record player, eight track and a disco ball! Many memories of the dance shows we put on for parents!
Favorite quote or phrase - Our character is but the stamp on our souls of the free choices of good and evil we have made through life.

Steve Freidell , Sales Executive - Inside Sales

Favorite Movie: Step Brothers
Favorite thing to do in your free time: Camping & Fishing
Favorite quote or phrase: "if you ain't first, you're last"

We look forward to the future with all of them and hope you do too!

KUKUI Marketing Platform Deep Dive - Customer Retention & Special Offers

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 00:04:34 GMT

It's time for another valuable Deep Dive Webinar where we will be diving into the Retention and Specials modules of your Kukui Control Panel.

How can you create and send out an email blast on demand to help generate car count?

How do you track email communications sent to your customers?

Where to add, or change specials to use on your website or in your retention campaigns and more!

Join your master diver Jimmy Lea and Director of Client Services Gary Norenberg learning how to create and track marketing campaigns to help generate and retain car count for your shop in this Deep Dive into these two value modules!

KUKUI Shop Owner Success with Barry Barret - Part 3 [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 01:14:30 GMT

Welcome to another Shop Owner Success Webinar!

This is Part 3 of our Barry Barret Webinar series.

Join Jimmy Lea and Barry Barrett as they continue their discussion into Process with Purpose. You'll learn just how to keep the right people in the right seat in your business to fully achieve your business potential.

Deep Dive - The KUKUI Dashboard

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 00:02:04 GMT

In this month's Deep Dive we are exploring the depths of the Dashboard Module of your KUKUI Control Panel! The Dashboard Module is like a treasure chest of data for your auto repair business.

What story is your Dashboard telling you?

How can you measure, track, and improve your shop marketing efforts all in one software platform?

Where can you find hidden treasures in your Dashboard that could bring more money into your business?

Join Jimmy Lea and Caitlyn Sunseri, VP of Client Services, to learn all about your auto shop and marketing data as we take a Deep Dive into the Dashboard Module of KUKUI's auto repair business software.

KUKUI Offers Support for NAPA AUTOPRO Shops

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 01:12:27 GMT

See How KUKUI Can Help Your NAPA AUTOPRO Shop

In this webinar, Jimmy Lea will walk through every aspect of KUKUI's "All In One Success Platform." He'll breakdown how every part of your NAPA AUTOPRO Shop's marketing can be improved with our system. This is a webinar you don't want to miss.

By the time he’s done, you’ll wonder why you’ve never seen this before, and be amazed it can be so simple.

How to Publish Responses to Google Reviews with KUKUI

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 17:17:26 GMT

We all know how important reviews are for building your online presence and attracting new customers, but beyond the volume of reviews and your average score, it’s also important to use reviews to engage with customers. Thanking customers for positive reviews is a great way to continue to build on your positive relationship, and show them that you value the time they took to support your business. Moreover, we all know how difficult it can be to deal with a less than perfect review. Everyone has one or two one-star reviews, but not everyone responds to them appropriately, or at all. Responding to a negative review is so important, and not just for the customer who wrote it. You’re also making an impression on prospective customers reading the reviews while deciding whether or not to do business with your shop. Your response should show that you take your customers' experience and satisfaction seriously by addressing that customer's concerns and working to resolve any problems that resulted in a low score.

Now from within Kukui’s Control Panel, you can publish your responses to Google reviews, allowing potential customers to see the responses and the way you interact with customers. When replying to a review, there is a button to save the reply and publish it to Google, all in one step.

Allowing responses to Google reviews to be made public is just one way Kukui makes it easier for you to manage your online presence and reputation. Reach out to your Client Marketing Specialist for assistance with Reviews or to learn about the other ways we can help you achieve your goals!

Carissa Long, Product Manager

KUKUI Webinar: Managing & Investing Money for Auto Shop Growth

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 01:10:23 GMT

Those who don't understand interest pay it and those who do earn it. What can you do today to earn money and make it do 7 different jobs every day 24 hours a day 7 days a week 52 weeks per year? Never let your money rest.

KUKUI: Auto Shop Owner Success - Achieving & Maintaining Profitability [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 01:06:56 GMT

In this episode of the Shop Owner Success™ Webinar series, Jimmy will be joined by Alex Woodie, CPA, and owner of Woodie's Auto Service in Charlotte, NC. They will be discussing The Cash Crunch and the top 3 methods to implement immediately to become profitable.

If the answers to the following questions interest you, then you definitely need to attend this webinar!

How to identify when you are headed into a cash shortage?

What to do when you are in the middle of a cash shortage?

Where to go when you think it's too late in your cash shortage?

How to Use the KUKUI Customer Module [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 23:58:44 GMT

In this month’s Deep Dive we are going to explore the Customer Module in the KUKUI Dashboard. What is a client worth? How much do they spend with my shop? Where do the super loyal customers live?

KUKUI Announces Connect SMS Release & Product Updates

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 17:14:04 GMT

By: Maureen McKane & Kaeli Hall

It’s baaaaaack! Our clients wanted a seamless text message communication service with their customers, and in 2019 we introduced our first generation product, Kukui Connect. After listening to your feedback on the first version, we decided to give Kukui Connect a makeover, add some new features, remove some features that were getting in the way, and with that, we introduce to you the new and improved: Connect SMS.

Let’s talk about texting! Love it or hate it, your customers want you to text them. Some surveys say that regardless of generation, 2/3s of customers prefer a text message over a phone call and over 90% prefer a text message to a voicemail. These are just a few reasons why text messages are a big part of the conversation these days, and with Connect SMS we’re making it easier than ever to keep up with the trends.

What can Connect SMS do?

Connect SMS is a seamless text message communication tool, with its own designated tab right at the top of your Kukui Control Panel.

Less is more! Connect provides a simple, clean user interface to communicate with your customers through an intuitive chat window.

On the go? We have a mobile app available for both IoS and Android operating systems!

Settings, settings, settings!

Mute: Not every user needs every notification every time! Any user can mute their incoming notifications any time.

Snooze: Got a meeting? Have a busy front desk? You can snooze notifications for however long you need until you’re ready to get back at it.

Auto Reply: No one can monitor messages all the time. You can set an auto reply up whenever you’re not there to moderate your incoming messages. Choose from one or our suggestions or write your own!

How do I get Connect SMS?

I’ve got good news for you. Connect SMS is just one component of our robust Text Connect Platform. If you’re already signed up for the platform, Connect SMS is already part of that package!

Not subscribed yet? The Text Connect Platform comes with:

Text Message Review Requests: Build your online reputation via text!

Text Marketing: Drive customers to your business via text!

Connect SMS: Build your relationships with your customers via text!

Can you handle any more good news? We are still adding features to this platform, so if you sign up now you’ll be the first to get access to all of our texting features as they roll out. If you call soon, you might be able to snag some promotional pricing too. Schedule a demo to learn more!

Exploring the Follow-Up Module

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 23:53:49 GMT

In this month’s Deep Dive Webinar we are going to explore the Follow Up Module in the KUKUI Dashboard. Everyone knows the importance of retention marketing. Unfortunately, the telephone is an underutilized tool these days. Join us for this month's Deep Dive webinar and we'll show you how to use the Follow Up Module to maximize your phone's potential.

Mental Health & Running a Successful Auto Repair Shop [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 01:02:21 GMT

In this episode of the Shop Owner Success Webinar series, Jimmy will be joined by Rachael Bell to explore Mental Health and how it impacts your business. The world is a little crazy right now and we think it is important to take a moment to check on yourself.

KUKUI's Advanced Text Marketing Tips for Auto Body Shops

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 17:06:09 GMT

By Kaeli Hall

Filters are a hot topic these days, but we’re not here to talk about the latest filter for your Instagram profile picture. We’re here to talk about the filters available on our Text Marketing platform. Targeting your marketing to a very specific audience increases your rate of conversion, and we’re providing you with plenty of options to narrow down the scope of your targeted audience. Take a look at our new, advanced filter options:

1. You might want to only send a text to your regulars, and skip the customers who only stopped by once or twice for a quick service. Define the minimum number of closed invoices that any customer who receives this message will have.

2. Filter all of the recipients by the make of their vehicle. Type it into the box, hit “Add Vehicle To Filter”, and save. You can enter as many vehicles as you’d like, and remove a vehicle by pressing the x on the right hand side.

3. People might opt-in through the web forms or keyword opt-in that haven’t come into the business yet. By default, we will include these non-existing customers while accounting for the filters that have already been applied. Many of these filters will exclude non-existing customers, like minimum spend, or lifetime visits. But now you can choose to include all non-existing customers (even if they don’t meet the filter criteria) or exclude them (even if they do meet the filter criteria). This gives you extra flexibility to decide when to include or exclude non-existing customers on a campaign.

Made it this far in the blog? Good thing, because you got to the BONUS FEATURE:

The Calculator!

As you apply these filters the number of recipients will change. Just press “Calculate” and our calculator provides live updates on how many recipients will be sent this campaign with the filters applied.

Questions? Comments? We love to hear from you! Use the feedback button on the right hand side of your CP and tell us what you think of our products, and how we can keep growing to fit the needs of your business.

Updates to Text Connect Platform

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 23:48:52 GMT

Thank you for being a Connect User! This webinar will be an overview of newly added enhancements in the Text Marketing platform as well as ones to come in the near future. This will also be an opportunity to announce the relaunch of the Connect Platform. Product enhancements will include:

• Updated Text Connect Platform Admin Page

• Ability to remove customers from the Recipients list

• Page to see all Opted-in Customers

• Support for Canadian shops

• Create Text Campaigns for multiple locations at the same time

• Advanced Filters

• And More!

KUKUI Welcomes 2 New Members to the Team

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 22:26:46 GMT

Our team continues to grow! Here are our newest amazing additions:

Lauren Flores - Client Marketing Specialist

A little about Lauren:

Favorite Movie: Disney Pixar’s Up
Favorite Free Time Activity: Trips to Disneyland or the beach with my family.
Favorite Kukui Value: Love
Best Childhood Memory: My favorite memories growing up were our Saturday morning breakfasts. My mom was a single mother of 4 girls and she worked constantly to support us, but without fail, every Saturday morning we would wake up to her cooking breakfast and spent the morning together as a family.
Favorite Quote: “You will not always be the smartest person in the room, and you will not always be the strongest or funniest or the most talented. But you can always be brave and you can always be kind, and these are the things you should be every minute of every day for the rest of your life. Because yes, those other things, they’re great things. But these things are better.”

Michelle Hjorth - Controller

A little about Michelle:

Favorite Movie: The Lion King (1994)
Favorite thing to do in your free time: Travel and spend time with my husband and kids.
Favorite Kukui LEAD value: Discipline
Best Childhood memory: Spending summers with all of my cousins at my grandma’s house in Manila.
Favorite quote or phrase: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle

Exploring the KUKUI Leads Module for Auto Repair Shops [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 29 May 2020 23:43:10 GMT

Welcome to the Deep Dive Webinar Series!

This webinar is for KUKUI clients only. Each month we will be taking an in-depth look at one aspect of the KUKUI Platform. This month we are looking at the Leads Module.

KUKUI Auto Marketing Platform Updates - May 2020

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 28 May 2020 16:55:41 GMT

In April we released our Text Connect Platform, with several modules to support text-based messaging between shops and customers at various points in the customer journey. One module, Text Marketing, provides the ability to send "text blasts" to opted in customers with special promotions and announcements to increase customer engagement and retention. We knew that April's release was only the beginning and had plans to continue to enhance the product and provide additional texting capability, and today we released the first round of enhancements.

Opted-In Customers: Let’s say your goal is to collect 100 opt-ins. You have a good feeling that your team is doing well, but how can you know when you’ve hit your goal for sure? Great news! You now have the ability to see a detailed list of how many and which customers have opted in to receive text message marketing.

Remove Customers From Recipient List: You have created your text message, you’re on the review screen and are checking your list of recipients. Suddenly, you see your mother-in-law is set to receive this message, and you forgot to call her back last week. You’ll never hear the end of this. It’s not too late! Thanks to this enhancement, you can now remove customers from the mailing list right on this window.

Opt-In Keywords: We can email your customers asking for opt-ins, we can put a form on your website, but what about those people who are right there in front of you in your shop? We now have customizable opt-in keywords, so your customers can text message your tracking number with a keyword of your choice and be automatically subscribed to all future messages.

Multiple Location Campaign Creation: Multiple locations need text messages to send from different phone numbers, there’s no way around that. But who wants to go through the whole process multiple times of creating and filtering their campaigns to look exactly the same? We now have the ability to automatically create multiple campaigns simultaneously for multiple locations.

More enhancements, including a way to easily carry on text conversations with customers on your desktop computer or mobile app, are coming soon so be sure to keep an eye out for more announcements. And remember, clients that sign up for the Text Connect Platform can use it for free until June 30th. Click here to learn more!

Secrets of Auto Shop Success with Concours Motors [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sun, 24 May 2020 15:56:11 GMT

Jimmy Lee here with the Secrets of Shop Owner Success. Joining me today is Phil Sylvester with Councours Motors. So excited to have him here today. We're going to talk about Councours and what you guys are doing, which is so amazing. Thank you for being here. So the question for you during these interesting economic times. What are you doing that separates you from the competition?

KUKUI Webinar: Measuring the Right Data in Your Auto Repair Shop, Pt 2

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sat, 23 May 2020 01:03:58 GMT

Join us for this month's webinar where Barry Barret returns to talk about the key business measurables that every shop owner needs to be in control of. Come learn what data looks like for your business, how to identify issues with it, and how to solve those issues. Every attendee of this webinar will receive a coffee on Jimmy Lea! Register now, seats are filling up fast.

Text Marketing For Canadian Shops

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 21 May 2020 16:49:34 GMT

By Carissa Long - Kukui Product Manager

Last month we announced the release of the Text Connect Platform, which provides several modules allowing shops to engage their customers using text messages. While we all know sending text messages is an effective way to reach out to customers and get them in the door, there are some legal landmines which are important to avoid related to marketing via text (and stepping on a landmine could result in a very expensive lawsuit. Just ask JiffyLube ). The Text Marketing Module provides several ways to encourage customers to opt-in for marketing text messages, which is required in both the US and Canada, but Canada has another unique requirement - all text messages must include a physical mailing address for the sender and an additional way for the customer to contact them.

Kukui not only cares about helping clients maximize time and profitability, but we also want to ensure you meet your legal obligations (read: we don’t want you to get sued). To ensure our Canadian shops are compliant with these requirements, the Text Marketing module has been updated to automatically include a shortened URL at the end of every text message, which takes the customer to your website’s homepage. There, they can view your address and phone number, therefore satisfying Canada’s Anti Spam Legislation (CASL).This update means Canadian shops can now proceed with sending marketing text messages to opted-in customers and reap the benefits of the Text Connect Platform.

Watch KUKUI Webinar for NAPA Auto Pros

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 20 May 2020 00:59:32 GMT

Watch this webinar replay tailored for NAPA AUTOPRO to learn what separates Kukui from all other Marketing Systems in the Automotive Industry. Come learn from Jimmy Lea and Luke Kushner about how Kukui’s All-in-One Success platform will help you Attract and Retain more customers.

Online Payments With Stripe

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 07 May 2020 16:46:21 GMT

By Carissa Long - Kukui Product Manager

It’s difficult to see the bright side during tough times like these, but one of the good things to come out of COVID-19 is the fact that many more people now have better awareness of good hygiene and how small changes in our daily habits can make a big difference in the transmission of germs. Habits like washing your hands for a full 20 seconds will stick with us long after this pandemic subsides. I, for one, will never again leave the house without hand sanitizer and shudder at the thought of sampling makeup or handling display phones when out shopping.

Our newly heightened awareness of germs also makes us rethink simple habits like handing your credit card over to someone for payment and then using the pen at the checkout counter that countless other people touched before you. To help support safe practices both during and after COVID, Kukui is now offering a way for shop customers to pay their invoices online. Clients with Kukui websites can quickly enable a payment page where customers can securely plug in their credit card information and pay for the service. The payment page integrates with Stripe, so you can use the Control Panel to create a Stripe account or link to an existing one and enable the online payment page on your website in a matter of minutes.

At this time, Kukui is offering this feature at no charge. The only fees will be what Stripe charges, per transaction.

Contact your Client Marketing Specialist to learn more and start accepting payments through your website today!

Control Panel Configuration page to link to Stripe and turn on the Online Payment page

Online Payment Page

If you would like to learn more about the new Online Payments option please Contact Us to set up a demonstration.

Personnel Update

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 06 May 2020 22:22:28 GMT

We love it when our family grows, and we grew A LOT this month. Meet the newest members of the KUKUI family:

Nicole Benjamin - Production Coordinator
Ella Durham - Production Coordinator
Lisa Schieff - Client Marketing Specialist
Mary Smith - Client Marketing Specialist
Robyn Tevenpaugh - Client Marketing Specialist
Bob Fisher - Account Manager
Michael Wiltrout - Account Manager
Steve Parker - Account Manager
Maria Stango - Account Manager
Nick Hernandez - Account Manager
Mary Anne Guzelimian - Account Manager
Scott Eckert - Account Manager
Greg Lawrence - Account Manager
Nina Shields - Account Manager
Mike Szczublewski - Account Manager
Kris Schneider - Director of Engineering

Deep Dive - The KUKUI Text Platform

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 23:38:01 GMT

Welcome to our new Deep Dive webinar series!

This webinar is for current KUKUI clients only. Each month we will be diving into 1 core feature or enhancement to the KUKUI All-in-One Success Platform. This month we are joined by Heather Myers, and taking a look at the KUKUI"s new Text Connect Platform, and how text marketing can help your shop right now. Technology moves quickly these days, and so do we. We have been adding a lot of features these days and we think this is the best way to keep you 'in the know.

KUKUI: Auto Repair Shop Ownership & Estate Planning

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 00:56:48 GMT

This time on our Shop Owner Success Webinar series, join us for Jimmy Lea and estate planning specialist Daniela Lungu for an in-depth introduction into estate planning for shop owners. You will find out what documents are required and how to use Revocable Living Trusts to avoid Estate Taxes and Probate.

Meet The Newest Kukuians

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 22:19:31 GMT

KUKUI has been adding to the team, and we'd love for you to meet our newest members!

Shaun Greene joins us as the new Chief of Operations

Scott Brown joins us as the new Vice President of Sales

Favorite Movie: Tombstone
Favorite thing to do in your free time: Golf, tennis & cycling
Favorite Kukui LEAD value: Of course they all are important but for me it starts with Enthusiasm!

Sonny Huynh joins us as a new Senior Software Engineer

Favorite Movie: Star Wars
Favorite thing to do in your free time: Rock climb
Favorite Kukui LEAD value: Enthusiasm
Best Childhood memory: Eating my mom's delicious pho noodle soup on super cold days
Favorite quote or phrase: Do or do not. There is no try.

We are extremely excited for what the future holds!

Text Connect Platform is Now Available on KUKUI

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 18:57:47 GMT

Roseville, CA - April 07, 2020 : Kukui Corporation , the leading provider of integrated marketing automation and business analytics solutions for the automotive industry today, announced the immediate availability of the Kukui Text Connect Platform . In consideration of the current COVID-19 situation, repair shops that sign up now will have full access to the platform for free until June 30, 2020. Click Here to sign up or find out more.

A text message lets you engage your audience instantly and elicit an immediate response. And, as the preferred method of communication for consumers, text messaging is a perfect channel for businesses that want or need to get their customers' attention right away. In our current circumstances, repair shops need to stay in touch with their community to let them know they are open and ready to help them with all their service needs.

The new Kukui Text Connect Platform consists of several product modules focused on supporting text-based messaging between the shop and customers at various points in the customer journey. Text Reviews allows businesses to solicit feedback in the form of a Google Review about their recent repair service. Text Messaging provides a channel for one-to-one, text-based communications to a single customer. Text Marketing supports campaign based "text-blasts" to multiple opt-in customers with special offers, announcements, and other messages that will increase customer engagement and retention.

"Given the state of the world today, it is more important than ever for small businesses to be able to market to their customers via text. Our text marketing feature allows shops to have the confidence that they're legally marketing via text, with multiple ways to encourage opt-ins," said Heather Myers , Chief Product Officer for Kukui. "I'm very excited to state that this is just the beginning of our texting platform, and I am looking forward to continuing to enhance it further and to provide our Text Platform clients a full-text marketing experience.

Kukui Text Connect is available immediately, and businesses can find out more or sign up today at https://www.kukui.com/text-messaging

KUKUI Marketing Platform Deep Dive [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 23:35:19 GMT

Welcome to the first episode of our new customer only webinar series, the DEEP Dive. Each month I will be your divemaster for success on an exploration into the many features of the All-in-One Success Platform®.

In this month’s Deep Dive, Jimmy is joined by Kayla Ogden, Senior Director of Client Services, she will join us as we go into the features of the platform that you put into action right now, and keep your phone ringing. You'll learn all the techniques that you can use right now, to see immediate results in your business.

Small Business Perspective on COVID Regulations from Buckley's Auto Care

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 23:50:37 GMT

Hi, Greg Buckley here.

We just heard from the governor not too long ago referencing the situation here has increased has gotten worse here in Delaware. So he has put everybody on a stay at home order.

That being said, I want to reassure everybody and all of our friends, clients, and customers that Buckley’s Auto Care will remain open taking in appointments working for emergencies and whatever other services that we can provide for you as we are allowed to under the guidelines set by Governor Carney.

If we can be of assistance to you any of your organizations or any type of repair, please give us a call at (302) 999-8285. We're here to help in any way possible, whether it's auto repair or helping to deliver a meal or get any kind of supplies for anyone that may be shuttered during this period, we want to work with everybody in the small community because we know how important small businesses are for everything in and around Wilmington Newcastle Delaware and of course, the entire state.

We know that the times are very different and tough if there is anything again. If there's anything, we can do. Give us a call at (302) 999-8285. We want to be there to help you.

Again, a very different situation for everybody. And we're doing what we can just like other small businesses and other auto repair centers in and around the area. There are some great high-quality service shops from all points in Wilmington and around the state learned to work with them. Call them as well in your local communities.

But all of us are here to serve all of us in the small business world want to be there for you. We know how important it is.

And don't be afraid to lean on us to see what we can do to help you out. The net we will be here at 7:00 AM sharp Monday through Friday to assist anyone with every type of automotive needs and services. OK, thank you very much.

Have a great evening. And let's all work together to get through this.

Thank you.

Greg Buckley

Owner of Buckley's Auto Care

Wilmington, Delaware

(302) 999-8285

https://www.buckleysautocare.com/

KUKUI: How Auto Shops Can Use Video to Engage Customers [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 00:54:38 GMT

I know it's really hard to keep customers coming through your door Especially in these uncertain times.

Over the past 10 years, I've learned that one of the best ways to connect with customers is through video. Video is essential for engaging and attracting customers, marketing the shop's business specialties, and for recruiting Top-Tier technicians.

COVID-19: Kukui Is Here To Help!

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 23:48:07 GMT

Hello,

With global concern around the Coronavirus (COVID-19), KUKUI’s top priority is the health and safety of our employees and customers while maintaining our day-to-day operations.

We want to assure you that KUKUI is open for business and we are confident in our ability to seamlessly deliver the services and value you count on. The Kukui family will do our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by implementing travel restrictions, move to virtual meetings, and implement work from home plans for all of our teams.

Here are the changes we’ve made:

Most of our customer support, sales, and marketing teams have been on a remote work program for the past several months and those who were not are now also part of the KUKUI work-from-home plan.
All of our team members who normally travel on a regular basis are restricted from non-essential travel until further notice.
Our engineering teams have moved to a work-from-home plan with access to all the same connectivity and technology that they have always used and are currently unaffected and operating normally.

We strive to make our customers and partners the center of our universe, and you can expect the same level of service and support through all of this. We will stay close to the situation and as things change we will communicate immediately.

At this time, we do not anticipate any delays in sending your marketing messages or postcards, and we continue to have the ability to fully support our customers’ success.

You can look forward to messages from us in the coming days about how the Kukui All-in-One Success Platform® can be leveraged even more in this new economy as well as tips about how other shops have succeeded.

As always, please feel free to visit us on Facebook , our website and look to our BLOG page for new and interesting shop marketing ideas. And of course, continue to contact your Marketing Manager as needed, as you always have.

We hope you and your community are healthy and safe!

All my best,

Lorie Sharp
CEO, Kukui

Travel Update

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:45:39 GMT

This month you can find KUKUI at some of the country's leading training seminars and expos in the automotive service industry.

March 5-8 - Vision Hi Tech Training & Expo (Overland Park, KS)
March 25-28 - ATI Super Conference (Carlsbad, CA)
March 27-29 - ATE (Seattle, WA)

Jasper Macdonald

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 23:16:41 GMT

Jasper joins us as a Software Support Specialist! Here are some cool details about him:

Favorite Movie: The Royal Tenenbaums

Favorite thing to do in your free time: Outdoor activities like biking and fishing.

Favorite KUKUI LEAD value: Love!

Best Childhood memory: Pick up hockey games at the local park.

Favorite quote or phrase : I didn’t fail the test. I just found 100 ways to do it wrong. –Benjamin Franklin

Michael Grizzard

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 23:12:37 GMT

Michael joins us as a Client Marketing Specialist! Here are some cool details about him:

Favorite Movie: Kingsman

Favorite thing to do in your free time: I enjoy playing the guitar.

Favorite KUKUI LEAD value: Enthusiasm

Best Childhood Memory: My favorite childhood memory was when I got to see my father compete in the Hawaii Ironman World Championship.

It was an incredible experience, and it made me understand the values of hard work and persistence early on.

Favorite quote or phrase: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather a man of value.”

Carissa Long

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 23:10:09 GMT

Carissa Long joins the Kukui family as a Product Manager!

Carissa brings over 10 years of experience in product management most recently from Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions where she performed the dual role of Product Manager and Launch Manager.

Here are some cool details about her:

Favorite Movie:

Using the criteria of which movie I've watched the most in the last few weeks, let's go with Frozen II. At any given point in time, there's probably a 75% chance that one of the songs from that movie is playing on repeat in my head or being sung on repeat by my daughters.

Favorite thing to do in your free time:

I love going to playgrounds, on nature walks, and bike rides with my husband and kiddos (Amelia 5 and Penelope 2)

Favorite KUKUI LEAD value:

Love. Loving what you do and the team you work with makes it easier to live out the other values.

Best Childhood memory:

I grew up in a suburb of Rochester, NY and one summer in middle school, all the neighborhood kids took wood and nails from construction sites of houses being built and we all made these amazing forts in a small wood next to our neighborhood. It was one of those idyllic summers where all the kids were out playing from dawn till dusk and we build some really elaborate forts, complete with bridges.

Favorite quote or phrase:

This is very random but a quote from Hope Floats (Sandra Bullock movie from the 90s, which I've not seen in probably 20 years) popped in my head last week as I said goodbye to the company I worked at for 13 years and prepared to start at Kukui - "Beginnings are hard. Endings are usually sad. But it's the middle that counts."

Heather Myers

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 23:08:06 GMT

Heather joins us as our new Chief Product Officer !

Heather brings over 15 years of experience in development and executive management with a wide range of technology organizations, most recently as Senior Director of Engineering at Innovative Interfaces.

Here are some cool details about her:

Favorite Movie: The Dark Knight and The Princess Bride
Favorite thing to do in your free time: Spend time with family, hiking, visit wineries/breweries, crochet
Favorite KUKUI LEAD value: Enthusiasm - As I am learning the industry, products, and the company, I greatly appreciate the enthusiasm that everyone comes with and how helpful it has been for me to get up to speed quickly.
Best Childhood memory: No specific moment, but being able to run around outside until the street lights came on, playing tag, football, soccer, and softball.
F avorite quote or phrase: Never give up something you really want. It's difficult to wait, but more difficult to regret.

KUKUI Appoints Lorie Sharp CEO

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 20:35:29 GMT

Kukui Corporation , the leading provider of integrated marketing automation and business analytics solutions for the automotive industry today announced that Lorie Sharp has been named the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sharp succeeds Todd Westerlund who, after leading the company’s transformation over the past several years, will continue to lead Kukui’s sales and marketing machine as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

The selection of Sharp underscores Kukui’s Board of Directors’ commitment to invest in and support the needs of Kukui’s customers as rapid advancements in technology change the landscape of the automotive aftermarket industry. Sharp brings over twenty years of experience leading and transforming innovative global automotive companies through ever-changing competitive landscapes. Most recently, Sharp served as the Managing Director of asTech, a global provider of vehicle electronic systems for the automotive industry.

“Kukui is a vibrant company with a strong brand at the forefront of marketing innovation for the automotive aftermarket industry,” said Lorie Sharp. “It is an exciting time of unprecedented growth and opportunity in the automotive industry at large, and I am honored to be joining Kukui to continue its mission of supporting the success of automotive businesses worldwide.”

“Building Kukui into the industry leader that it has become was an amazing experience for me,” said Todd Westerlund. “In the next phase of our growth, I am excited to be able to provide my laser focus to driving our sales and marketing teams.”

“I’d like to personally thank Todd Westerlund for his transformational leadership and laying the foundation for Kukui’s future success over the last couple of years. As we usher in a new era of growth, Lorie Sharp’s deep understanding of the market opportunities and challenges facing the automotive aftermarket industry, combined with Todd’s sales and marketing expertise, will provide the strong leadership team we require to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said Kukui Executive Chairman, Jim Tallman.

About Kukui Corporation

Kukui is the maker of the All in One Success Platform®, which empowers each of its' clients with advanced business intelligence powered by an integrated suite of business marketing solutions and custom-built websites that are optimized for high sales conversion. Kukui clients drive their business decisions with a single intuitive analytics dashboard, providing at a glance quantitative data concerning their return on investment, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve their business. The Kukui platform enables clients with customer engagement and trust-building solutions through real-time business messaging, digital inspections, call tracking, online appointment setting, social media management, and online reputation management. Kukui lets business owners focus "on the business."

All Inquires:

Patrick Egan
VP Marketing - Kukui
Patrick@Kukui.com
(805) 403-3462

Meet The New KUKUIANS

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 23:06:05 GMT

KUKUI has been adding to the team, and we'd love for you to meet our newest recruits!

Heather Meyers

Favorite Movie: The Dark Knight and The Princess Bride
Favorite thing to do in your free time: Spend time with family, hiking, visit wineries/breweries, crochet
Favorite KUKUI LEAD value: Enthusiasm - As I am learning the industry, products and the company, I greatly appreciate the enthusiasm that everyone comes with and how helpful it has been for me to get up to speed quickly.
Best Childhood memory: No specific moment, but being able to run around outside until the street lights came on, playing tag, football, soccer and softball.
Favorite quote or phrase: Never give up something you really want. It's difficult to wait, but more difficult to regret.

Carissa Long

Favorite Movie: Using the criteria of which movie I've watched the most in the last few weeks, let's go with Frozen II. At any given point in time, there's probably a 75% chance that one of the songs from that movie is playing on repeat in my head or being sung on repeat by my daughters.
Favorite thing to do in your free time: I love going to playgrounds, on nature walks, and bike rides with my husband and kiddos (Amelia 5 and Penelope 2).
Favorite KUKUI LEAD value: Love. Loving what you do and the team you work with makes it easier to live out the other values.
Best Childhood memory: I grew up in a suburb of Rochester, NY and one summer in middle school, all the neighborhood kids took wood and nails from construction sites of houses being built and we all made these amazing forts in a small wood next to our neighborhood. It was one of those idyllic summers where all the kids were out playing from dawn till dusk and we build some really elaborate forts, complete with bridges.
Favorite quote or phrase: This is very random but a quote from Hope Floats (Sandra Bullock movie from the 90s, which I've not seen in probably 20 years) popped in my head last week as I said goodbye to the company I worked at for 13 years and prepared to start at Kukui - "Beginnings are hard. Endings are usually sad. But it's the middle that counts."

Michael Grizzard

Favorite Movie: Kingsman
Favorite thing to do in your free time: I enjoy playing the guitar.
Favorite KUKUI LEAD value: Enthusiasm
Best Childhood Memory: My favorite childhood memory was when I got to see my father compete in the Hawaii Ironman World Championship.
It was an incredible experience, and it made me understand the values of hard work and persistence early on.
Favorite quote or phrase: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather a man of value.”

Jasper Macdonald

Favorite Movie: The Royal Tenenbaums
Favorite thing to do in your free time: Outdoor activities like biking and fishing.
Favorite KUKUI LEAD value: Love!
Best Childhood memory: Pick up hockey games at the local park.
Favorite quote or phrase: I didn’t fail the test. I just found 100 ways to do it wrong. –Benjamin Franklin

Appointment Reminders By Text

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 17:41:25 GMT

Appointment Reminders by text just got a major upgrade that will make this process easier than ever. You are no longer required to have your customers 'opt-in' for their reminder. Now you can send your Appointment Reminders to any customer with a cell phone. The update will go live on March 17, so be sure to reach out to your KUKUI Marketer if you have any questions.

We have historically been sending 'opt-in' messages to all customers with a cell phone number that has an appointment set in the future. This has always been in an effort to remain compliant with all regulations regarding business to consumer text communication. In order for a customer to continue receiving their appointment reminders by text, they had to reply to the 'opt-in' request with a yes in order to receive an appointment reminder. Legally, we do not need to do this, as TCPA law allows for non-marketing (transactional) messages to be sent without written consent. This is also applicable for review requests by text. Now that you no longer have to ask for consent, you will be able to increase the volume of appointment reminders you send via text. Of course, customers will still be able to 'opt-out' from text communication at any time.

The 'opt-in' messages to customers will stop on March 17th, 2020. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this update, please reach out to your KUKUI Marketer.

Wealth Strategies for Shop Owners

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 01:52:21 GMT

In this breakthrough webinar, Wealth Strategist Derick Van Ness will address the entrepreneur’s ultimate dilemma: “Do I invest my money? Or keep it available to grow my businesses?”

You’ll never need to decide again because Derick will show you how to do BOTH by building your own banking system! He will teach you to utilize money in a way that less than 1% of the population understands so you can prosper with almost no extra effort required. This is the same way the wealthiest families in America have built and perpetuated wealth for generations.

Derick will methodically break down how to create financial certainty so you can sleep well at night, why you may never need a crummy bank loan again, and how you can compound the profits in your business by getting your money to do more than one job at a time.

By the time he’s done, you’ll wonder why you’ve never seen this before, and be amazed it can be so simple. You won’t want to miss it!

Setting Up An Annual Marketing Plan for Your Auto Repair Shop [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 01:48:52 GMT

Do you have a marketing plan today for your shop? Does your plan feel like you're in a ship without a rudder? Do you regularly just have a knee jerk reaction to what is needed at the moment? If so, then let’s make an annual plan and make it easy.

In this Shop Owner Success™ Webinar , Jimmy Lea will walk through the plan used and implemented by Tom and Braiden Reich at Shadetree Automotive. In this session, you'll learn the methods and outline they use every year and every day for a successful marketing plan.

KUKUI's Vision for 2020 & Beyond

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 20:30:59 GMT

Kukui Corporation, the leading provider of integrated marketing automation and business analytics solutions for the automotive industry has hit the ground running in 2020 with the addition of industry heavyweights to the company line up and powerful new product features.

6 months after receiving its’ record-breaking investment from SSM partners, Kukui demonstrates that it has established a solid game plan for market expansion and growth. The company has made several strategic placements in sales, marketing, and business development to provide focus on stronger partner support and a deeper industry knowledge base, Luke Kusher has joined as the new Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. Luke comes to Kukui from MechanicNet, now Epicor, where he led their business development efforts for over 15 years.

Kukui has also expanded its’ marketing team to support new product initiatives with the addition of Rick Sage as Director of Marketing and Creative Services. Rick brings over a decade of marketing and branding expertise most recently as Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy with Honest-1.

Additionally, the expanded Sales line-up includes Karl Coleman, a 20-year sales veteran with both MechanicNet and Mitchell1, and Connor Tracy who spent over 15 years as a store manager with Firestone, Sears, O’Reilly, and others.

Kukui has also invested in substantial additions to the client services and development teams and has implemented an Agile Scrum methodology for the entire technical organization to support an iterative release schedule.

According to Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui, "Kukui has had an amazing couple of years with month after month of non-stop growth topped off with the investment by SSM Partners in 2019. But, I know that to continue to be the best in our industry and to continue to provide our customers with the highest levels of success we have to continue to add to our collective expertise. So, I sought out the best people who could bring new perspectives and a wealth of experience to the Kukui family. I am really excited to learn from all our new team members.”

In addition to the new team members added, Kukui has launched several new components of the All-in-One Success Platform including; Kukui Connect for two way business messaging, Kukui Shop Videos, designed to increase a shops SEO and customer engagement, Advanced Customer Reports, Follow-Up version 2, and an all-new email marketing tool.

About Kukui Corporation

Defining Your Auto Shop Vision & How It Translates to Your Team [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 01:46:14 GMT

Are you running your business or is your business running you? Do your frustrations include: Control, Profit, People, Hitting the Ceiling, and Nothing’s Working? Join us as we learn from Barry Barrett to discover your Vision and why it is not translating to your team.

KUKUI: Auto Shop Customer Acquisition & Followup [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 01:42:09 GMT

In this Shop Owner Success Webinar™, Jimmy Lea will be joined by Scott Thorley and Greg Waters to address the Shop’s ultimate dilemma: “How can I keep my Bays full all of the time?”

In this presentation, Greg Waters from Kukui will address how the integration of Protractor and Kukui will allow you to track all of your marketing spend to actual revenue from each source. You learn how to know with certainty where your marketing dollars are best spent to make the phone ring!

Utilizing Your Protractor data, the Kukui dashboard puts Key Performance Metrics right at your fingertips so you can make business improvements to best increase your revenue.

Oil Change reminders, State Inspection, etc. are based on your Protractor data and can be sent on intervals you determine to bring customers back when you want. Increase your Google Rating using a simple Text request to obtain more Google Reviews- all automatically using Protractor data and Kukui algorithms. We’ll help you understand this new method of “Word of Mouth Marketing”.

Utilizing Your Protractor data, the Kukui dashboard puts Key Performance Metrics right at your fingertips so you can make business improvements to best increase your revenue.

KUKUI Launches Premium Video Marketing for Auto Body Repair Shops

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:28:57 GMT

Kukui has just launched a new video-based marketing application for the independent automotive industry that allows business owners to dominate their local market. As competition for consumer screen time continues to heat up, the Kukui Shop Video program provides repair shops with a fantastic opportunity to make their brand stand out from the crowd. Kukui Shop Videos are available online now at Kukui.com/kukui-shop-videos

When a consumer visits a website, there is a small window in which to entice them to interact. Shop owners need to tell their brand's story in a way that will inspire and delight. Videos provide a lot more information in a short time. Video marketing is an essential tool for engaging and attracting customers, marketing your business specialties, and for recruiting Top-Tier technicians. Plus, video is not only a great way to tell your story, but it also provides a substantial increase in the SEO quality of your website.

Kukui's new product provides repair shops with a turn-key marketing solution that attracts and engages new customers and new team members and improves their online reputation in a single package. In this program, Kukui's nationwide team of professional videographers spend the day on-location recording real-life interviews with the shop owner, team members, and shop customers to gather the real story about the shop. After the shoot, Kukui's studio team prepares the premium quality videos that are designed to attract the shop's target audience. Next, the Kukui design team crafts a full set of web pages optimized for customer attraction. And, finally, each video is augmented with viewer engagement features prompting viewers to click to call or make an appointment.

According to Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui, "Our new Kukui shop videos are amazing. They provide our customers with an essential capability to compete with and dominate their competition. Shop videos allow a business owner to attract and engage consumers with a real-life view of the daily operations of the shop. It quickly establishes a level of trust you just can't get from a plain webpage."

"When you get an opportunity to have a series of professional videos made for marketing and recruitment at your shop, it does wonders for your image and your brand. It should be a no brainer to make the investment, take the time to do it right, and get your message out in a professional way." Said Greg Buckley , owner of Buckley's Auto Care .

KUKUI: Setting Labor Rates at Independent Auto Shops vs. Dealers

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 00:38:10 GMT

What method do you use to determine the most effective labor rate for your shop? You could call around and see what other shops are charging and then take off a few bucks beat the competition.

Or, you could do the math. What do you want to make? What's your overhead? And, what you are going to pay your technicians? Then you have a good starting point.

How to Improve Your Auto Shop Text Messaging & Communication [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 00:33:21 GMT

The gold standard of customer support used to be following up in under 15 minutes. Some consider follow up within the hour to be world-class. But in the new always-on, always-connected economy, 15 minutes is unacceptable.

How long someone has to wait for a response from your shop makes all the difference in building a relationship, closing business, and delighting a valued customer. Today everyone is always connected, ready to engage, and communicate on their terms. It’s true of our customers, and it's true of our team members too. Think about how you interact with your friends, your family, and the shop team. Text messaging likely plays a huge part. We don’t pick up the phone and call even our best friends anymore without sending a text to check and see if now is a good time to talk.

Joining Jimmy Lea in this Shop Owner Success™ webinar Live from the Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference is Dave Kusa Owner of Autotrend Diagnostics and Beau Bernal, GM of Toole's Garage.

KUKUI Talks with Women in the Automotive Industry [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 00:39:52 GMT

When you think about the future of the aftermarket automotive business, do you stop to consider who the driving force is behind this $115 Billion industry?

80% of all automotive buying decisions are made by women. Every year women spend over $200 Billion on vehicle purchases and repair service. And yet, less than 20% of the total workforce in the automotive industry are women.

In this webinar, Jimmy Lea was joined by 6 amazing people in the auto care business, that happen to be women, in a discussion about the paths they took to be where they are today and how they envision the future of the industry.

How to Run a Data-Driven Auto Repair Shop [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 00:30:15 GMT

Everyone talks about letting data drive the decision of your business but being strictly “Data-Driven” has a few blind spots. Being “Data-Informed” means that data is a key input for your decision making among others. You need to use the data to build a deeper understanding of the behavior that’s behind the data. Early trends rarely show up in the data. Don’t be shy to trust your instincts. If you look at a problem from first principles, the eventual impact would be much more obvious.

In this webinar, Jimmy Lea will be joined by Stéphane Grabina - Owner at Excluservice, Sunil Patel - CEO of Tekmetric, Bryan Gossel - Owner of BG Auto, and Prasanth Chilukuri - Co-Founder at Tekmetric to discuss how to find the metrics to help you make the right decisions about your shop.

They will show you how to stay on top of your shop performance using data about profitability, gross sales, and even which neighborhood brings in your best customers.

KUKUI Webinar: Managing & Investing Money for Auto Shop Growth

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 00:26:35 GMT

In this breakthrough webinar, Wealth Strategist Derick Van Ness will address the Shop owner's ultimate dilemma: "Do I invest my money? Or keep it available to grow my businesses?”

By the time he’s done, you’ll wonder why you’ve never seen this before, and be amazed it can be so simple. You won’t want to miss it!

NAPA AutoCare Featured KUKUI Certified Partner

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 19:27:11 GMT

This summer Kukui is doubling our efforts to recognize the best of the best in the Automotive Aftermarket industry. We are focusing on the organizations who really go above and beyond to support the success of shops, to raise up the image and awareness of our industry, and to give back selflessly to the communities which they serve. The overall goal of the program is to recognize the organizations that may be best suited to support the success of Kukui family shops and lead by example.

At the top of the heap, NAPA AutoCare stands out as an example to us all. We will be supporting all of our Kukui Certified partners through joint marketing programs, integration projects, and charity events. And as part of our continued journey to support 10,000 businesses worldwide we have kicked off a renewed tour of partner locations and shops with the Kukui Van making stops along the way.

Kukui has recognized NAPA AutoCare as an organization that goes above and beyond to support the automotive aftermarket industry by elevating the standards to which shops are held, by enabling shop owners to achieve success in their personal and professional lives, and supporting the communities which they serve. Learn more about Kukui Certified at Kukui.com/kc

The goal of Kukui Certified Partners is to single out organizations and individuals that meet two basic requirements. First, they are best suited to enable Kukui customers to achieve maximum success and return on investment from their vendors and partnerships. And second, that they stand out from other organizations in their efforts to support the industry and their community. Recipients are chosen based on a number of criteria including; the evaluation of data gathered by Kukui member shops who use those partners signifying actual results of success, the recommendations of existing customers, and through first-hand interaction and interviews with the candidates.

According to Jason Rainey, General Manager of NAPA AutoCare at Genuine Parts Company, "Our industry is changing at a pace we’ve never experienced before and it’s only going to continue. The vehicles that our NAPA AutoCare Centers service today are completely different than what they worked on as little as five years ago. At an equally fast pace, technology is changing the way we engage with the consumer and their buying behavior patterns. Partnering with Kukui allows our NAPA AutoCare Centers real-time access to their customer base and measures their marketing and retention rates. We partnered with Kukui three years ago because of their known quality product and services, but it’s their people and customer service that makes our partnership so rewarding."

“Kukui has been part of the NAPA AutoCare program for the past few years and this partnership has given us an insider’s view into the many ways that NAPA works to support the success of the auto industry and how they give back to the community,” said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. “The amazing work NAPA does to support the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is just one of the examples that align with the values of Kukui. Their diligence to uplift the image of the industry and to hold members to the highest standards makes me proud to welcome NAPA AutoCare to Kukui Certified.”

About Kukui Corporation
Kukui enables success. The Kukui All in One Success Platform® empowers each of Kukui’s clients with quantitative data showing their return on investment, the number of new clients based on their POS system, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve their business through the tracking of phone calls, appointment forms, and feedback from customer reviews. Kukui enables shop owners to focus “on the business.” For more information visit Kukui at Kukui.com or call (877) 695-6008.

About Genuine Parts Company
Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australasia, France, the U.K., Germany, and Poland. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts and electrical specialty materials in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico through its Industrial Products Group. S.P. Richards Company, the Business Products Group, distributes a variety of business products in the U.S. and Canada. Genuine Parts Company had 2018 revenues of $18.7 billion. Further information is available at www.genpt.com

Flag Day In The United States

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 23:43:49 GMT

Although we celebrate the birthday of the United States on July 4th we celebrate the Flag on June 14th.

Flag day first originated when a schoolteacher named BJ Cigrand assigned the students in his Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School to observe the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes as what he called then 'Flag Birthday' on June 14th, 1885.

On the same day in 1889, a kindergarten teacher in New York City named George Balch planned some ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York.

On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution celebrated Flag Day.

In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children's celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating.

Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

Fun Fact

Our current 50-star flag was designed by a 17-year-old high school student as part of a school project. He was given a B- on the project because as his teacher told him "You don't even know how many states we have."

KUKUI Receives Strategic Growth Investment from SSM Partners

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 19:23:06 GMT

KUKUI Receives Strategic Growth Investment from SSM Partners

Kukui has secured $27 million in Series A funding. The strategic growth investment from Memphis-based SSM Partners will provide Kukui with resources to accelerate continued platform innovation, rapid market expansion, expanded customer services, and support accelerated growth in the automotive aftermarket industry. As part of the strategic growth investment, Jim Tallman, Executive Chairman of Innovative Interfaces and a former CEO with multiple companies, will be joining Kukui as Executive Chairman to support the management team as an advisor.

Since its launch in 2011, over 2,000 auto repair businesses worldwide have trusted Kukui to manage their marketing, websites and customer retention needs. And, they have relied on the Kukui platform to provide them with deep analytics about the health and success of those programs. Kukui’s focus is to enable shop owners to be successful both personally and professionally, and to provide them with solutions that build trust between motorists and their local repair shop.

“We are very excited to complete this transaction with the team at SSM Partners. The past year Kukui has seen record-breaking growth month after month. This investment signals the launch of our next phase of transformational growth,” said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. “Clearly, the experience SSM brings in helping businesses scale will be invaluable to Kukui, but equally important is their match in both company style and culture with Kukui.” Mr. Westerlund continued saying, “I am also very grateful to welcome Jim to our team. His 30+ year career of management and business development experience will help us with our strategic plans of investing in new product innovation and pursuing market expansion.”

“I am very pleased to be able to support this very talented management team given the clear market leadership and innovative culture that they have developed since the inception of the Company,'' said Mr. Tallman.

“Kukui was built by listening to and solving customer needs, and that formula has fueled remarkable customer satisfaction and growth,” commented Hunter Witherington, Partner at SSM Partners. “We are excited to partner with management to help support the expansion of their market-leading platform.”

According to Greg Buckley, Owner of Buckley’s Auto Care, “This is an incredible day for the Kukui Team! After a decade of taking a steady approach to building the premier suite of business building tools for an auto shop’s success, they are now ready to soar. I’m very excited about this new chapter in Kukui’s evolution. Armed with new resources and strategic partners, Kukui will no doubt enhance its already robust technology and bring to market other advanced tools that have been waiting in the wings. I very much look forward to continuing my journey with them.”

About Kukui Corporation

Kukui enables success. The Kukui All in One Success Platform® empowers each of Kukui’s clients with quantitative data showing their return on investment, the number of new clients based on their POS system, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve their business through the tracking of phone calls, appointment forms, and feedback from customer reviews. Kukui enables shop owners to focus “on the business.” For more information visit Kukui at Kukui.com or call (877) 695-6008.

About SSM Partners

SSM invests in rapidly growing companies within software, services, and healthcare. The growth equity firm, which invests nationally and is based in Memphis, Tennessee, has partnered with talented entrepreneurs for more than 20 years. Starting with a relationship built on trust, SSM makes minority and majority equity investments and offers its entrepreneur-partners a thorough understanding of the growth company lifecycle and a collaborative approach to building great businesses. For more information, please visit www.ssmpartners.com .

KUKUI: Auto Shop Owner Success - 15 Customer Service Tips [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 23:41:43 GMT

In this Shop Owners Success webinar Jimmy Lea is joined by Nancy Friedman the "Telephone Doctor" who will discuss how to get brand & company customer loyalty. You get less than 20 seconds when a customer walks into your shop or calls and asks a question. It’s those 20 seconds that means the sale. Improving your company’s approach to customer interactions can have a noticeable impact on customer retention, renewal, and satisfaction.

Nancy’s Golden Nuggets program is unique, engaging, entertaining and educating. You’ll be laughing and learning ideas, tips, skills and techniques you’ll use immediately and forever to ensure your business captures & navigates that important call.

Watch more webinars in the Shop Owner Success series at Kukui.com

KUKUI Partners with Tekmetric for Auto Shop Management Services

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 19:19:42 GMT

Kukui has completed integration with the Tekmetric shop management system which provides users of both products unequaled access to shop performance metrics. With the establishment of this integration partnership, Kukui has also welcomed Tekmetric as the newest member of the Kukui Certified Partner program. Both products will be showcased at the Shop Hackers conference in Nashville, TN this weekend.

Through integration with Tekmetric, shop owners using the Kukui dashboard have immediate access to performance data that helps them better understand their shop’s performance and pinpoint areas of improvement that will enable increased profits. The Kukui platform integrated with Tekmetric also allows shop owners to analyze customer behavior and take control of their online reputation. Shops will have full transparency into the performance of every marketing campaign, including Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram, Yelp, SEO efforts, email, direct mail, postcards and review management.

According to Tekmetric Co-Founder Prasanth Chilukuri, "Through hard work and careful planning, our team has laid the groundwork for Tekmetric to become the best shop management software for the business-oriented shop professional. A large part of our growing success is the result of robust partnerships. With Kukui—we’ve partnered with a world-class marketing organization that serves tens of thousands of shop owners across the country. As both organizations embrace the latest in web technologies and cultivate a customer-centric culture, this partnership just made perfect sense."

In addition to the integration efforts of both companies, commitment to the Kukui Certified program signifies that Tekmetric is dedicated to maintaining a rigid set of standards and best practices that primarily support the success of shop owners in their professional and personal lives, and to support the continued success of the independent aftermarket industry. Find out more about Kukui Certified at https://Kukui.com/kc

“I am really honored to welcome Tekmetric as a Kukui partner, especially as part of the Kukui Certified program,” said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. “I watched them as they entered the market, and then grow so rapidly it made everyone take notice. Tekmetric’s growth in parallel with their commitment to the needs of the customer is so inline with Kukui that the partnership seems natural.”

About Kukui Corporation

About Tekmetric

Tekmetric is a shop management system designed for business-oriented automotive repair facility owners to improve their business efficiency and profitability. With Tekmetric, business owners can expect to improve overall productivity and profitability through an all-encompassing intuitive software solution.

Whether the goal is to quickly build an accurate repair order using the built-in labor guide, precisely manage inventory, send status messages to customers’ smartphones, or perform digital inspections, Tekmetric provides the engine and fuel to keep shops running smoothly and efficiently. For more information visit Tekmetric at https://tekmetric.com or call (832) 930-9400.

Managing & Investing Money for Auto Shop Growth [WEBINAR] | KUKUI

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 23:40:17 GMT

In this breakthrough webinar, Wealth Strategist Derick Van Ness will address the entrepreneur’s ultimate dilemma: “Do I invest my money? Or keep it available to grow my businesses?”

By the time he’s done, you’ll wonder why you’ve never seen this before, and be amazed it can be so simple. You won’t want to miss it!

KUKUI: Auto Shop Succession Planning [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 23:37:05 GMT

Like snowflakes, no two succession plans are exactly the same. In this Shop Owner Success webinar, Jimmy Lea welcomes two former shop owners who successfully transitioned their business to their successors. You'll get the inside scoop from Ron Haugen from Westside Auto Pros, and Joe Sevart from I-70 Auto Service about what they did to make it work. Whether you are selling to a trusted family member or top manager, this plan needs to be a top priority.

KUKUI: Auto Shop Owner Success - 15 Customer Service Tips [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 01:24:12 GMT

Is your team dropping the ball when it comes to customer service? Don’t worry! We have a special webinar this week dedicated to how you can help your team to understand how to provide excellent customer service that will keep customers coming back.

Succession Planning Tips for Auto Repair Shop Owners [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 00:35:40 GMT

In this Shop Owner Success Webinar, host Jimmy Lea was joined by Cecil Bullard, founder of the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence and Seth Thorson, owner of Eurotech Auto in Minneapolis, MN. to talk about some of the basics of Succession Planning that all shop owners should know.

Our panelists get into a discussion about how to establish an exit strategy for retirement which includes a succession plan, transferring ownership of the business, and paying taxes. They share first-hand experience about how to change business ownership either by selling, closing, or handing the business to successors.

KUKUI's All-in-one Auto Body Shop Marketing Platform [VIDEO]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 00:33:48 GMT

The video above is an introduction to the Kukui All-in-One Success Platform which enables auto shop owners with the tools they need to track and manage all aspects of marketing, and communications with current and potential shop customers.

Notice that the video is enabled with an interactive chapter menu that will allow you to jump directly between the sections which interest you most. Just click the menu icon at the bottom of the video player or the menu overlay on the screen.

KUKUI Partners with Midwest Auto Care Alliance (MWACA)

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 23:31:50 GMT

San Jose, CA - Oct. 11, 2018: Kukui Corporation , the maker of the All-in-One Success Platform®, has formed a partnership with the Midwest Auto Care Alliance (MWACA) to help conquer financial barriers to success faced by auto repair shop owners. In this partnership, shops who join both MWACA and Kukui, receive financial support that enables them to participate in the auto repair industry’s most engaged education and mentoring organization and to also take advantage of the most advanced suite of products available to auto repair shops.

Kukui and MWACA are both driven by similar missions of enabling success and excellence in the independent auto service industry. Kukui supports this mission through the creation of an integrated suite of software and services proven to enable repair organizations to succeed in a very competitive business. MWACA drives professionalism through education, training, support, mentoring and fellowship of all members. MWACA and Kukui also both recognize that with the sheer number of organizations and technology providers vying for a piece of their profits, shop owners need to be very budget conscious.

In this partnership, any member of Midwest Auto Care Alliance who joins Kukui will receive an exclusive benefits package. Members will receive: a 50% discount off the one-time Kukui set fee, a $99 discount on monthly fees, and a $300 Rebate toward MWACA dues OR a $300 credit towards VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo Conference registration. This exclusive benefit cannot be combined with any previously existing Kukui benefit.

“Kukui continues to deliver cutting-edge products to the industry along with superior levels of customer service. Our association is honored to renew our long-term partnership and appreciate their support as MWACA supports our membership in new and innovative ways,” stated Sheri Hamilton, AMAM, Executive Director for the Midwest Auto Care Alliance.

“We have been a strong supporter of VISION and its’ organizers for years. I am really impressed by Sheri’s leadership at bringing MWACA to where it is today. We are excited about this partnership and honored to join in MWACA’s success.” said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui.

KUKUI Featured on Discovery Channel's Garage Rehab (Season 2)

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 23:29:57 GMT

Over the past several months Kukui joined Richard Rawlings and crew for the second season of the hit Discovery Channel program Garage Rehab. Kukui supports the shop featured in each episode with a new website designed to help them revitalize their marketing efforts and achieve ultimate success.

In the Garage Rehab series, Richard Rawlings and his team travel the country to find struggling shops that need help. In each episode, Rawlings takes over a shop, making all decisions for the business as he works to revamp and revitalize the enterprise using his entrepreneurial savvy, deep knowledge of the auto industry and marketing skills to transform the struggling garages into profitable businesses.

“We just wrapped Garage Rehab season two and I can't wait for the premiere in September!” said Richard Rawlings. “When I invest in a garage, not only do we rehab the shop, we also rehab the shops marketing with a new high-end website built by Kukui. If I’m working hard to rehab the garage, I want people to know about it!. Kukui makes it happen. If you run a garage and don't have a website check them out.”

Kukui’s mission is to enable auto repair shops to succeed with the tools and support they need, allowing shops owners to focus on doing what they do best. With over a decade of success focusing specifically on the auto repair industry, Kukui brings cutting-edge technologies that consistently deliver results. From dynamic websites designed to attract the most profitable clients to a comprehensive dashboard offering advanced metrics showing your online success in an intuitive easy to use format. In the Garage Rehab project, shops start with a custom branded website and Kukui works with them after the show to continue improving their marketing efforts.

“The entire Kukui team worked very hard for this. I am humbled and grateful to have been part of this program,” said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. “Beyond the excitement of being part of this amazing series, the notion of helping to revitalize a struggling shop falls right in line with Kukui’s primary objective of helping shops achieve success. We are really looking forward to watching each of these shops grow and exceed even their own expectations. I am really looking forward to Season 2 and beyond ”

Season two of Garage Rehab begins in September on Discovery Channel and Kukui will be working with the featured shops throughout the program to help them succeed.

Institute for Automotive Business Excellence Recognized as KUKUI Certified Coach

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:17:57 GMT

Kukui is pleased to welcome Cecil Bullard and the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence to the Kukui Certified Coaches program. IFORABE was easily identified as a candidate for Kukui Certified with unsolicited recommendations from a multitude of their clients, and other coaches in the industry. The Institute as a whole and its team members individually all practice the key tenets of the Kukui Certified program as part of their regular business practice, leveraging their decades of experience in the industry to help their clients improve their business and personal lives equally. Going the extra mile, they teach their clients to similarly focus on achieving success by providing the best customer service, the strongest support for their teams, and being a force in their communities.

“I know that IFORABE is dedicated to helping their clients learn to run a better business. This does not only mean producing higher revenues, it also means producing happy customers, a happy team and a strong place in their community. These points are among the keystones of the Kukui Certified program and an example of how Cecil and his team not only go the extra mile but instill those values in their clients as well” Todd Westerlund - CEO, Kukui

“I simply wouldn't be where I am today without Cecil. His knowledge and passion for our industry is second to none. Cecil has a gift for motivating and inspiring shop owners and I am honored to be part of his group.” Ryan Clo, Owner of Dubwerx, Avid Autowerx, & Just Saab

Cecil has had a great impact on me, my company and ultimately my personal life as well. He's taught me to find issues in my business, make repairs and monitor performance using my financials as diagnostic tools. There's a lot of opportunity in this industry (that's why I'm here!) but nothing comes easy. Cecil has helped me adjust my attitude and be confident in myself, which has helped me avoid countless pitfalls and grow my company properly. He's been a fantastic coach because I think his goals are not only to help shop owners but to ultimately improve the industry for the better! I owe a lot of my success to him, thanks, Cecil! Patrick McHugh, Bimmer Rescue Richmond, VA

The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence is a nationally respected company that guides business owners to achieve profitable and sustainable success in this industry through proven strategies, and best practices. Our mission at the Institute is to improve the quality and accessibility of business education while reducing the cost. We do this by taking advantage of multiple tools, small seminars, phone consultation, concept classes and webinars just to name a few. Our unique business structure allows us to deliver quality education for much less than traditional models. Visit IFORABE at iforabe.com .

Click Here to learn more about the Kukui Certified Coaches .

ATI Joins Kukui Certified Coaches

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Wed, 16 May 2018 19:13:21 GMT

Kukui is grateful to welcome Automotive Training Institute (ATI) as a member of Kukui Certified Coaches.

Kukui Certified coaches and coaching organizations are evaluated across several criteria including; how they help shop owners improve their business and their well being, their longevity and sustainability in the industry, and their commitment both the industry and the community. After visiting 100's of shops across north America and reviewing before and after data to determine how ATI has driven their success, we ask them one question would they recommend ATI to another shop owner. The answer was always yes.

"ATI is the embodiment of the mission of the Kukui Certified Coaches program." -- Todd Westerlund, CEO - Kukui

"Our coaching team lives by our mission of driving both profits and dreams for our clients making them a success in their business and personal lives. And Kukui Certified stands for these same goals. ATI is proud to be a founding member of Kukui Certified Coaches." -- Bryan Stash, ATI/Vice President

KUKUI Integrates with TireConnect Platform by Bridgestone

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 01 May 2018 23:28:12 GMT

Kukui developers are continually adding new integration support for software that we believe will help our clients succeed. Kukui now supports TireConnect website integration for clients that may be using that service.

With TireConnect you are in control of your inventory, tire and labor prices. Their software gives you access to major wholesalers’ inventory automatically and provides you with tools to add your in-stock tires. Check out how Kukui + TireConnect can help you increase tire sales below.

K ukui Website Integration
Make it easy for your customers to find the tires they need with the help of Kukui websites and TireConnect. The TireConnect portal seamlessly integrates with Kukui landing pages, generating an easy-to-use tool for your customers to find the tires they need. You have the opportunity to display as much information as you'd like, or if you prefer to have your customers call you to request information that is possible as well.

ACT Group Receives KUKUI Certified Automotive Coach Recognition

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 18:54:54 GMT

Kukui Corporation , maker of the All-in-One Success Platform®, has named the ACT Group as a member of Kukui Certified Coaches. Through a review of the ACT Group’s background, the success of ACT Group’s customers, and analysis of actual data for those shops, Kukui Corporation has identified the ACT Group as a top-tier coaching organization and recommends them as a key partner for Kukui customers.

More About Kukui Certified

The mission of the Kukui Certified program is to single out organizations and individuals that are best suited for Kukui customers to achieve the maximum success and return on investment with their vendors. Recipients are chosen based on actual results of success with Kukui customers and through a recommendation of those customers. Final certification is based on several years of data collected by Kukui member shops.

“The ACT Group combines decades of hand on, in the field experience as shop owners and technicians with a history of facilitating the success of hundreds of shops across North America,” said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. “Their proven success combined with a mission so well aligned with Kukui’s makes them a perfect candidate for Kukui Certified. I am grateful to welcome The ACT Group as a Kukui Certified Coaching organization.”

According to Ray Kunz, Founder of The ACT Group, “Being certified means that someone has recognized you as above average, better than the “norm”! Being certified by a company with a product that leads this industry by leaps and bounds makes it a reality!”

Kukui will be announcing the addition of several more coaching and training organizations to Kukui Certified in the coming weeks and has begun to evaluate candidates for Kukui Certified Partners and Kukui Certified Shops. For more information about Kukui Certified visit Kukui.com/kc

Announcing KUKUI Certified Coach Program for Auto Industry Professionals

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 19:51:22 GMT

San Jose, CA - March 7, 2018: Kukui Corporation , maker of the All-in-One Success Platform®, has launched a new recognition program for the independent automotive industry. Through this program coaching and training organizations, software providers, and repair shops that meet a rigid set of standards and best practices are identified and promoted through the partnership with Kukui Certified.

In the inaugural phase of the Kukui Certified program, the company evaluated dozens of coaches and training organizations and has identified only a handful of “Top-Tier” members. In the next phase, Kukui will evaluate software and service providers in search of the best of the best. The goal of these first two phases is to single out organizations and individuals that are best suited for Kukui customers to achieve maximum success and return on investment from their vendors.

In the third phase of the program, Kukui will begin awarding the Kukui Certified recognition to shops that have exhibited the highest levels of success regarding customer satisfaction, team synergy, community support, and continued growth. This phase is intended to complete the loop of success and promote these top shops to motorists as trusted and recognized members of their community who are focused on the needs of their customers.

“I am really excited about this program and how it will change our industry.” said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. “With almost a decade’s worth of data to evaluate along with my own experience I can tell you that not all coaches are equal. Not all software and service providers are equal. And, not all shops are equal. Kukui Certified will leverage that data to identify the best of the best in our industry.”

About Kukui Corporation

KUKUI Provides Moran Auto Parts Franchises with CRM Software

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:48:23 GMT

Moran Family of Brands, one of the nation’s leading franchises of general automotive repair, transmission repair, window tinting and driver safety products, announced a new partnership with Kukui Corporation to provide their franchise locations with internet marketing and website support programs.

Moran’s franchise stores will receive Kukui’s proprietary CRM software, which is designed to help attract and retain customers. The program includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost a shop’s leads and conversion rates; a content management platform that is integrated with each store’s point-of-sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders, direct mailers and a follow-up module to help shops track outreach efforts to existing customers.

"Moran Family of Brands’ partnership with Kukui will play a key role in the success and development in each of our franchise locations,” said Pete Baldine, President of Moran Family of Brands. “Kukui’s multi-faceted CRM system will give our franchise owners a comprehensive marketing platform that will provide greater feedback and communication between our stores and its customers and help drive business to their shops.”

Moran franchisees will receive data showing their return on investment, new and returning customers and areas to improve their business. As part of the partnership, Kukui will provide each franchise operator access to a dedicated marketing coordinator to offer additional support.

"As Kukui's mission is to help repair shops achieve success, we are really excited for the opportunity to partner with the Moran Family of Brands who shares this mission," said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. "As a preferred vendor, Kukui is positioned to help each of the franchisees achieve their individual goals while maintaining a common line of support to all the brands. We look forward to helping all the shops stay busy."

About Moran Family of Brands:

Moran Family of Brands is one of the nation’s leading franchisors of general automotive repair, transmission repair and automotive accessory centers. Based in Midlothian, Illinois, Moran Family of Brands provides specialty products and services in virtually every aspect of the automotive aftermarket through four individual brands and a total of more than 120 franchise locations nationwide including: Mr. Transmission, “The Professionals”; Alta Mere “The Automotive Outfitters”; Milex Complete Auto Care centers and SmartView Window Solutions. For more information on Moran Family of Brands visit http://www.moranfamilyofbrands.com .

About Kukui Corporation:

Kukui enables success. The Kukui All in One Success Platform empowers each of Kukui’s clients with quantitative data showing their return on investment, the number of new clients based on their POS system, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve their business through the tracking of phone calls, appointment forms, and feedback from customer reviews. Kukui enables shop owners to focus “on the business.” For more information visit Kukui at https://Kukui.com or call (877) 695-6008.

KUKUI Welcomes Jimmy Lea as Regional Sales Director

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 19:42:11 GMT

Kukui Corporation , maker of the All-in-One Success Platform®, has announced the the appointment of Jimmy Lea as Regional Sales Director. In his new role, Jimmy will focus on evangelizing the benefits of leveraging Kukui’s integrated platform to address the needs and concerns of shop owners today preparing them to meet the demands of tomorrow.

With more than 10 years experience in sales and business development for software-as-a-service, financial services as well as hardware products, Jimmy embodies the fabric of the independent automotive industry. Prior to joining the Kukui family, Jimmy Lea served as Evangelist and National Sales Manager for AutoVitals where he helped shop owners understand the value of the Digital Shop.

“I have always been impressed with the way Jimmy conducts himself in the industry. He continually puts the interests of shop owners at the top of the list,” said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui. “Jimmy has already been a huge inspiration for Kukui, we love his energy!”

About Kukui Corporation

KUKUI Launches Digital Vehicle Inspections Feature: KUKUI DVI

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 18:40:25 GMT

Kukui Corporation , maker of the All-in-One Success Platform®, has announced the availability of the Kukui DVI, anin house developed addition to the Kukui suite of products, that is designed to help substantially improve the way repair shops communicate with customers during and between visits to the shop. The product is being shown for the first time at the Ratchet and Wrench Conference Sept 24-26. The Kukui DVI is now available in limited release. More at Kukui.com/dvi

As part of Kukui’s mission to produce products that help auto repair shops be successful, the company sought the direct input of shop owners and industry thought leaders to focus its development efforts. Much of this input was gained through CEO, Todd Westerlund’s nationwide tour. So, after 18 months of research and development, and 15,000 miles of travel visiting shops for their input, Kukui is releasing the first of several new additions to the All-in-One Success Platform, the Kukui DVI .

“We decided to make our initial entry into the highly competitive digital vehicle inspections marketplace with a straightforward, simple product that meets a few basic requirements of the shops we talked to,” said Chris Price, Chief Product Officer of Kukui. “ It had to be easy to use without the overhead of unnecessary and distracting features or technology. It needed to be a very lightweight, mobile app that would work equally well on a phone or tablet. It particularly needed to be a native, IOS app for speed, and reliability. And most importantly it has to integrate seamlessly with their management system, and the Kukui CRM.”

The Kukui DVI creates full transparency for the motorist into the repair process providing them updates with technician notes, video, and pictures of affected components. The customer sees exactly what the technician sees so they can make informed decisions about servicing their vehicle.

Between visits, DVI integration with the Kukui CRM enables shops to send reminder or recommended service messages and postcards that include pictures of declined service. Kukui’s research shows that consumers are substantially more likely to make buying decisions when presented with visual images of the affected parts on their vehicle.

According to Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui, “This first release of Kukui DVI is just the beginning of the upcoming additions to our platform. We learned so much from our shop visits about what people really want and need to be successful, you should expect to see a continuous stream of game changing announcements in the next few weeks.”

About Kukui Corporation

Kukui enables success. The Kukui All in One Success Platform® empowers each of Kukui’s clients with quantitative data showing their return on investment, the number of new clients based on their POS system, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve their business through the tracking of phone calls, appointment forms, digital inspection results, and feedback from customer reviews. Kukui enables shop owners to focus “on the business.” For more information visit Kukui at Kukui.com or call (877) 695-6008.

KUKUI's Mission to Visit 1000 Auto Repair Shops

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 18:35:50 GMT

San Jose, CA - September 14, 2017: Kukui Corporation , maker of the All-in-One Success Platform®, is excited to announce that CEO Todd Westerlund has embarked on the third leg of an ambitious year long project to visit over 1000 auto repair shops to hear and see first hand how shop owners across the country achieve success.

Kukui’s mission is to help auto repair shops be successful and grow. Last summer, Westerlund ambitiously set out to visit 100 shops in 100 days. The plan was to hit the streets and gather feedback directly from shop owners, whether they were Kukui customers or not, and hear first hand what made them successful and understand what else they needed to continue that success.

After those first few weeks, it became apparent that the scope of this project needed to grow to reach shops across the country. So, with the deployment of the Kukui Van, a Mercedes Sprinter wrapped in the Kukui logo, Mr. Westerlund set out to visit at least 1000 shops in 2017.

“I worked in the shop for over 15 years, and have used that experience to help me drive the vision of Kukui.” Said Todd Westerlund. “But, there is such a valuable wealth of expertise in the minds and hearts of our customers that I had to go out and hear it first hand.”

Next week Todd will embark on the 3rd leg of the tour taking the Kukui Van from North Carolina up the East coast visiting dozens of shops throughout Virginia, Maryland, DC, and New York. Finally, the tour makes a final run back across the middle of the country reaching Chicago on September 24 for the Ratchet and Wrench Conference where the company will announce the next generation of their All-in-One Success Platform. These most recent updates are based exclusively on feedback from this nationwide tour. You can follow Todd and his progress with the Kukui tour on facebook at facebook.com/kukuicorporation/

About Kukui Corporation

KUKUI & AutoShopFollowUP Partner to Improve Shop Customer Retention

Thu, 03 Aug 2017 18:32:15 GMT

San Jose, CA - August 2, 2017: Kukui Corporation, maker of the All-in-One Success Platform®, and AutoShopFollowUp.com, an auto customer retention expert, have just formed an official partnership that enables repair shops with next level customer retention solutions.

It can cost up to 30 times to as much to attract a new customer as it does to retain existing customers. Kukui’s new Lost Customer Module identifies which customers have not been in the shop for a while, but contacting them all is sometimes a challenge. Through this partnership AutoShopFollowUp.com will handle the follow up calls consistently and affordably.

AutoShopFollowUp.com will utilize Kukui's innovative web platform to offer a more robust and comprehensive marketing platform helping automotive shop owners more effectively communicate with and retain customers. This process leads to boosted profits by adding follow up phone calls and handwritten thank you cards to Kukui’s Lost Customer Module. AutoShopFollowUp.com will also gain access to Kukui’s All-in-One Marketing Platform, which is designed to build greater customer loyalty over time.

“AutoShopFollowUp.com is excited to partner with Kukui Corporation in this renewed effort to help our client’s boost customer retention rates and ultimately profitability. Embarking on this partnership together enables us to play off each other’s greatest strengths and offer in-depth solutions that are truly hard to beat. We understand the retention challenges that auto shops face and are always seeking new ways to help address them through hands-on support at every step,” said Mike Carrillo, CEO, AutoShopFollowUp.com.

Kukui CEO, Todd Westerlund, echoed similar sentiments: “This partnership with AutoShopFollowUp.com is just the beginning of a long line of innovative solutions that will transform the way automotive industries interact with clients. Our integrated web marketing platform gives us the opportunity to offer a range of analytic, marketing and communications services to change the fortunes of several companies in a highly competitive auto and auto ancillary industry.”

The new partnership is set to transform the way auto industries operate and interact and follow up with customers in a competitive environment.

About AutoShopFollowUp.com

AutoShop FollowUp is a customer retention expert with a special focus on the auto industry, highlighting how a 5 percent customer retention increase can boost profits by 25 to 80 percent. The company follows up with auto shop customers through phone calls and thank you cards to help auto shops better understand how to interact with customers. Through a series of detailed reports and review studies, the company helps auto shops build a new base of loyal customers through frequent interactions.

About Kukui Corporation

KUKUI Adds Vehicle Inspection Analytics to Auto Shop Marketing Platform

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 18:30:01 GMT

Kukui Corporation, the leading provider of integrated marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry has partnered with Repair Shop Solutions, to integrate invaluable data collected during the inspection process into the Kukui Dashboard ™.

With digital inspection applications like Repair Shop Solutions, repair technicians collect a wealth of detailed data about the health of a vehicle including pictures, videos, and detailed notes. This data streamlines the process of making repair recommendations, and gives service advisors valuable information needed to sell those services to motorists.

Through this integration, 4 key metrics are assimilated into the shop’s reporting data, and displayed in a new set of dials on the Kukui Dashboard;

Inspections Performed During Period, indicating how many digital inspections were performed.
Technician Average RO, which indicates the average dollar amount recommended by each inspection.
Percent of recommended work sold, which points out how many jobs were sold compared to the total number of jobs recommended.
Inspections to RO Count, which shows the percentage of inspections performed versus total number of repair orders in the time period. These metrics allow a shop owner to easily track the success of their digital inspection program and the efficiency of each team member.

“Repair Shop Solutions digital inspections give shops the ability to take the guess work out of recommending services and provide complete transparency to the motorist.” said Scott Osborn, President of Repair Shop Solutions. “Presenting the data collected during the inspection process as part of the Kukui Dashboard gives shop owners an unequalled tool to best gauge team efficiency and pinpoint shop operations that are most successful.”gauge team efficiency and pinpoint shop operations that are most successful.”

According to Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui, “The inclusion of inspection data into the Kukui dashboard gives our customers another key advantage over their competition by featuring team and process efficiency prominently on the dashboard they use to drive to success.”

About Kukui

Kukui enables success. The Kukui All in One Success Platform empowers each of Kukui’s clients with quantitative data showing their return on investment, the number of new clients based on their POS system, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve their business through the tracking of phone calls, appointment forms, and feedback from customer reviews. Kukui enables shop owners to focus “on the business.” Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kukuicorporation/

KUKUI & Yext Partner to Add Listing Services for Auto Shop Owners

Wed, 31 May 2017 18:27:55 GMT

SAN JOSE, CA MAY 31, 2017 -- Kukui Corporation, the leading provider of integrated marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry has partnered with Yext Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), the digital knowledge management provider, to provide extraordinary searchability and credibility for users of the Kukui All in One Success Platform.

Since search engines value consistency, inaccurate and duplicate business directory listings can harm a shop’s local SEO. The addition of Yext Listings adds peace of mind for shop owners that their location data is consistent, across 100+ digital services globally. Yext’s patented Duplicate Suppression process finds and suppresses duplicate listings at the publisher level, so motorists won’t see incorrect or incomplete data about the business.

“We’re excited to add the Yext service to our customer offerings.” said Todd Westerlund, CEO of Kukui, “This partnership gives us one more step to greater support our mission of enhancing and maintaining the health of our customer’s online business.”

In this partnership, Kukui will provide the Yext service as part of their SEO upgraded package which includes Yext, Social Media Postings and an ongoing link earning campaign to build inbound links. Customers may also opt-in to the Yext Listings service as a stand alone add-on. With either option, Kukui’s team of SEO experts will utilize the Yext service to manage the client's listings for them.

For more information visit Kukui at https://Kukui.com or call (877) 695-6008.

About Kukui

KUKUI Partners with NAPA for Auto Shop Marketing Solutions

Wed, 11 Jan 2017 19:24:45 GMT

SAN JOSE, CA (PRWEB) JANUARY 11, 2017 - Kukui Corporation has become an official partner of the National Automotive Parts Association, giving the company the ability to market to more than 15,000 NAPA AutoCare Centers nationwide. NAPA only partners with vendors providing quality products and services and promotes those vendors directly to its members.

As part of the partnership, Kukui will offer NAPA AutoCare Centers exclusive pricing for its innovative marketing platform, which is designed to help automotive shop owners attract and retain customers. The company’s product suite includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost a shop’s leads and conversion rates; a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders, direct mailers and a follow-up module to help shops track outreach efforts to existing customers.

"NAPA is proud to welcome Kukui as one of our trusted partners,” said Jason Rainey, General Manager of NAPA’s AutoCare division. “Kukui’s All-in-One Success Platform allows us to offer NAPA AutoCare facilities a comprehensive marketing, analytics, and customer communications platform that will contribute to their shops success.”

“To work with NAPA is a dream come true,” said Kukui CEO Todd Westerlund. “The organization has a vast network and has built a reputation for working with top-notch vendors, so we are honored to have made the cut.”

Kukui recently launched a new version of its marketing platform, which includes a slew of new features to address the marketing issues that shop owners struggle with most. The company’s marketing software package also includes access to a dedicated marketing coordinator to provide hand-on support.

About Kukui

With a rich history in information technology, Kukui provides businesses with a custom website platform and software solution that integrates with each organization’s Point of Sale (POS) system. This empowers each of Kukui’s clients with quantitative data showing their monetary return on investment, the number of new clients based on their POS system, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve their business through the tracking of phone calls, appointment forms, and feedback from customer reviews.
The company was ranked 76th on Inc. Magazine’s annual Inc. 500 list in 2015.

"Do-It-Yourself SEO" Webinar

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 23:26:26 GMT

Trisha Vasquez, Sr. Regional Manager of Kukui, and Kaeli Gardner, Marketing Manager at AskPatty.com, partnered up for an insightful "Do-It-Yourself SEO" webinar.

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, can be an intimidating topic for small business owners. This webinar will walk you through the definition and importance of SEO, and how you can get started on making your website more Google-friendly.

Check out the video re-cap below:

For questions or to request a demo:

Trisha Vasquez - Kukui

Trisha@Kukui.com | (408) 667-9051

Kaeli Gardner - AskPatty.com

Kaeli@AskPatty.com | (805) 409-3603

Stay tuned for more Webinars by following us on Facebook:

Utilizing Data & Analytics in Your Auto Repair Shop Business [WEBINAR]

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 00:22:50 GMT

For our first webinar of 2016, Trisha Vasquez, Regional Sales Manager of Kukui, and Scott Thorley, President of Automotive Management Solutions, partnered up for our "You Can't Improve What You Don't Measure" webinar.

They discussed the importance of R.O. Writer Integration and Marketing Tracking, and learning how everything ties in with your return on investment.

Missed the webinar? Check out the video re-cap below:

For questions or to request a demo:

Trisha Vasquez - Kukui

Trisha@Kukui.com | (408) 667-9051

Scott Thorley - AMS R.O. Writer

sthorley@amsrowriter.com | (919) 363-6234

Stay tuned for more Webinars by following us on Facebook:

KUKUI Customer Success Story: Pickering's Auto Service Center of Denver CO

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 00:18:33 GMT

Growing with Kukui

Since we began utilizing Kukui’s services in 2014, our visibility on the Internet has improved considerably. The customized website Kukui created and optimized for us has allowed us to develop and maintain a consistent brand identity across multiple online sources as well as our other various marketing channels. Our ability to effortlessly track conversion rates, match revenue and analyze data statistics right from the dashboard has granted us the opportunity to make educated marketing decisions that have positively impacted our marketing efforts.

Having one dashboard, one account manager, and one company to manage our marketing needs has made our marketing much more seamless. Our account manager knows our vision, our strategy and our goals and works diligently to help us accomplish them. Kukui overall has allowed us to manage, measure and improve our marketing much more efficiently and effectively.

Visit the website: http://www.pickeringsauto.com/

KUKUI Partners with Automotive Training Institute (ATI)

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 19:23:29 GMT

Software maker will serve as an “endorsed vendor” to ATI’s clients

Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for automotive repair shops, has been named a “Preferred Supplier” of the Automotive Training Institute, one of the industry’s leading coaching and management consulting companies.

As a Preferred Supplier, Kukui will be listed on the ATI website along with other endorsed vendors. In exchange, Kukui will provide special pricing to ATI clients who subscribe to the company’s innovative software platform, which provides detailed data on how many leads a shop owner’s marketing channels are generating.

The company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost sales conversion rates; a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders. Kukui will offer ATI clients one month of free access to its platform and will also waive the design fee associated with building new sites.

“Our goal is to provide ATI clients with as many tools as possible to help them assess where to best allocate their marketing resources, so they can drive car count and increase sales,” said Kukui CEO Todd Westerlund.

Since 1980, ATI has been helping shop owners achieve their dreams through honest coaching and integrity.

“Working together, Kukui and ATI can maximize the marketing efforts of their mutual clients by tracking and measuring programs and results,” said ATI’s National Account Manager Jim Silverman.

Kukui remains committed to forming alliances with industry leaders and passionately improving technology for the betterment of people and businesses worldwide.

About Kukui
With a rich history in information technology, Kukui provides businesses with a custom website platform and software solution that integrates with each organization’s Point of Sale (POS) system. This empowers each of Kukui’s clients with quantitative data showing their monetary return on investment, the number of new clients based on their POS system, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve business through the tracking of phone calls, appointment forms, and feedback from customer reviews. The company was ranked 76th on the annual Inc. 500 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

About ATI
ATI (Automotive Training Institute) is the oldest and largest business management training company in the automotive industry. The company's 25 experienced coaches and dedicated support staff provide professional business guidance and training to more than 1,400 of the most successful independent auto repair and collision shops in North America.

KUKUI Clients Honored as AutoInc. Top 10 Auto Repair Websites

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 23:15:25 GMT

We are super pleased for our clients, Stang Auto Tech (Broomfield, CO) and Robert’s Collision & Repair (Monterey, CA) , for taking top honors in this year’s Top 10 Websites Contest.

Each year, AutoInc. reviews scores of websites with a panel of judges. The goal is to inspire other ASA members in utilizing the Internet to boost productivity and revenue.

This year, ASA and AutoInc. used the following criteria to evaluate specific features of website submissions:

Mobile Optimized
Consumer Friendly
Clear Call to Action
Credibility
Visual Design/First Impression

To learn more about this year’s criteria, please check out ASA’s press release .

Congratulations to Stang Auto Tech and Robert’s Collision & Repair. We are excited to see your Kukui website bring more value to your business!

KUKUI Staff Update: New VP of Client Services & Marketing Positions

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 18:21:48 GMT

Promoted staffers will focus on client retention; improve Kukui’s marketing materials and expand the company’s digital presence

Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has appointed Caitlyn Williams Vice President of Client Services. The company has also promoted Kiley Fasano to Director of Marketing and Production and Omar Avalos to Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator.

As Vice President of Client Services, Williams manages client satisfaction and retention and oversees all client-facing staff to ensure accountability and high quality customer service. Well-versed at client relations, Williams served as the former associate director of client services for nearly two years before her promotion. She started her marketing career at a technical recruiting company, which gave her the foundation to work directly with clients, develop networking and event planning skills, and implement internal marketing campaigns.

In their new roles, Fasano and Avalos will improve Kukui’s marketing materials and expand the company’s digital presence. Fasano works directly with Kukui’s integration, design, production, development and marketing departments to launch new clients’ websites onto Kukui’s marketing platform and educates clients about strategies for achieving business growth. She also oversees trade show and event planning, social media and public relations.

Kiley Fasano joined Kukui in May 2014, as a production manager. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in web design and interactive media from The Art Institute of Colorado.

Omar Avalos, who started his career at Kukui in January 2015 as a client success coordinator, is responsible for developing sales collateral, executive presentations and other marketing materials to promote the company’s success platform. He also manages Kukui’s social media presence and helps create videos and other visual aids to support the company’s communication with clients and prospects.

Before joining Kukui, Avalos worked as an account strategist at a multicultural marketing agency in San Francisco. He holds a degree in multicultural marketing from the University of San Francisco.

“Both Kiley and Omar are already having a tremendous impact on our business and are helping Kukui gain a larger foothold in the automotive repair market,” said Kukui CEO Todd Westerlund.

About Kukui

With a rich history in information technology, Kukui provides businesses with a custom website platform and software solution that integrates with each organization’s Point of Sale (POS) system. This empowers each of Kukui’s clients with quantitative data showing their monetary return on investment, the number of new clients based on their POS system, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve business through the tracking of phone calls, appointment forms, and feedback from customer reviews. The company was ranked 76th on the annual Inc. 500 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

KUKUI Partners with Honest-1 Auto Care as Preferred Vendor

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 18:20:33 GMT

Automotive repair chain will promote Kukui’s marketing software to new franchisees

Kukui Corporation has joined the approved list of vendors that automotive repair shop giant Honest-1 recommends to its new franchisees. As an “endorsed” vendor, Kukui will be included in the marketing resource material franchisees receive from Honest-1 along with information about how Kukui fits into a franchisee’s marketing budget.

Honest-1 named Kukui an approved vendor based on the effectiveness of the company’s marketing platform, which helps shop owners evaluate their marketing campaigns. In addition to offering analytics, the company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost a shop’s leads and conversion rates; a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders.

“It’s really the best system for obtaining a snapshot of the health of the business and how it relates to AdWords, SEO and other marketing efforts,” said Rick Sage, Director of Marketing for Honest-1 Auto Care. “The platform is also extremely user-friendly with one point of contact and integration with shop management software, which leads to real-time ROI data on leads.”

Kukui is now serving 30 Honest-1 shops throughout the country. As part of its relationship with Honest-1, Kukui CEO Todd Westerlund provides online educational seminars educating franchisees about the company’s platform and how it can improve their business. The company will also be exhibiting at the 2015 Honest-1 National Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona from September 28-30.

“We are thrilled to be working so closely with Honest-1 and look forward to helping the company’s franchisees uncover the marketing approaches that will deliver the best results,” said Westerlund.

The company was recently ranked 76th on Inc. Magazine’s annual Inc. 500 list.

About Honest-1 Auto Care
Honest-1, a national full-service auto care company, is passionate about putting customers first. Its customer-centric, transparent approach assures every customer is thoroughly educated on the systems and services necessary to keep their vehicles in the best running condition. In addition to putting their customers first, Honest-1 Auto Care is the only auto care company that is 100 percent ESA® Certified Eco-Friendly. Honest-1 was ranked 321 in Entrepreneur magazine's 2013 "Franchise 500" and ranked 338 in the magazine's 2011 "Franchise 500" list. Additionally, Honest-1 ranked as one of the top companies in the 2011 and 2012 Lube and Oil News "Top Oil Change-Plus Chains" and in the 2013 “HOT 100 FRANCHISE LIST” by RedHotFranchises.com. For more information, visit http://www.honest-1.com. For franchise information please visit, http://www.h1franchise.com.

KUKUI Makes Inc.'s List of 500 Fastest Growing Companies in 2015

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 17:41:49 GMT

Company ranked 76th with three-year sales growth of nearly 4,000%

Inc. Magazine has ranked Kukui Corporation 76th on its annual Inc. 500 list of the nation’s fastest growing private companies. Kukui, which makes marketing software for automotive repair shop owners, landed its ranking with a growth rate of 3,493% over the last three years.

Founded in 1996, Kukui has 86 employees and reported revenue of $4.2 million last year. This is the first time the company has earned a spot on the list, which represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs.

"I am honored that Kukui has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest growing companies,” said Kukui Founder and Product Architect Ryan Wilmot. “It is really a testament to the small business owners that we work with, and to the amazing “Kukuians” who have worked day and night to create technology to help others, which was our mission from the outset.”

Started in 1982, the Inc. 500 list of the nation's most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. This year’s ranking of fastest-growing companies represents the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year growth of 490 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $205 billion, generating 647,000 jobs over the past three years.

Kukui has grown by providing auto repair shops with a way to measure the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns. In addition to offering analytics, the company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost a shop’s leads and conversion rates; a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders.

Kukui will be featured in the September issue of Inc. Magazine, which will be available on newsstands August 18th. The company will also be honored at the Inc. 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony, Oct. 21-23, 2015 in Orlando.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

Methodology
The 2015 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2011 to 2014. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generated revenue by March 31, 2011. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent--not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies--as of December 31, 2014. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2011 is $100,000; the minimum for 2014 is $2 million.

How Auto Repair Shop Owners Should Respond to Negative Reviews

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 23:13:18 GMT

Online reviews are one of the major lead sources for small business owners. As the modern form of word-of-mouth, reviews are powerful for businesses. A positive review can do wonders for a brand new business. A negative review could seriously hurt, or worse, shut doors.

In today’s Ask a Kukui’an, we have Jessica May, our esteemed Client Marketing Specialist. Jessica works closely with clients in need of reputation management. As one of the veteran marketers at Kukui, Jessica has seen the best and worst of most online review sources.

Whether your primary review source is Yelp, MindBody, or even Google My Business, Jessica is your girl!

Q1. What is your first response when you see a negative review on your client’s website? How do you recommend they handle it?

I always remind my clients to take a deep breath and not take the negative review personally.

No matter how established and great a business is, negative reviews are inevitable. You're always going to get that bad seed or someone who simply had a bad day. That’s totally normal and everyone will be okay.

After your deep breathing, respond calmly and promptly. Make sure you respond to the review publicly within two hours. This makes unhappy customers feel heard, respected, and know that the issue is being handled. You want the customer to feel like they are a priority.

Some business owners are hesitant to do this because they don’t want to give this much merit to complainers. Know that customers are happy to be acknowledged that they almost always change their one star review to a five star review.

Q2. Recently, we’ve seen a surge in small business owners experiencing mean or baseless reviews. How do you recommend handling that?

I highly recommend that you respond to all reviews in attempt to recover the relationship with the customer, whether it is real or not. Be the bigger person, even in your online reviews.

It is important to remain calm and avoid being defensive. Instead, thank them for their patronage and remind them that as a business owner you are constantly striving to improve in any way possible and understanding what went wrong can help you do that.

Try your best to resolve the problem by analyzing the issue. Ask as many questions as possible and you may even want to offer the customer a discount on their next visit. If you don't want to give them a discount a simple apology and offer to make things right will suffice.

Q3. Everyone gets a fake review on Yelp. What's your take on that?

This is common. I've seen this happen plenty of times. Yelpers are by no means allowed to post a review if they have never had a real experience with the business. I highly recommend reporting it right away if this ever happens to you.

There are many ways your marketing director and Yelp can assist in proving that the review isn't useful or reliable especially if it is completely fabricated.

Q4. What do you tell clients who want to receive more positive feedback from online review sources like Yelp?

A little trick I tell my clients to help them get more positive feedback on Yelp is to remind their customers to fill out their Yelp profiles (add profile picture, add a short bio, add friends).

Unfortunately, Yelp sometimes filters positive reviews even if they are legitimate because the user does not have enough creditability, is inactive or has an incomplete profile. This is the best way to keep your positive reviews out of the filter.

Another way is to get more good reviews is to turn to friends and family. It's okay to do this! Friends and family members are you biggest fans. Don't forget that this is an option.

Lastly, provide great customer service. I truly believe that great customer service and business who care about their customers will see this reflection online over time.

Q5. What is your favorite tool to track and respond to reviews?

Our All-In-One Success Platform has a great feature for reviews. Having a tool that simplifies this process is greatly helpful to me as a marketer and even more helpful to my clients.

I know that there are many review tools online, it’s just the matter of finding the right tool for your needs. I always say do some research before signing up for any service.

How to Use Social Media for Your Auto Repair Shop

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 23:05:28 GMT

Social media is one of the leading networking tools business owners utilize to connect with customers. As one of the most widely used applications on the Internet today, social media serves a dual purpose: selling and branding.

We often receive a lot of social media requests from our clients. However, we found that clients benefit more from social media if they are in control of their content and messaging.

For more insight on how social media works for small businesses, such as auto repair shops, we turn to our Associate Director of Client Services, Caitlyn Williams.

Caitlyn has prior experience in social media marketing for restaurants. In her current role, Caitlyn leads the marketing team in managing their client’s marketing initiatives and ongoing campaigns.

Q: What are some of the best ways to use social media to attract new customers?

I found that sharing unique content that highlights your business’ unique qualities is more likely to generate Likes and Follows. This, in turn, can help generate new customers and referrals for your shop.

The key on social media is to market your business as trusted experts in your community. For example, promoting your business by highlighting 5 star reviews, new and competitive specials, and relevant pictures of the shop. Allowing honest testimonials from loyal customers and offering value elements can spur repeat buying action from your already trusted customers or fans.

Our Marketing Success Platform enables automatic 5-star review posts to our clients Facebook wall. This in turn allows our clients to extend customer service beyond their shop. Many use this feature to post a reply to reviews or customer inquiries. It’s a wonderful engagement tool.

Q: How do you get more Likes or Follows on Social Media?

By using the marketing tools available to you, such as email retention campaigns or Thank You notes.

For my clients, I always recommend placing your logo, with links to social platforms, in the footer of your emails to customers as well as in the footer of your website. This way, they are reminded to visit your social pages and follow if they have not already.

As for getting Likes, share news related to your business. We love when shops post team photos, interesting projects they are working on, car care tips, videos, etc.

One of my clients, Douglas Automotive , does a great job of keeping their content varied, relevant, and share worthy. They share some great videos that share the value of their shop while also being funny!

With anything on social media, consistency is key so share often and keep the content varied.

Q: What are the advantages of creating your own content to share on social media?

It’s your voice! Nothing is more unique than your shops’ personality and message. Original content is the most important thing that can be shared on social media. It’s genuine and that genuine interaction and content is what’s going to keep businesses on top of mind for customers.

Social media is best for building stronger relationships with existing customers. They might share your content with their friends and get you a referral. However, don’t expect to get much traction with new customers from Facebook campaigns especially retargeting ads on Facebook.

While boosting posts and getting impressions may get you more likes, those are vanity metrics. You want to capture people exactly when they are searching for auto repair. This is why AdWords works so well for capturing new customers. Not many people go to Facebook in search for a new auto repair facility. However being active on Facebook is important for staying top of mind with your existing fans.

Q: What are some social media marketing ideas you recommend to your clients?

My client Bill’s Auto Electric did a cool thing where he gave away free fair tickets when customers received a service in his shop when the fair was in town. He also boosted this social media campaign by enabling an email blast to go out to his existing customers.

Working with your community and local events is not only incredibly cool, it also promotes local consumption which is key for small business owners.

Here’s a great article on marketing ideas to increase word of mouth.

Q: What is your favorite tool to track social media ROI?

I love our Facebook integration within the Marketing Success Platform. Our email retention campaign tracking also makes it a no brainer. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing customer replies, reviews, and increase in followers for my clients. More importantly, having data to support and improve upon their marketing is key. The Marketing Success Platform truly captures marketing ROI. It’s also super easy to use! Perfect for when you’re on the go.

How to Build Trust with Your Auto Repair Website

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 22:50:54 GMT

In today’s digital world, building trust with customers is no easy feat. With Yelp, Google My Business, and other review sites, customers can easily uncover the good, bad, and ugly about your business and customer service in a matter of seconds.

Don’t let this fact intimidate you. Take hold of your online reputation by utilizing your social media and website to enhance customer trust.

Today’s Ask a Kukui’an features our Director of Marketing and Production, Kiley Fasano.

Kiley provides business and emotional support for our enterprise and SMB clients. Whether it’s a website redesign or a re-branding issue, you can trust that she has your back (and website presence).

Q: What is the most common mistake you see in SMB websites?

It is literally the first thing I see: not having a proper call to action at the top of a homepage, or above the fold, before the visitor must scroll. If I have to look for it, you’ve already lost me as a customer.

Phone numbers, even in today’s modern times, is still a major source of leads for any SMB. Customers will email you, sure, but most will call your shop.

I cannot tell you how often business owners overlook this; do not place your phone number on your footer! Nor place it in your About Us. Definitely do not place it in the body text using…12 point font, comic sans.

Here’s a great article on effective call to action.

Q: What is the first thing you revamp to solve this issue?

Whether it be a promotion, special or coupon, or a unique service offered, visitors require something that makes them want to call instantly. Simply adding a unique promotion and image, while mirroring content to social media, has a huge impact on your online presence and ranking.

The first thing I do is incorporate these elements through modern website design, eye-catching graphics, and well-placed call to action and value elements.

For our clients, I strive for impeccably designed website that highlights their branding and converts prospective customers within the first 10 seconds.

Q: What are some of the ways you build trust on your client’s brand new website?

Here at KUKUI, we pride ourselves with being able to provide customers with quality, conversion-optimized websites. We help our clients build their online identity by incorporating elements that not only highlight their branding, but also helps build trust with customers.

Some of the ways we help our clients build trust are through testimonials, visual storytelling, value elements, and user-friendly website design.

If you have great reviews on Yelp, Google+, or any other review sites, you should promote these on your site. Take advantage of digital word of mouth. Clearly displaying your Yelp star rating and how many reviews you have, leads visitors to read your reviews which sparks conversion.

We also recommend adding a personal flair to your site. We urge our clients incorporating unique images of the business and employees. Your community knows who you are, and this shows confidence in serving your area.

Association logos and credentials are also key: logos on your homepage represent brands that visitors trust. For example, ASA, AAA, ASE, HybridShop, etc. These familiar logos demonstrate the value they hold within your business, showing visitors you value their continued business as well.

Q: What is your favorite part of the launch phase?

My favorite part of the launch phase is presenting our web design previews to clients. This gives our clients a chance to see the benefits of having a top converting website. I enjoy educating our business owners on what is best for their online presence, while maintaining the integrity of their brand and reputation.

The Importance of NAP Consistency for Auto Repair Shops

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 22:46:39 GMT

In today’s Ask a Kukui’an, we discuss NAPS. No, not the catching up on sleep kind but the website directory sort. Learn about the importance of NAP consistency below!

Today’s post features Nichole Larson, one of KUKUI’s marketing directors. Nichole works closely with our clients in maintaining their website’s conversion rate. Moreover, Nichole helps our clients in maintaining their presence across the web. As a Kukui marketer, Nichole has first-hand experience in how NAPS Consistency affects our client’s online presence. Whether you’re hoping to track your incoming leads from Yelp or Yellow Pages (YP), it’s essential that your business’ online identity screams confidence.

Q: What is NAP?

Nichole: NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. Your business’ NAP appears in online directories such as Yelp, Google My Business, or Yellow Pages. Your business’ NAP is important because Google and other search engines check to make sure your NAP records are consistent across the web.

Q: How does NAP affect SEO?

Nichole: Search engines are all about confidence. To build confidence, you need to make sure search engines understand who you are and where you are (NAP consistency).

If your local listings don’t match, you are portraying that you don’t know who you are/where you are, therefore losing confidence. Search engines are highly sophisticated so even the slightest variation, such as a missing apostrophe, is detected and noted.

Any inconsistencies can have a negative effect on SEO. For more information, I recommend Moz’s article on Local Search Ranking Factors .

Q: Do my Kukui tracking numbers on my website affect NAP?

Nichole: As someone who works very closely with our client’s websites and conversion, I can honestly say—No. Here at Kukui, our tracking number implementation process is designed to have no effect on NAP and SEO.

We use DNI (Dynamic Number Insertion) to report your tracking numbers to Google and other search engines, while also informing them which is your shop’s main phone number.

Search Engine Journal (SEJ), a known online publication for marketing experts, did a great write up on DNI and SEO. In the article , SEJ highlights that the use of DNI is mainstream and, if used correctly, doesn’t hurt SEO in the slightest bit.

Many corporations, including most dealerships, use tracking numbers. If search engines ever change their stance on tracking numbers, we will too. We will always do what’s best for our clients.

Q: How can I check my NAP consistency?

Nichole: Google your business name and city. Do the names, addresses, and phone numbers match? If not, you will want to get those listings changed.

There are many ways you can go about editing your online NAPs. It’s best to refer to the website’s how-to as most online directories have a specific way of editing these business’ information. Often, you will be required to verify your information and claim the page directory.

Q: Can I track my Google Plus Page?

Nichole: Technically, yes, however, Google Plus (now Google My Business) is indexed for NAP. By tracking your page, you are will no longer have NAP consistency and it may affect your SEO.

Q: How can I fix NAP Consistency?

Nichole: There are companies that can help you change your local listings such as Yext, Moz Local, Bright Local, and more. See how they compare !

Q: Is there any way to check and see if NAP’s are set up properly?

Nichole: Absolutely! One of the easiest ways is to simply Google yourself locally. For our clients, we also utilize our Marketing Success Platform to track conversion. This is the most precise way for us to check a client’s search engine success because of features built in place to track ROI from numerous sources.

Marketing To Your Waiting Room

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 22:41:48 GMT

Shop owners spend a lot of time and money trying to figure out how to grab the attention of potential customers. Yet, they often forget about the one place where they have a captive audience on an almost daily basis - their waiting room. Marketing to your waiting room offers the opportunity to drive additional sales, build your brand and foster long-term relationships.

The truth is, your waiting room already serves as a marketing platform whether you intended it to serve that purpose or not. Customers are making judgments about your operations and quality of service based on the first impression they get when they walk in the door. A tidy, welcoming lobby area staffed by friendly employees provides customers with a sense of comfort and confidence about your service and operation.

But imagine walking into a shop where the coffee looks like it was brewed three days ago, the magazines are strewn all over the furniture (which is torn and tattered) and the employees barely acknowledge you when you approach the front desk. There’s a good chance you might walk right back out the door. If you stayed, you’d probably question whether the lack of attention in the waiting room was reflected in other parts of the operation.

Don’t be that shop. Even if you have a small waiting area or try to limit the time customers are in the waiting area because your emphasis on speed of service, make sure your waiting area is clean, well-organized and that staff greet everyone who enters the shop.

Now, let’s say you want to go a bit further in exploring your waiting room’s potential as a marketing vehicle. If you’re not ready for a full-court press, one easy first step is to use the space to educate customers about who you are and what you value. For example, you might consider posting information about your community involvement – whether in the form of a small banner listing the causes/charities you support or by posting certificates of appreciation or thank you notes you may have received for you sponsorship. It’s also nice to display photos of your team engaged in community service projects. This approach shows customers that you care about the local community and gives them the opportunity to get to know you and your team in a different light.

Along that same vein, highlighting your employees in your waiting room is another way to develop a relationship with your customers and increase loyalty. If you have an employee of the month program, I suggest featuring that employee’s photo and years of service somewhere in your waiting area. This a great way to better familiarize your customers with your staff and establish your shop as one willing to take the time to recognize and reward good work – a fact that should leave customers with the feeling that your employees have more motivation to do a good job.

Another method of creating credibility for your employees- particularly your technicians - is to display certifications or licenses that take a lot of work to achieve or hold special value in the industry. At my family’s service station, we found that seeing these difficult to obtain industry distinctions was an immediate confidence builder for our customers and elevated the trust they had in our services. On the flip side, we also found success by publicly recognizing our customers. We would have a “customer of the month” whose picture was prominently featured in a place where other customers could see it in our waiting area. The program started when I asked a high-profile, regular customer of ours if I could take her photo and display it. Initially, we offered a free oil change or some other discount if a customer “made the wall,” but after awhile, seeing their photos displayed became more important to customers than receiving a discount or perk. We had customers wanting to be a “customer of the month,” and it became a great way to garner buzz and connect our shop to the community.

So far, we’ve discussed marketing approaches for your waiting room that are subtle in nature and really focus on developing brand awareness and long-term relationships for your shop. If you decide you want to use your waiting room to also increase sales, technology can play an integral role.

If you can afford it and have the room, I highly recommend mounting a flat screen in your waiting room to display your marketing messages. Think of your flat screen as a roving billboard that you can easily customize thanks to a slew of user-friendly slide show applications. I suggest developing a 2 minute “slide show” that changes every six to eight weeks and includes a mix of offers, educational information and the occasional personal tidbit (team photos, a call-out to your employee of the month, etc.).

The educational information you feature should spur a dialog between customers and front counter staff. A list of frequently asked questions is a good place to start because it provides a way for you to address questions and include unique features about your shop. Maybe one of your defining characteristics is that you provide a warranty for all your work. That fact alone might lead a customer who delaying some major repairs to book the service with your shop because they know they’re protected if anything goes wrong.

Another option is to tie your messages to seasonal events. Reminding customers about getting an A/C check before summer road trips or winterizing their cars in the fall can serve as strong calls to action. Remember to tailor the information you incorporate into your slide show to your market or specialty. So, if you’re based in a college town your display might include safety tips and maintenance schedules – advice geared for younger, inexperienced drivers. If you’re in a tourist town, you might consider offering guidance about the terrain and tips for driving in weather conditions common to your area.

The offers you include should also be customized for your market or niche. Oil changes are something everyone needs, but if your specialty is tires, then be sure to provide a promotion geared towards that product.

Lastly, don’t forget to inject your presentation with items that help reinforce your brand identity. Posting testimonials from current customers or news about important employee milestones (weddings, significant work anniversaries) or local community events you sponsored helps build allegiance and trust among you and your customers.

Remember that marketing to your waiting room is a relatively inexpensive proposition and if you capture additional sales from one out of every five customers that visit your lobby, that’s a meaningful return for a minimal investment.

KUKUI Sends Two Featured Speakers at NACE/CARS Expo 2015

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 17:40:27 GMT

Automotive expert will offer insight into marketing and customer service

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation CEO Todd Westerlund and President of U.S. Operations Mike Giblin will share their marketing and sales knowledge with attendees of this year’s NACE/CARS Expo and Conference. Held in Detroit from July 21-25, 2015, the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) are the premier events dedicated to the automotive service and repair industries.

Westerlund will speak at 10 a.m. on July 22nd as part of the panel, Alternative Revenue Streams, which will explore new revenue opportunities that make use of a shop’s existing staff and resources. At 1 p.m. on the 22nd, Giblin will present the seminar, “Generation Why,” offering strategies to help shop owners better market to the Millennial generation.

Westerlund and Giblin both have experience working inside shops. Westerlund served as an ASE Certified Smog Technician and Giblin managed his family’s service station for 25 years. The industry leaders understand the challenges shop owners face and spend much of their time helping shop owners improve their marketing efforts and increase sales.

Through its revolutionary software platform, Kukui is able to accommodate all of a service shop’s marketing needs – from website development to social media support to direct mail fulfillment. The company’s product suite includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost sales conversion rates, a simple-to-use Content Management System and customer retention tools such as email service reminders. The platform also offers detailed analytics to help shop owners determine which marketing channels are generating the most business.

Presented by the Automotive Service Association, NACE and CARS are held during Industry Week and co-located with CCIF, CIECA, NABC, MERA, OEM Collision Roundtable, SCRS, CIC, and I-CAR. The event features networking, education & training, world class exhibits and dedicated professionals from across the automotive service & repair industries.

KUKUI Partners with Institute for Automotive Business Excellence

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 17:38:33 GMT

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation has formed an alliance with the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence, a provider of business education for the automotive repair industry. Kukui, which makes marketing software for repair shop owners, will work with the Institute’s clients to help them gain better insight into the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.

Under the alliance, Kukui will offer the Institute’s clients one-month free access to its revolutionary software platform, which provides detailed data on how well a shop’s marketing channels are performing. The company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost leads and conversion rates; a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders.

“Kukui has been providing outstanding services to our clients nationwide and in Canada for over three years and has been producing a product that supersedes the competition every time,” said Shari Pheasant, Chief Operating Officer of the Institute. "Their website design, product implementation, dedication to quality and ongoing customer deliverables are unmatched.”

The Institute’s mission is to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of business education for the auto repair industry. The coaching company offers live classes, webinars, virtual forums and an online library filled with hundreds of documents to help shop owners develop an array of business systems and processes. The Institute also provides individual consulting and a free business analysis so shop owners can determine where to best concentrate their management efforts.

Kukui’s headquarters have served as the site for the Institute’s training courses in the past and the company will continue to host classes in the future.

“The Institute is made up of skilled coaches who know how to quickly assess a shop’s weaknesses and offer solid advice to get an owner on track and profitable,” said Mike Giblin, President of Kukui’s U.S. Operations. “We’re thrilled to be working with industry veterans.”

KUKUI Appoints Mike Giblin to President of U.S. Operations

Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:33:36 GMT

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has appointed Mike Giblin President of the company’s U.S. Operations. An automotive industry veteran, Giblin joined Kukui as a vice president of business development and previously served as vice president of U.S. Operations.

In his new role, Giblin will work with shop owners to ensure that the Kukui platform meets their marketing needs and will continue to build alliances with management coaches and industry associations. The appointment also improves Kukui’s management structure, allowing CEO Todd Westerlund to focus on setting the company’s strategy and vision.

“Mike is the perfect person to lead our efforts to build relationships in the automotive repair industry,” said Westerlund. “As a former shop owner, Mike brings unparalleled insight to Kukui and is keenly aware of what our clients need to achieve their goals.”

An ASE-master certified technician, Giblin spent the first 25 years of his career operating his family’s service station, Giblin’s Chevron. He has used his sales and management experience throughout his career, including serving as a senior account executive for Rewards Network, a dining rewards program. Giblin was also as a senior account executive for AT&T, selling a variety of advertising to small business markets, including automotive repair shops.

A sought after industry speaker, Giblin attended Santa Clara University. He is a featured speaker at the Automotive Service Councils of California’s Summer Conference in June 2015.

Using Google Business View to Attract New Auto Shop Customers

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 20:06:33 GMT

This simple Google tool can help show off your shop and attract new customers

"Clean, comfortable shops are a stark contrast to the grimy floors, cramped waiting areas and loud surroundings that come with the traditional perception of the auto service industry. For those looking to proudly show off their plush environs and professional repair facilities, a new feature from Google provides shops a low-cost way to give prospective customers a free tour—while also improving search engine rankings."

Read more at: http://www.ratchetandwrench.com

Auto Industry Vet Greg Buckley Keynote Speaker at Think Kukui Trade Show

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 18:31:44 GMT

Event will also feature industry awards in more than a dozen categories

San Jose, CA – Greg Buckley, a more than 40-year veteran of the automotive repair industry, will keynote the 2015 Think Kukui Trade Show, presented by Kukui Corp. Buckley is owner of Buckley’s Auto Care in Wilmington, Delaware and also helped develop the Virtual Service Advisor program, which helps automate the service writing process. An advocate of using technology to grow business, Buckley will discuss technology trends that will impact repair shops in the future.

“Greg is a pioneer who is always on the hunt for new tools to improve operations and increase sales. He has tremendous foresight and is well acquainted with the challenges shop owners face daily,” said Todd Westerlund, President and CEO of Kukui Corp.

The Think Kukui Trade Show will be held January 16-17, 2015 at the San Jose Airport Doubletree by Hilton Hotel San Jose and will feature a wide spectrum of exhibitors as well as educational seminars presented by the leading management coaches. The event also offers the opportunity to network with fellow shop owners and learn more about new services and products from a range of exhibitors.

Kukui, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, will also showcase its revolutionary Success Platform and give its clients the chance to connect one-on-one with their individual marketing directors to discuss marketing challenges.

Buckley, who will share his insight with attendees at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 17th, grew up in the automotive repair business and remembers waiting on his first customer at the age of eight and mastering an oil change by 10. He serves on the NAPA AutoCare National Advisory Council and is also a trainer for the Automotive Training Institute.

In addition to Buckley, this year’s speakers also include: Cecil Bullard, owner of the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence; Matt Winslow, Director of Speakers and Content for the Automotive Training Institute; Maylan Newton, CEO of Educational Seminars Institute and Bill Haas, an automotive coach with the Institute; and Dave Schedin, founder of CompuTrek Automotive Consulting and Jude Larson, a partner and trainer with the company.

The trade show will also include the annual Kukui Industry Awards, which recognize repair shops in 13 categories. Awards include: Superior Customer Service, Hybrid Shop of the Year, Female Shop Owner of the Year, Coach of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year and Shop of the Year.

To RSVP for this unique event, contact Christina Solorzano, Kukui’s Director of Marketing and Communications, 877-912-7448 or Christina@Kukui.com

The deadline for registrations is January 5, 2015.

More information about the trade show an also be found at: www.kukuitradeshow.com

KUKUI Sales & Marketing Dashboard Featured in Parts & People Magazine

administrator@kukui.com (KUKUI Administrator) — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 20:04:38 GMT

"Integration of marketing and management programs is key to Kukui’s simple all-in-one success platform. “Everything is measured,” Kukui Vice President of U.S. Operations Mike Giblin said. “From the time they hit enter to find a shop online until you drop the keys in their hand, everything is measured.”

Read more at: http://www.partsandpeople.com/

KUKUI Announces New HQ, Expanded Staff, More Customers

Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:29:58 GMT

New location offers more space for growth, easy access to hotels, airport

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has moved into new offices to accommodate employee growth. The new headquarters are located in the heart of Silicon Valley at 2077 Gateway Place, San Jose, CA, near the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport and area hotels.

At xxx square feet, the new location is nearly double Kukui’s previous headquarters and offers capacity for as many as 100 employees. The office’s easy access to the airport and hotels will also make it easier for the company to host its annual trade show, which attracts automobile repair shop owners from around the country.

“This new office really represents the next step in Kukui’s evolution as a company. The location makes it possible for us to hire the staff we need to serve our growing client base and provides us with the capacity to become a valuable resource for the automotive service industry,” said Todd Westerlund, Kukui President and CEO.

In addition, each of Kukui’s clients is assigned a marketing success coordinator who provides technical support, project coordination and designs individualized market campaigns.

KUKUI 3.0 Launches With Additional Features & Data Tracking

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 17:27:55 GMT

Kukui 3.0 provides new metrics to evaluate operational success

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has unveiled an upgrade for its marketing software platform. The newest version of the platform, Kukui 3.0, adds a number of new metrics, giving automotive repair shop owners the ability to analyze not only their marketing efforts but their operational performance as well.

Through Kukui 3.0, shop owners are now able to monitor vehicle counts, customer counts, parts revenue and the average time spent per job. The metrics will automatically appear in a customer’s dashboard and are measured against pre-determined benchmarks, giving shop owners an accurate view of how well their employees are serving customers and meeting sales goals.

“Our last update focused on the service writers and their ability to convert marketing dollars into paying clients. This new version makes sure that technicians are performing based on the benchmarks set by the shop,” said Kukui President and CEO Todd Westerlund. “This is the next piece of evolution for the Kukui platform.”

The new features were developed based on feedback from Kukui customers who wanted to be able to track customer and car counts and parts revenue alongside more marketing-oriented metrics. The company is continually gathering information from clients in order to improve the platform and make it a comprehensive tool that will help shops grow sales.

Launched in 2011, the Kukui platform is able to accommodate all of a service shop’s marketing needs – from website development to social media support to direct mail fulfillment. The company’s product suite includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost sales conversion rates, a simple-to-use Content Management System and customer retention tools such as email service reminders. The platform also offers detailed analytics to help shop owners determine which marketing channels are generating the most business.

Kukui CEO Offers Auto Shop Marketing Insight at 2014 Mudstock Training Summit

Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:26:04 GMT

San Jose, CA – Todd Westerlund, President and CEO of Kukui Corporation, will speak at the 2014 Mudstock Training Summit, slated for September 3-5, 2014 in Adairsville, GA. Westerlund, an automotive industry veteran, will discuss how to achieve auto repair marketing success.

Presented by Mudlick Mail, a provider of direct mail services for the automotive repair industry, Mudstock 2014 is an interactive training event designed for independent automotive shop owners and owner-operators. The event aims to help shop owners grow their businesses with practical tools and how-to knowledge to produce results.

Westerlund and Mudlick President Tim Ross will share marketing strategies on designed to maximize car count and profitability. Discussion points include: tracking marketing expenditures and return on investment; avoiding common marketing mistakes and developing a marketing plan based on business cycles to sustain profitability. Westerlund will also share news about the latest version of Kukui’s proprietary marketing platform.

“I am thrilled to be teaming with Tim to offer shop owners key insight into how to improve their marketing efforts and weed out tactics that aren’t producing tangible results,” said Westerlund.

A former ASE-certified technician, Westerlund has spent the bulk of his career helping to fuel sales for the automotive industry. His experience spans everything from repairing cars to teaching repair shop owners how to market through social media. Before joining Kukui, Todd served as vice president of sales for Shop Management Services, an exclusive distributor of the R.O. Writer automotive shop management software system.

Westerlund joined Kukui, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, in 2013 as Chief Strategist. Through its revolutionary software platform, Kukui is able to accommodate all of a service shop’s marketing needs – from website development to social media support to direct mail fulfillment. The company’s product suite includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost sales conversion rates, a simple-to-use Content Management System and customer retention tools such as email service reminders. The platform also offers detailed analytics to help shop owners determine which marketing channels are generating the most business.

KUKUI Helps Tire Shops Market to Customers with Tire Module Add-on

Tue, 05 Aug 2014 18:32:39 GMT

New feature allows Kukui clients to market tire sales and services online

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has added a new tire module to its success platform. The tire module will enable Kukui clients who sell tires, to market their products and services online. The online component easily integrates into a tire retailer or automotive repair center’s website and guides consumers through the tire purchasing process.

For example, through the tire module, consumers can seamlessly browse a shop’s tire inventory, obtain pricing by size or by the year, make and model of their vehicle, view rebates and schedule service appointments. The new module also offers the ability to check suppliers’ inventory in real time and includes an email marketing feature with simple campaign creation and management elements.

According to Dealer Plus, a software developer catering to the retail tire industry an retail tire resource, 68 percent of all tire sales start with an online search. Only 17 percent of replacement tires are sold through new car dealerships, leading many traditional auto repair shops and other retailers to expand their services to include tire sales.

“Over the history of the automotive industry, shops have been fragmented into different specialties: transmission, auto body, tires, mufflers, etc. Now we’re moving into a trend where shops are beginning to do it all,” said Kukui President and CEO Todd Westerlund. “We researched the tire industry and found growing demand for a fully-functioning tire module.”

The company is continually upgrading its platform to offer new features that will help clients grow sales.

“We believe this new module allows us to serve our clients better and establishes Kukui as a leader in the marketing software solutions space,” added Westerlund.

KUKUI Featured in Auto INC.: Social Media Tips for Auto Shop Owners

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 18:30:01 GMT

#TakeThePlunge into Social Media!

“Picture your business as a party. Now picture a party where no one is talking. Social media is the method you use to communicate to your guests. Your customers are online and this is their biggest form of communication most of the time. Through social media, your facility gets to set the first impression, establish your reputation and showcase how valuable that is to your following.”

KUKUI President Feature Q&A in Motor Age Magazine

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:22:26 GMT

Q+A With Todd Westerlund

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KUKUI Partners with Commercial Lender, Fundation Group LLC

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 18:16:59 GMT

Technology firm and online lender will develop programs to help automotive repair shops grow sales, expand operations

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has formed a partnership with Fundation Group LLC, a direct online commercial lender. Kukui and Fundation will join forces to develop programs that will combine both their services, allowing shop owners to gain valuable marketing insight to increase sales and access to capital for expansion.

Kukui’s success platform provides detailed data on how much business a shop owner’s marketing channels are generating. The company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost sales conversion rates, a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system, and customer retention tools such as email service reminders.

Those tools allow shop owners to more effectively market their businesses and increase sales to the point where some need to expand to keep pace with the growth.

“This could mean adding technicians, a new lift, or even a shop management upgrade,” said Kukui President and CEO Todd Westerlund. “We know shops often need financial assistance to cover these types of expenses, so we searched the nation for a funding company that has strict morals and a great culture that matches Kukui’s. We found that Fundation was the best fit.”

Fundation offers its business owners a simple, efficient and transparent borrowing experience. Credit-worthy borrowers can receive fixed-rate term loans of up to $500,000 through a simple process that takes 10 minutes to apply online and as little as three days to be funded. Fundation’s product was specifically designed to serve as an alternative to scarcely available bank loans and high-rate, short duration working capital products available through other non-bank lenders.

Working together, Kukui and Fundation will be able to offer unique promotional packages that will provide shop owners with a one-stop shop – giving repair centers access to vital marketing and financial support.

"Fundation looks to partner with companies that have a positive impact on the financial performance and overall growth of the businesses they work with. Kukui perfectly embodies that principle. The shops that utilize their software platform are primed to excel,” said Doug Gordon, Fundation’s Co-Founder and Head of Business Development. “Adding our financing product to Kukui’s offerings will further support the growth and stability of these businesses by enabling them to capitalize on the many opportunities that come their way.

About Fundation

Fundation owns and operates a highly advanced and proprietary technology and operational platform designed to meet the financing needs of the small balance commercial loan market. Fundation seeks to finance established commercial borrowers across the United States. The company was founded in 2011.

For more information about Fundation, visit www.fundation.com

KUKUI Featured in MotorAge's "Best of the Blogs"

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 18:13:17 GMT

June 2014 BEST OF THE BLOGS

"BEST OF THE BLOGS are articles written by bloggers on Motor Age’s Community pages"

KUKUI Featured in Parts & People Magazine

Sat, 31 May 2014 18:10:34 GMT

"The 12th annual Peggy Sue’s All-American Cruise will take place June 12-15, in Santa Rosa at A Place to Play Park. Registration is open through June 8 for cars, motorcycles, and vintage trailers."

Read more at: http://www.partsandpeople.com

Kukui Corporation Promotes Mike Giblin To Vice President Of U.S. Operations

Tue, 06 May 2014 18:08:52 GMT

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair and dental industries, has appointed Mike Giblin Vice President of the company’s U.S. Operations. An automotive industry veteran, Giblin formerly served as Kukui’s Vice President of Business Development, educating repair shop owners about Kukui’s Success Platform.

While Giblin will continue to update the industry on Kukui’s innovations, in his new position, he will also organize the management and development of sales channels and partnerships, provide strategic planning, anticipate industry changes and track client retention and education.

Before joining Kukui in 2012, Giblin served as a senior account executive for Rewards Network, which offers dining rewards programs for restaurants and in partnership with major airline frequent flyer programs. Giblin also worked as a senior account executive for AT&T, selling a variety of advertising to small business markets, including automotive repair shops. An ASE-master certified technician, he spent the first 25 years of his career operating his family’s service station, Giblin’s Chevron.

“Mike’s automotive industry experience has helped Kukui expand its reach in the automotive repair market. He understands the challenges shop owners face and is able to explain how our platform can help them market more effectively and better evaluate the return on their marketing expenditures,” said Kukui President and CEO Todd Westerlund.

Giblin attended Santa Clara University and serves on the board of the Baymonte Christian School in Scotts Valley, CA and was also a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America.

KUKUI Launches Postcard Service Reminder Program for Auto Repair Shops

Tue, 22 Apr 2014 18:05:15 GMT

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has enhanced its Success Platform to allow users to create their own marketing postcards with a click of a button. Kukui clients can use the cards to send special offers and appointment reminders to existing customers, helping them improve customer loyalty and retention.

Developed in-house by Kukui’s team of programmers and designers, the new postcard feature is fully integrated into the company’s platform and enables automotive repair shop owners to easily design custom-branded postcards, featuring photos of their shops and tailored to their customers.

“Direct mail as a marketing tool has made a huge comeback,” said Kukui President and CEO Todd Westerlund. “This is the one piece of the platform that was missing and the one that allows us to offer clients a comprehensive marketing package.”

Since Kukui integrates with a shop owner’s shop management system, the company can easily access the shop’s customer database, obtain addresses and send the postcards. The new postcard component will cost Kukui platform users 69 cents per card.

Kukui’s revolutionary software platform provides an array of features to help shop owners market effectively – from clean website designs optimized to boost conversion rates to landing pages maximized for SEO to a robust customer relationship management system. The platform also includes detailed analytics to gauge whether the client’s marketing channels are generating revenue.

Kukui Corporation Appoints Christina Solorzano Director of Marketing and Communications

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:02:01 GMT

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair and dental industries, has appointed Christina Solorzano Director of Marketing and Communications. Solorzano joined Kukui in April 2013 and most recently served as the company’s Client Success Coordinator.

In her new role, Solorzano will oversee all of Kukui’s marketing programs, including advertising campaigns, public relations, social media, event coordination and collateral production. Solorzano will also handle internal communications and create the company’s media strategy.

“Christina is a dynamic self-starter, who has proven to be a valuable asset to the Kukui team. She will take Kukui’s marketing efforts to the next level and expand the company’s visibility,” said Todd Westerlund, Kukui’s President of U.S. Operations.

Solorzano’s previous marketing experience includes working with clients at Dwight, Bentel and Hall Communications and establishing the Teen Arts Army program at the Arts Council of Silicon Valley. She earned a degree in public relations from San Jose State University.

Kukui CEO Instructs at Automotive Training Institute Expo

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 19:03:59 GMT

Automotive expert will offer insight into marketing and customer service

San Jose, CA – Todd Westerlund, president and CEO of Kukui Corporation, will serve as a trainer for the Automotive Training Institute Expo March 21-23, 2014 in Seattle. Westerlund, a 27-year-veteran of the automotive industry, will present two seminars: “If You Had Modern Marketing, You Would Have No Competition!” and “Building the Best Consumer Experience.” Both presentations are part of the expo’s management training track.

“I’m honored to be selected as a trainer for this year’s expo and look forward to helping shop owners improve key areas of their business that can have a significant impact on sales,” said Westerlund.

The West Coast’s largest training conference and expo, ATE features some of the best trainers in the industry, offering both management and training expertise. The event also features prominent keynote speakers, a wide range of exhibitors from all facets of the automotive industry and hands-on product demos of the latest, cutting-edge technologies. ATE offers a great opportunity for industry professionals to network and learn more about tackling the business challenges they face daily.

A sought-after speaker, Westerlund is constantly studying industry trends, attending automotive courses, and consulting with shops all over the United States. He spent 15 years as an ASE-Certified Smog Technician at a shop in San Ramon, CA. Before joining Kukui, Westerlund served as vice president of sales for Shop Management Services, a distributor of the R.O. Writer shop management software system for repair centers. He also spent four years as a regional manager at Demandforce, where he expanded the company’s automotive division. Westerlund’s automotive experience also includes serving in sales management positions at Diamond Certified, (a rating service for high-quality companies) and managing Internet sales at an automotive dealership.

Kukui Corp., which develops marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, will also serve as an exhibitor at the Expo.

KUKUI Partners with Virtual Service Advisor to Improve Auto Shop Customer Insights

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 18:54:48 GMT

Kukui Corporation , a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, is teaming with Virtual Service Advisor , a new customer communication program. The program can be seamlessly integrated with Kukui’s revolutionary marketing platform, equipping automotive repair shop owners with new knowledge about their customers and where they’re coming from.

“The amazing team at Kukui has created an award-winning technology platform that will allow Virtual Service Advisor to thrive and will greatly benefit shops that desire additional sales, better profits and unique purchasing insight from their service clients,” said Greg Buckley, developer of the Virtual Service Advisor program and owner of Buckley’s Auto Care in Wilmington, Delaware.

“The combination of Kukui and the Virtual Service Advisor system now offers the shop owner a true view of the service client's path throughout the marketing and sales funnel.”

The Virtual Service Advisor features custom-made, pre-appointment interview forms that are sent to customers in advance, allowing them to offer additional information about their service needs without feeling rushed at a service counter. Having this information helps shops process tickets faster and sell more service without saying a word.

“The Virtual Service Advisor is something every business can use. We chose to partner with the program because after our extensive research, the data showed that at a minimum, every shop on Virtual Service Advisor pre-sold 15 percent more parts and services before the consumer got to the shop,” said Todd Westerlund, president of Kukui’s U.S. operations.

Under the partnership, Kukui customers will be able to sign up for the Virtual Service Advisor at a 30 percent discount. The price includes custom forms, headers and full analytic integration into the Kukui portal.

Kukui provides detailed data on how much business a shop owner’s marketing channels are generating. The company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost sales conversion rates, a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders.

Kukui will also be offering to waive design fees (a $999 value) for Virtual Service Advisor clients who want to subscribe to the Kukui platform.

KUKUI Corporation Hosts First Auto Shop Industry Trade Show

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 18:53:29 GMT

Kukui Corporation , a developer of marketing software solutions, will host its first trade show for the automotive repair industry February 21-22, 2014. The event will be held at Kukui’s San Jose headquarters and will feature a wide spectrum of exhibitors as well as educational seminars presented by the industry’s leading experts.

“Through our interactions with our clients, we’ve discovered that many shop owners are hungry for the opportunity to network with each other and learn more about how to tackle the business challenges they face daily,” said Todd Westerlund, president of U.S. Operations for Kukui Corp. “We hope this inaugural show will help satisfy that need.”

Kukui’s Trade Show includes a slate of high-profile speakers, including: Maylan Newton, CEO of Educational Seminars Institute, Scooter Owens, Director of Sales for RO Writer, Jim Silverman, National Account Manager for the Automotive Training Institute and Greg Sands, owner of more than 30 automotive repair shops and CEO of Mudlick Mail. The event will feature seminars tackling such topics as leadership, marketing, technology and debt alternatives.

The trade show will also include the second annual Kukui Industry Awards, which recognize repair shops in a variety of categories. Awards include: Superior Customer Service, Hybrid Shop of the Year, Technician of the Year, Service Writer of the Year and Shop of the Year.

To RSVP for this unique event, contact Christina Solorzano, Kukui’s Director of Marketing and Communications, 877-912-7448 or Christina(at)Kukui(dot)com

More information about the trade show an also be found at: https://www.facebook.com/events/577759552292488/ .

KUKUI Partners with ClearMechanic DVI Platform

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 17:12:54 GMT

Kukui Corporation , a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, is joining forces with ClearMechanic , an inspection software program enabling repair shops to “visually sell” repairs with photos and videos. Kukui and ClearMechanic will market their combined technologies to help repair shops and service centers attract new customers and increase sales.

“Every independent service center and franchise auto dealer is seeking new customers. ClearMechanic and Kukui provide the technologies and platforms to help repair shop owners combat customer skepticism and distrust and equip consumers with the ability to make informed decisions regarding automotive repair,” said Ken Hite, ClearMechanic Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Kukui’s revolutionary software platform provides detailed data on how much business a shop owner’s marketing channels are generating. By partnering with ClearMechanic, Kukui will provide its customers with another option to include in their marketing toolkits. ClearMechanic’s applications enable service technicians to perform vehicle inspections from smartphones and tablets and instantly share inspection photos, video and diagrams, offering visual proof of repairs. Inspection findings, including photos and videos, are stored permanently for follow-up marketing.

Kukui clients who tested ClearMechanic experienced customer pay increases of up to $1,800 in a single day.

“We decided to send one customer pictures through ClearMechanic and afterward, she raved about how she enjoyed looking at the pictures and reading the descriptions. Because she was better informed and could visually see what was going on, she agreed to do additional work,” said new ClearMechanic user and Kukui client Becki McGinnis, of Autovantage Service Center in Auburn, Calif.

Kukui’s clients can opt into the ClearMechanic program and Kukui will integrate its platform with the app and other services. If a Kukui client chooses to use ClearMechanic, Kukui can create a gallery and library landing page on the shop owner’s website to showcase a visual history of previous repairs and inspections for customers. The use of such visuals can also help shop owners improve the SEO of their sites.

“Kukui’s integration with ClearMechanic is truly groundbreaking,” said Todd Westerlund, Kukui’s Chief Strategist. “Everyone is using enhanced technology such as cell phone applications to receive visual recommended services. ClearMechanic does just that for our clients.”

About Kukui

About ClearMechanic

ClearMechanic is the most popular smartphone app for automotive technicians in the United States. The company has more than10,000 registered technician users and has delivered $50 million of service recommendations. Because of the application’s affordability and ease of use, ClearMechanic has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Automotive News and Consumer Reports.

KUKUI Partners with Master Repair Auto Shop Software

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:11:22 GMT

Kukui Corporation , a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, is joining forces with Master Repair , a leading provider of auto shop management software. Through their partnership, Kukui and Master Repair will offer auto shop clients a fully integrated software package capable of addressing their management and marketing needs.

“We’re proud to partner with the developer of such a high-caliber shop management system,” said Todd Westerlund, president of U.S. operations for Kukui. “By working together, we can provide our customers with a powerful, user-friendly package that will improve efficiency, increase productivity and boost sales.”

While Master Repair’s software tools handle management, administration and accounting functions for repair shops of all sizes, Kukui’s revolutionary software platform provides detailed data on how much business a shop owner’s marketing channels are generating. The company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost sales conversion rates, a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders.

By integrating Master Repair into its platform, Kukui can offer a package that will not only provide key marketing insight, but also manage everything from invoicing to inventory. Kukui is offering Master Repair customers a free month of access to its marketing suite as part of its alliance with the company.

The close proximity of Kukui’s and Master Repair’s headquarters (both are based in Northern California), make it easy for the partners to brainstorm and develop the best solutions for mutual and potential clients.

“Because of our long history in the business, we are very selective about the companies we choose to align ourselves with. The Kukui team has gone out of its way to build trust with our entire company,” said Don Romeka, Master Repair CEO.

About Kukui

About Master Repair

For three decades, Master Repair has been the go-to software for shop owners of all kinds. The company’s Master Repair 8000 Auto Shop Management Software gives every repair facility the advantage of managing, controlling and tracking every aspect of their business. Master Repair provides an unparalleled product with import/export connections to all of the best of breed applications and tools, allowing easy implementation with scalability.

KUKUI Partners with Educational Seminar Institute (ESi)

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 16:08:56 GMT

Automotive expert will offer insight into marketing and customer service

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has formed a partnership with Educational Seminars Institute (ESi), which provides coaching for the automotive repair industry. The partnership will equip ESi’s repair shop clients with the ability to gain better insight into the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.

Through the alliance, Kukui will offer ESi clients one-month free access to its revolutionary software platform, which provides detailed data on how much business a shop owner’s marketing channels are generating. The company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost sales conversion rates; a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders.

“Kukui makes tracking your marketing dollars easy! That’s what ESi loves about this program, all of your marketing results in one place, in dollars and cents comparisons,” said ESi CEO Maylan Newton.

For nearly three decades, ESI has provided independent repair shops with full-facility training for their management teams and front-line personnel. All of ESI’s training programs target development strategies that fine-tune and produce professional skills in automotive business owners and their employees.

With their vast experience, ESI’s trainers will be able to help repair centers make the most of Kukui’s powerful platform. If Kukui’s platform reveals that a shop’s leads aren’t turning into sales, ESI can provide guidance on improving customer service skills or offer suggestions to promote stronger conversion rates.

“We look forward to Kukui helping our clients achieve greater success,” added Newton. “The combination of great coaching and education with specific traceable results will create the repair shop of the future.”

ESi clients will enjoy full Kukui Platform features, including:

Automated ROI Tracking for a variety of marketing sources
Google Marketing and Optimization
Unlimited Optimized Landing Pages
Automated Emails Prompts, encouraging customers to post positive reviews
Yelp Consulting to help shop owners improve customer reviews
Call Recording to provide shop operators with information about how front desk personnel are handling potential leads
A Dedicated Marketing Consultant
Text and Email Maintenance and Appointment Reminders
Complete Marketing Dashboard with Multi-Shop support, providing clients with a clear picture of their shop’s health.

“We believe this partnership will expand opportunities for repair shop owners, giving them the information and professional training they need to take their businesses to the next level,” said Todd Westerlund, Kukui’s Chief Strategist.

About ESi

Established 27 years ago, ESi is run by automotive professionals that have spent most of their professional lives in the automotive industry. ESi has been responsible for creating several innovative training programs throughout its long history, including: Professional Business Development, Advanced Professional Business Development, Service Writers School of America and In Shop Training and Support.

For more information about ESi, visit www.esiseminars.com/

KUKUI Offers Platform Solutions for Dental Offices

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 16:05:58 GMT

Kukui Corporation, a leader in delivering marketing and analytics software, is proud to introduce their Dental Division. Due to increased demand from the dental industry, Kukui is excited to have an entire division dedicated strictly to dental practices.

Kukui offers an innovative software platform that provides dental practice’s with unique insight into how much business their marketing channels are generating. The company’s platform provides a fully integrated marketing, communications and analytics platform as a subscription service to the dental industry.

“We believe that knowledge is power and our system equips practice owners with the power they need to make smart decisions about how to better manage their marketing campaigns,” said Kukui CEO, Ryan Wilmot.

Kukui’s dental clients will enjoy platform features including:

• Automated ROI Tracking for a variety of marketing sources
• Google Marketing and Optimization
• Unlimited Optimized Landing Pages
• Yelp Consulting to help dental practice’s improve customer reviews
• Call Recording to provide practice owners with information about how front desk personnel are handling potential leads
• A Dedicated Marketing Consultant
• Email and Text Maintenance and Appointment Reminders
• Complete Marketing Dashboard with Multi-Location support, providing clients with a clear picture of their practice’s health.

Kukui’s “smart” landing pages have helped practice owners double their customer conversion rates, producing more customers for less cost.

“After working in the dental industry for over 24 years, Kukui’s platform will be a great asset and meet the marketing needs for all dental practices,” said Tracey Chan, National Sales Manager for Kukui’s Dental Division.

Kukui is proud to have a division dedicated to the dental industry. With Tracey Chan as the leader, Kukui is confident that they will continue growing at a rapid pace.

Kukui Corporation Welcomes Tracey Chan

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 15:55:32 GMT

Kukui Corporation, a provider of marketing software solutions, has announced their presence in the dental industry. Kukui is very excited about their introduction to the dental industry and their addition to the sales team, dental professional Tracey Chan.

Kukui offers an innovative software platform that provides dental practices with unique insight into how much business their marketing channels are generating. The company’s platform provides a fully integrated marketing, communications and analytics platform as a subscription service to the dental industry. The company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost conversion rates; a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with an office’s Practice Management Software system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders and postcards.

Tracey Chan has more than twenty four years of sales and consulting experience in the dental industry. With Chan’s experience, Kukui will continue to grow as a leader in marketing technology.

"I am thrilled to be a part of Kukui's launch into the dental industry with their Software as a Service platform,” said Tracey Chan, National Sales Manager for Kukui’s Dental Division, “after working in the dental industry for over 24 years, this platform will definitely be a great asset and meet the marketing needs for all Dental practices. I am very excited to be working with such an innovative company right in the heart of Silicon Valley, and with such a great team of individuals that make up the Kukui Corporation."

Chan’s leadership and knowledge will strategically help Kukui increase their visibility in the dental industry. Kukui is honored to have Tracey Chan as the National Sales Manager for their dental division.

KUKUI Partners with Direct Mail Provider Mudlick Mall

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:53:38 GMT

Kukui Corporation , a provider of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has formed a partnership with direct mail leader, Mudlick Mail . The partnership will help Mudlick’s automotive repair shop customers maximize the effectiveness of their direct mail campaigns and overall marketing efforts.

Kukui offers a revolutionary software platform that provides shop owners with unique insight into how much business their marketing channels are generating. The company’s product suite also includes smart web pages that are optimized to boost conversion rates; a simple-to-use Content Management System that is integrated with a shop’s Point-of-Sale system and customer retention tools such as email service reminders.

“We believe that knowledge is power and our system equips shop owners with the power they need to make smart decisions about how to better manage their marketing campaigns,” said Kukui CEO, Ryan Wilmot.

Under the agreement, Kukui will offer Mudlick Mail customers a free month of access to its platform as well as enhanced tracking to determine the return on the investment in their direct mail campaigns. Mudlick Mail’s clients will enjoy full Kukui Platform features, including:

Automated ROI Tracking for a variety of marketing sources
Google Marketing and Optimization
Unlimited Optimized Landing Pages
Yelp Consulting to help shop owners improve customer reviews
Call Recording to provide shop operators with information about how front desk personnel are handling potential leads
A Dedicated Marketing Consultant
Text and Email Maintenance and Appointment Reminders
Complete Marketing Dashboard with Multi-Shop support, providing clients with a clear picture of their shop’s health.

Kukui’s “smart” landing pages have helped shop owners double their customer conversion rates, producing more customers for less cost.

“We are proud to join forces with a company that is offering cutting-edge technology sure to enhance our direct mail services,” said Mudlick Mail President Tim Ross. “Kukui can provide shop owners with the data they need to improve their marketing strategies and increase sales.”

Through the partnership, Mudlick will offer exclusive direct mail packaging and pricing for Kukui customers. The company will also provide free access to its learning center, which offers webinars, training videos and other resources designed to help auto repair shop owners make the most of their advertising programs.

About Kukui

With a rich history in information technology, Kukui provides businesses a custom marketing platform that integrates with each organization’s Point of Sale (POS) system. This empowers each of Kukui’s clients with quantitative data showing their return on investment, the number of new clients based on their POS system, statistics revealing their customer retention rate, and areas to improve their business through the tracking of phone calls, appointment forms, and feedback from customer reviews.

About Mudlick Mail

Mudlick Mail’s direct mail campaigns are developed using in-depth market research, allowing shop owners to focus on customers by income, geographic area and even vehicle make. Once a shop has identified its target market, Mudlick Mail provides a package of direct mail services to reach customers, including postcard design, printing, listing services, postage and delivery for one flat fee. A company on the rise, Mudlick Mail posted a 37 percent increase in revenue in 2012, the fourth consecutive year of sales growth. Mudlick Mail counts more than 800 customers in the United States and Canada.

For more information about Kukui, visit http://www.kukui.com . For more information about Mudlick Mail visit: http://www.mudlickmail.com .

KUKUI Partners with ProfitBoost Point-of-Sale

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:34:15 GMT

- Alliance will allow Kukui to integrate its marketing platform with ProfitBoost’s Point-of-Sale System -

San Jose, CA – Kukui Corporation, a developer of marketing software solutions for the automotive repair industry, has formed a partnership with ProfitBoost, a producer of automotive repair shop management software. Kukui has integrated its unique platform with ProfitBoost’s Point-of-Sale system, allowing clients to track the full customer lifecycle – from inquiry to purchase.

“We have many clients who use ProfitBoost’s Point-of-Sale system and were eager to combine our platform into their program, so they could better manage their shops and evaluate their marketing efforts all in one place,” said Kukui President and CEO Todd Westerlund.

ProfitBoost’s web-based software, PIFPro, is designed by shop owners for shop owners and handles a wide range of tasks, from allowing customers to make online appointments by syncing with a shop’s website to enabling credit card payments. PIFPro can also connect across multiple locations, allowing separate shops to share customer, vehicle, parts, jobs and inventory data.

Kukui’s revolutionary software platform provides detailed information on how effective a shop owner’s marketing channels are at generating business. By integrating with PIFPro, Kukui clients will be able to view analytic reports about where a customer originated and how much they eventually spent at a specific shop.

“I can't imagine running M Service, Inc. today without these two partners,” said Dante Paulazzo, owner of the Walnut Creek, CA-based automotive repair shop, M Service, Inc. “I have up-to-date and accurate reporting of my business, my employees, and all my marketing. This partnership brings two of the best systems together."

As part of the partnership, Kukui will offer a special marketing program to ProfitBoost clients that subscribe to its marketing platform. The company’s Marketing Suite offers clean, powerful website designs, optimized to boost conversion rates as well as search engine rankings. A simple-to-use Content Management System is included with every website.

About ProfitBoost

Industry leader ProfitBoost developed PIFPro, a state of the art, innovative web-based repair order writing, business management software solution, in 2001. The company is composed of a team of automotive shop owners, software programmers and sales and support personnel, dedicated to providing the most current, beneficial tools to help shop owners run their businesses efficiently and profitably. ProfitBoost offers three software packages and various features and options, so that shop owners can tailor their software to clients’ needs, with the ability to add or subtract features and options at any time.

For more information about ProfitBoost, visit www.profitboost.com

KUKUI

5 AI Prompts That Actually Help Your Shop

The right tools for the right job.

1. Evaluate a Service Page

2. Draft Review Responses

3. Brainstorm a Seasonal Promotion

4. Declined-Service Follow-Up Call Script

5. Create Google Business Profile Posts

The Pattern

What’s Next

Give Them a Reason

My Rewards - Give Customers a Reason to Return

Why Loyalty Programs Work

Built Specifically for Repair Shops

Early Feedback from Shops

Don’t Let Customer Loyalty Go Unrewarded

KUKUI Launches AI Education Initiative

KUKUI Launches Education Initiative to Help Shop Owners Use AI Wisely

Why AI Education Matters for Auto Repair Shop Owners

The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing

The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing

“AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Map” – New Blog Series

AI Education at Automotive Industry Conferences

A Background in Information Literacy

Download the Guide: AI for Auto Repair Shop Marketing

About KUKUI

The Shop Owner's Guide to AI in Marketing

A Practical Guide to AI for Auto Repair Shop Owners ﻿

The Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing

What AI Gets Wrong About Your Shop — And Why It Looks So Right

Are you using AI to evaluate your shop’s website — but not sure if you can trust what it tells you?

The URL Myth

The Demographic Data Problem

The Competitor Comparison Problem

The Confidence Problem

So What Should You Do?

What’s Coming Next

How KUKUI Shops Drove Nearly $3Billion in Revenue in 2025

Let's Talk About What Really Matters

The Results.

The Average KUKUI Shop in 2025

Text Messaging That Turns into Revenue

Email That Still Delivers

The Bigger Picture: Nearly $3 Billion in Revenue

These Aren’t Just Numbers

And We’re Just Getting Started

AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Map

Using AI Tools to Evaluate Your Auto Repair Shop Website: A Smarter Approach ﻿

What AI Does Well

Where AI Has Blind Spots

The Difference Between Interpretation and Data

How to Write a Better AI Prompt

A Word of Caution: Don't Use AI to Validate AI

How to Validate AI Recommendations

The Layer AI Can’t Replace

The Smart Way to Use AI

Final Thought

Social Media, Simplified

For Today's Drivers, Choosing an Auto Repair Shop Often Starts Online

Build Trust with Consistency

Focus on the Platforms that Matter

Post Helpful Content, Not Just Promotions

Keep Profiles Updated

Get Posting!

2025 Year in Review

Built for the Way Auto Repair Shops Work

Faster Scheduling & Better Customer Communication

A Stronger Content & Platform Foundation

Expanded Marketing Tools & Integrations

Meet KAI: Your Centralized Assistant

Continuous KUKUI Control Panel Improvements

Looking Ahead

KUKUI Social Toolkit

Your All-in-One Hub for Social Media Success

Your 2026 Auto Repair Shop Marketing Plan

What Works, What’s New, and How To Get It Done

1. Start With the Basics: Your Goals and Your Audience

Define your goals

Identify your ideal customers

2. Build a Strong Digital Foundation: Website, SEO, and Online Visibility

A Practical Guide to AI for Auto Repair Shop Owners

Using AI Tools to Evaluate Your Auto Repair Shop Website: A Smarter Approach