Melissa Steinken

Four Phases of a Long-Term Marketing Plan

4 Phases of a Long-Term Marketing Plan

March 1, 2019

American Auto Body went from a '90s marketing platform to a modern-day advertising approach to gain new business. Here's how the shop built its 10-year marketing plan.

Building a Business from Scratch

February 25, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Through determination, money-saving and a charitable mindset, one owner rapidly expanded his business into a $3 million pillar of the community.

Platform for Dealership Body Shops to Go Corporate

February 21, 2019

Melissa Steinken and Bryce Evans

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Larry King, owner of CARSTAR of Port Arthur, co-located at Energy Country Ford, shares how being a part of the CARSTAR network has helped his business.

Advice on Offering Competitive Job Benefits

February 21, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Sue Ritzman, human resources manager for Nagy’s Collision Centers, shares her approach to getting the best healthcare for her employees and takeaways for independent shops.

Analysis: The ROI on Aluminum Certifications

February 21, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Accomplished industry veterans like Mike Anderson share their thoughts on the future of aluminum repair certifications.

Serving a Routine

February 20, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Josh Wilson, body shop manager for Fortune Collision Centre, shares what has helped his business offer a streamlined and uniform customer service experience in every location.

How I Work: Robert Walne

February 20, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Robert Walne, president of Herb’s Paint & Body, shares how he strategically manages eight locations in Texas.

Sorting Staff Through Expansion

February 19, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Industry veterans, Dusty Clark Von Riese and Bobby Cobb, share how to staff new locations in order to best expand a business.

Q&A on CARSTAR Growth

February 19, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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With consolidation growing in the industry, CARSTAR has plans to continue to grow by 100 or more shops per year. FenderBender asked Dean Fisher, chief operating officer, what the company’s growth plans are and how charity work fits into those plans.

Analyzing Usage-Based Insurance

February 19, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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The 2019 State of Auto Insurance report reveals that insurance companies are starting to closely monitor driver behavior and are offering new policies as a result.

How I Work: Marc LaFerriere

February 17, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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This Missouri shop shows that time spent outside the shop does not have to be sacrificed for quality repairs and a stream of business.

A Binding Contract

February 13, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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A New York lawyer gives advice on what documents to have on record when hiring a worker for a contracted period of time.

How to Build Relationships with Staff

February 7, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Henry Yach III, body shop owner, describes how he learned to create a shop culture of caring, and how to listen to employees while remaining in the professional environment.

ASA Addresseses Wyo. Legislature Regarding Aftermarket Parts

February 7, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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ASA’s Washington, D.C. representative, Robert L. Redding Jr., on Wednesday shared updates about key legislature for the collision repair industry.

Reducing WIP to Make Profits

February 3, 2019

Melissa Steinken and Anna Zeck

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Eric Johnson, regional manager for LaMettry’s Collision in Minn., added a scheduling manager, focused on “good” WIP and increased sales.

Insuring a Strong Relationship

February 1, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Tiffany Menefee, a Texas body shop owner, has cultivated a rapport with insurance agents, despite being a non-DRP shop.

Examining the Potential of AI for Estimating

January 31, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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In light of a new estimating tool that introduces Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the estimate writing process for adjusters, collision shop staff remain skeptical.

Snap Shop: Big Sky Collision Network

January 24, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Take a virtual tour of Big Sky Collision Network.

How to Create a Successful Apprenticeship Program

January 24, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Two industry veterans share what makes their apprenticeship programs stand out from the rest and continue to succeed over the years.

I-CAR Tweaks Training Programs

January 22, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Starting this year, there will be more I-CAR courses, but the number of hours that technicians will need to train will be reduced.

A Marketing Risk

January 18, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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In order to navigate the often uncertain world of marketing, it’s important to first understand customer expectations.

How I Work: Robert Grieve

January 17, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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If you want to lead your shop effectively, it often helps to have an open-door policy, and to schedule minimal meetings.

How to Find a Contract Worker

January 14, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Jesse Jacobson, vice president of Heppner's Auto Body in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, shares how to find a contract worker when looking to hire someone for a special project.

The Easy Electronic Payment Method

January 14, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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Stay in tune to the technology emerging in the industry and find out how this body shop was able to continuously grow and offer customers an option to pay online for repairs.

Research: Tech Shortage Worse Than Originally Feared

January 11, 2019

Melissa Steinken

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The inability to meet the demand for entry-level auto technicians shows no signs of stopping and, in fact, has worsened slightly in recent years, new research shows.

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