ORLANDO — Growing a business in a down economy is not an easy thing to do. But many independent repair shops around the U.S. are doing just that and showing off their efforts.
The shops that entered the annual Motor Age Top Shops Contest are no different, with the best of the best rising to the top.
Andy Fiffick’s 10-location repair shop business Rad Air Complete Car Care is the 2011 Motor Age Top Shop. Motor Age Managing Editor Tschanen Brandyberry made the official announcement at CARS on Thursday.
“Rad Air is a bright spot in today’s economy. While I think many shops are starting to see more business from people who have put off repairs during the last couple of years, Andy and the entire Rad Air staff has been able to capitalize on customer relationships and really grow the business,” Brandyberry says.
Rad Air has placed in the top 10 in recent contests, rising to the overall winner’s position this year. The shop will be featured on the cover of December’s Motor Age issue, with the nine other shops comprising the top 10 also featured in the issue.
Rad Air takes its industry involvement seriously. All of the shops are AAA approved repair centers, and Rad Air has been an ASE Blue Seal Shop since 2001. That is in addition to its involvement and certifications from MACS Worldwide.
“Andy’s involvement in the aftermarket, especially MACS, helped set his shops apart. He takes advantage of what various aftermarket associations have to offer to make his employees better at their jobs and he gives back to make others better at theirs,” Brandyberry explains.
A few aspects that set Rad Air apart from other shops are its focus on training, including Fiffick’s willingness to bring in top-notch trainers to the shop for his technicians; budgeting for new equipment and OEM and aftermarket software subscriptions; and involvement (not just monetary) by both Fiffick and his employees in various charitable organizations around the greater Cleveland area.
Fiffick has implemented a new operations manual for best practices with suppliers, something not all other shops do, and his marketing plans include a variety of personal touches to make customers feel welcome.
Rad Air was not the only shop that really stood out from other entries. The nine shops that round out the top 10 all have strong qualities that put them among the best in the country.
The top 10 Motor Age Top Shops are:
Rad-Air Complete Car Care, Strongsville, Ohio
Ayers Automotive Repairs, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Beckwith’s Car Care, Humble, Texas
C&H Foreign Auto, Spokane, Wash.
Certified Automotive Specialists, Glendora, Calif.
Downing Street Garage, Denver
Keller Bros. Auto Repair, Littleton, Colo.
Pellman’s Automotive Service, Inc., Boulder, Colo.
Scott’s Auto Center, Cumming, Ga.
Tony’s Auto Service Center, Phoenix
“We’re seeing more shops apply for these contests and show off their facilities. One thing we’ve learned in the last several years is that there are great shops across the United States that are doing business the right away and deserve to be recognized for their efforts,” Brandyberry states.
Motor Age’s annual contest was open to any independent repair shop in the United States. Each owner had to answer nine questions about their shops that related to the categories on which judges rated the shop. Judges scored each shop on 10 categories: experience, training and education, shop operations, supplier relations, marketing, website presence, aftermarket involvement, community activities, technical offerings and a photo tour of the shop.
If you would like to be contacted in the spring about entering the 2012 contest, send an email to [email protected].
Sponsors of the 2011 Motor Age Top Shops Contest are:
