KUKUI Partners with Educational Seminar Institute (ESi)

KUKUI • September 9, 2013

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/



March 26, 2026
The right tools for the right job.
A smartphone displays a My Rewards loyalty app, surrounded by floating green coins, set against a dark background.
By Gabby Oglesby March 18, 2026
Last month we launched My Rewards, KUKUI’s built-in loyalty program. Since launch, our clients have already started using it to strengthen long-term relationships.
A glowing, metallic digital cube with internal circuit patterns, surrounded by floating data panels against a dark grid.
By Rick Sage March 12, 2026
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of how auto repair shop owners research marketing strategies, analyze competitors, & evaluate their online presence.
A human hand and a robotic hand work together to assemble glowing, digital puzzle-like gear pieces on a dark surface.
By Rick Sage March 12, 2026
Learn how AI is changing how customers find auto repair shops and how to use it wisely. Download the Shop Owner’s Guide to AI in Marketing.
By Heather Myers March 5, 2026
AI can evaluate your auto repair website, but its insights aren’t the same as real data. Learn where AI gets it wrong—and why those mistakes can look convincing.
Mechanic holding wrenches, wearing blue uniform. Workshop setting. Text: Kukui, $3B Strong.
By Rick Sage February 27, 2026
In 2025, KUKUI shops generated nearly $3B in revenue, including $547M from marketing, with the average shop producing $1.5M and strong customer retention.
By Heather Myers February 18, 2026
Using AI Tools to Evaluate Your Auto Repair Shop Website: A Smarter Approach 
Person using a phone while holding a steering wheel, icons of social media floating around.
By Gabby Oglesby February 4, 2026
For today’s drivers, choosing an auto repair shop often starts online. Before they call or book an appointment, many customers check Google, scroll through your Facebook page, or look for recent updates that show your shop is active and trustworthy.
Person in suit touching a digital
By Gabby Oglesby January 20, 2026
In 2025, we made our product easier, clearer, and more impactful—helping shops save time, communicate with customers, and see the value of their marketing.
By Mary Wirth December 16, 2025
Your All-in-One Hub for Social Media Success