Automechanika - Canada

Went to the show on Wednesday in Toronto. It was held at the International Center by the Toronto airport. Got there about 11 a.m., and walked every aisle, just to get a feel for who was there and how many exhibitors were in attendance. Then I went back through and started talking to the exhibitors. It was pretty small, and by 1 p.m., it still did not seem overly well attended. I think there were about 200 exhibitors, maybe 220. The majority were Canadian manufacturers, however there were a handful of U.S. exhibitors as well. Some of the Canadian exhibitors were strictly regional - selling to Eastern Canada only, some were national, and some were international. The tire and tire repair service was well represented by Cooper, 31 Inc., Prema, Tech Internationl, Myers Tire, and ESCO. There were only several tool guys there, and just a few equipment folks. The majority of the exhibitors appeared to be hard parts related. Whereas the AAPEX show has an entire floor designated to country "pavilions" (everywhere outside of the U.S.), the Automechanika show had a small section for non-North American Exhibitors. Ironically, it was the Iranian Pavilion. I think there were six booths in it.

I have to tell you, I thought I would go back the next day to see who I missed, but I was able to see and talk to everybody in six hours. I'm sure the experience would be different for distributors and shop owners - but that's my take on the show.

On a personal note, it was a pleasant surprise to see and speak with Daron Misakyan of Nortool. His company distributes tools and equipment out of Toronto and had been a former customer of mine.

Right to Repair - Does it matter to you?

Took this from the AAIA website.

Right to Repair Sponsor Count Hits 30
The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2694) hit a milestone last week as three new legislators were added to the co-sponsor list. Joining chief sponsor, Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., were Reps. Jo Ann Davis, R-Va.; Jim Gerlach, R-Pa.; and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
With this "success", I have to question how important this issue is to the shop owner or the individual technician. Who among you is willing to get involved?

Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy

This just in - Bob Pond is being promoted to President of Central Tool on October 1. Be sure to drop him a line or shake his hand at the AAPEX Show. He's a great guy and the promotion is well-deserved. Their official notice is as follows:
Central Tools, Inc. of Cranston, RI, a company that will be 100 years old next year, has announced that Robert Pond will become President of Central effective October 1. Bob has been Executive Vice President of Central since 2005.
Bob joined Central as Vice President of Marketing and Sales in 1999 and started his career in the automotive aftermarket in 1984. Bob’s most recent experience prior to joining Central involved many years of automotive systems training for ITT AIMCO and Allied Signal.
Pond has played a critical role at Central as market conditions have led to the substitution of imported products for traditionally US made product. While Central continues as a manufacturer of many items at its factory in Cranston, a transition to more imported products continues to alter the everyday operations of the company. Many highly successful new product introductions have come regularly at Central thanks to Bob’s active leadership role.
Alec Dawson, the Chairman of Central, has described Bob’s job as “the lead into the second century for our company”.

For Further information contact
Bruce Dawson at Central Tools, Inc., 456 Wellington Ave. Cranston, RI 02910
Phone 401-467-8211 FAX 401-461-5670 www.centraltools.com

Market Indicators that Affect Our Business

While the general media is forecasting doom and gloom, I would like to offer my predictions for the remainder of 2007 and into 2008 for our section of the economic world. The big economy news is the housing slump and the GM/UAW strike - both are dramatic and are sure to affect even the smallest shop in the smallest town. Or will they?

July numbers show that home prices had their steepest drop since 1991. Before you get overly excited - it was only a 4.5% drop! That means a house that may have sold for $125,000 last year would sell for $119,375 this year. That's a healthy drop, and I have to admit, I'm glad I'm not selling my house this year. But the numbers don't matter until you go to sell your house. And, is it time to slit the wrists? I don't think so.

Now, consider the UAW strikers at General Motors. The strike will cost General Motors 12,000 cars or $270M each day. In the first month, GM could lose $8.1 billion, in the second month $7.2 billion (I don't know why October is expected to be more expensive than November, I just report the news, I don't make it.)
What will it cost the workers? It was reported by ABC this morning that the average Union worker makes approximately $65k each year, and the average non-union worker maker $45k each year. But during the strike, these UAW members will make $200/week. Personally, I can't see the strike lasting that long. We've all got bills to pay, and $200 would barely cover my grocery bill to feed two teenage boys and a working husband! Do you know how long it will take them to make up their lost income? A lengthy strike does not make sense for anyone in 2007. If it does last more than a month, we will all begin to feel the effects. It has been estimated that for every GM worker, there are 10 people working for a GM Supplier. If GM business dries up, so does the business for the supplier. And this is where the strike could begin to affect our business.

But these are the short-term indicators. Do they affect the economy? Of course, but I would say they are more short-term blips than long-term tools to use when forecasting your own business cycles.

That being said, later this week I'll review how some of the more historical market indicators are faring and what they might mean for your business in the near future.

2 shops, 2 comebacks, 2 weeks: My Life

In the past month, I've had more than $5,000 worth of repair work done to my vehicle. About $4,600 of it was due to a collision with an uninsured motorist. Fortunately my insurance company picked up the entire bill, less the deductible. I had the work done at a shop that was associated with a local dealership, because they have some sort of deal with my insurance company, AND they were conveniently located 50 feet away from the appraiser. When I picked up my car (earlier than they predicted - YAY!), I looked at it in dismay. What had been a 6-year-old Toyota front-end, had become a new-looking front-end, but something was not right. The missing license plate? The color? No, they did a great job matching the color. The headlights? Yes. They looked funny, and once I drove around in the dark, I found out they lit funny too! We looked under the hood - Mr. Polite Service Writer speaking slowly and evenly as he described how they replaced this, recreated that, and re-arranged the other, using some new, some re-furbed, and some parts from the local salvage yard (I am opposed to none of these - they all have their place in repair work). I asked about the cut-outs in the felt under my hood, "why are these spaces cut out?" "Oh, there should be information stickers there, I'll check on that for you." Hmmmmm. I was surprised they were able to make that hood look as beautiful as they did. Besides having left it looking like a wrecking ball had been dropped on it, late last year I blew a psiton through my engine, which shot like a bullet into the hood. The hole in the felt was still there, but the hood was as beautiful as the day it was born. Yet, even though I did a cursory walk-around with the service writer, and nodded as he told me the work that had been done, I was not happy and felt a slight sour feeling deep in my gut. My 6-year-old baby was no longer mine - it had become this re-habbed, re-furbed something other. The lines betwen the pieces and parts of the front end of my car were no longer parallel. One side had a slightly bigger gap than the other side. At another point, the lines widened - the fit and finish that Toyota is known for, was no more.
And yet I drove it home.

As I pulled in to my driveway, headlights askew, I bravely honked my horn to announce my arrival to the family and dog. Instead of that Asian two-tone horn I've grown accustomed to, I heard a weak single-tone bleat - as tho someone had stepped on a cheap red bicycle horn. That was truly the last straw.

The second bit of work (in my $5,000+ 2-week span)was to repair my front brakes, for a mere $500 or so. I had them repaired because after the accident, even tho the insurance company approved a "visual" of the brakes and the collision center reported them "ok", I didn't feel they had the same stopping power as they did the minute before the accident.

Short Story, Part One: Took the car back for additional bodywork. They fixed the horn, showed me where to find the stickers on the inside of my hood if I ever needed to read them, and re-pointed the headlights. Nonetheless, I can still put all the fingers from one hand through the gap between one of my headlights and the body of my car - NOT a Toyota finish, but because my insurance company and the shop guarantee the work for the time I own the car, I'm not going back a third time to complain. I am left wondering about the effect of additional exposure on my engine and all things under the hood that those extra spaces will make possible. But that's not all, the more I look at the way the hood and the front-end lies in relationship to the body of the car - it's just a case of hurry up and get it out the door. I am disappointed in the quality of their work, to say the very least. Very nice people, but.

On to the brake job.

The Excellent Mechanic

It's Tuesday, September 11, and based on the number of e-mails I've received today, it looks like many of our readers are just now getting to the August issue of TechShop. Here's a very nice response from Bob Minnick, owner of Courtesy Car Care in Texas.
Beth,

Several years ago (1991?) I received a proverb from a seminary professor (who I knew, had worked on his car, and sat in his class). He based it on Proverbs 31 - which actually described the excellent wife. He changed the proverb to address the excellent mechanic. I hang it in my shop and have had several people want copies of it. I am sending it to you after having read your article about the mechanics creed. It's not perfect but it was an excellent gesture by a customer and friend. The proverb was written by David M. Fouts, ThD. I have lost contact with him but I believe He is teaching Pensecola Bible College. I had him as a Hebrew professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.

I thought you might like this. I copied it below as well as attached it in a Word document.

Blessings,

Bob Minnick, owner
Courtesy Car Care
Duncanville, TX


THE EXCELLENT MECHANIC

An excellent mechanic, who can find one?

For his worthies far above tools

The heart of his patron trusts in him
and he will have no lack of gain

He does good work and not evil
All the hours of his day

He looks for noises and bumps,
And works – his hands are a delight

He is like a fine craftsman,
He brings his skill to bear
He rises also while it is night
And brings relief to the motorist
And calm to shaking motors

He considers a part and then buys it
From his wisdom he installs it

He girds himself with strength
From coaxing rusted bolts

He senses that his work is good,

His droplight does not go out at night

He stretched his hand for the air wrench,

And his hands grasp the wheel rim

He extends his help to the poor
And gives needed discounts to the needy

He is not afraid of economic downturns

All his co-workers are helped by him

He makes coveralls for himself

They may be striped or bibbed

His wife is well respected

By all whose cars he has fixed

For the extra hours he gave

He makes good repairs and numerous
And supplies timing belts to those who need them

Strength and integrity are his clothing
And he smiles with a greasy face

He opens his mouth in wisdom
And the encouragement of friendship is on his face

He looks well to the way of business
And never eats the bread of idleness

His children will rise up and bless him
And his wife also, and she praises him, saying’

Good mechanics are hard to find
But you excel them all

Flashy advertising is deceitful
and nationwide chains are in vain

But the mechanic who fears the Lord,
he shall be greatly praised

(source: David Fouts, ThD )


Thank you Mr. Minnick (and Mr. Fouts). Very nicely done, though I take exception to the comment about flashy advertising. :)

The independent automotive repair person and repair shop represent the salt of the earth, ana indeed, should be treasured.