Nearly every month at FenderBender, we receive a similar piece of feedback from readers that, no matter how many times we hear it, catches us a bit off guard. In one way or another, we hear it pretty often: People enjoy the “theme” of each issue.
It’s nice to hear; trust me, I enjoy positive feedback as much as the next person. The only problem is that we don’t have themes to our issues (at least not intentionally). We never have, and as it stands right now, we don’t plan on doing a themed issue any time soon.
I get it, though, and honestly, it’s a flattering compliment as it means our content hits the mark. Because, even if we don’t have a true “theme” in each issue, we do follow a similar pattern— and it’s intentional. We want every story to focus on tangible strategies to help you push your business forward.
Take this month’s issue as an example: We have stories that cover a multitude of operational aspects. There’s a strategy piece on value-added services and how to best position those to customers. We have another how-to story about conducting proper pre-employment screenings, and Kevin Rains’ column touches on turning ideas and goals into reality .
Our cover story is focused on marketing, and how to stand out in an industry that has become increasingly competitive in recent years. You could make the argument that each of the previous stories mentioned (or the rest in this magazine not mentioned here) follow that same theme: All similarly present concepts and strategies for business improvement, ways for shops to stand out and thrive.
You don’t need me to tell you that this industry is as competitive as it’s ever been—or that the opportunities it affords are equally as available to those willing to adapt, improve and take advantage. We want to help you do that in any way we can. You’ll notice in this issue we have a new special section dedicated to those operating facilities that repair heavy-duty vehicles. Oversized is our answer to the request of shops across the country asking for this type of content. We have three separate stories in this first runthrough, and we’ll have plenty more down the road.
Whether it’s this section, new ones in the future, our FenderBender Management Conference, or even our awards program, we will continue to find new and innovative ways to better serve your needs. That’s why we’re here.
So, what is it you’d like to see? What are you not getting anywhere else? Whether it’s an idea for a specific story or a concept for a new section or product, we’d love to hear from you. There’s a reason my email is listed at the end of these letters each month. Reach out.
And don’t be afraid to comment on the “theme” in future issues of our magazine. In fact, let’s keep this conversation going, because that’s what our real theme is; it’s about us—our team and yours—working together to learn, to make improvements, to push the limits and adapt, to resist settling for the status quo. Our goal is to continue differentiating ourselves and find additional ways to provide you with as much valuable content as possible. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: This is your magazine. Let’s work together.
