Help me brainstorm

[Jake P]

I recently started a job at an automotive/ state inspection garage. The place has been here for years but things seem to be at a dead stop. The owner is getting frustrated due to the lack of business and is looking for ways to get our name out there. I have been thinking and have come up with a few ideas but i would like some more. If anyone has any ideas at all for a good marketing scheme it would be greatly appreciated. Just something to get the name out that we do anything you need done and more.

[CFFF 1.5]

Number one thing is word of mouth for a local shop. You need to treat your customers right and they will talk about you to their friends and so on and so forth. Do that little extra. Maybe when you do an inspection you do something a little extra like clean the windows off or something small that only takes a few minutes that customers will notice. Maybe replace the wiper blades for free with every inspection. A little incentive will go a long way. Make sure the place is as clean as possible, and have a comfortable place for customers to wait. Return calls on time, explain in layman terms to people that might not understand mechanic talk. Do the small things right and the customers will come. Make a good impression.

[Jake P]

I dont want to sound cocky or over confident but we do ALL of that. We make sure windows are properly cleaned off before adding the new sticker. Its not just inspections, we do complete automotive repair and i dont want to bragg but we have one of the better Certified Techs in the DFW area here and the owner has been building engines since he was a teenager so they have the know-how. I feel like All we need is that little boost to get us really going but I just cant seem to put my finger on it.

[done]

It is tough. If you are not already make sure you are in the local yellow pages, a mid sized ad that lists the years experience in your shop would not hurt.

If you are a member of the BBB then advertise that, if you are not, then join.

The mechanic I generally use now, took me 5 years before I found him. He gives me a good price, he is honest, will bring out the part he replaced and show me how messed up it was. I have never ASKED him to, he just does it. When I make an appt he works on my car that day, he actually calls me when my car is ready does not wait till 4:30pm 10 minutes before his shop closes.

I found him in the yellow pages after getting ticked off by 3 other machines I found by word of mouth. Another thing to try, see if you can buy an ad in a local High school year book. Or find some way to get your name in there. You treat one of those guys good, their buds will come and see you and you will literally grow your own customer base.

Another thing to do, sounds cheesy but it is appreciated, give you customers a customer service form they can fill out when they leave. If they fill it out and mail it in or drop it off give them a small discount on their last visit. If they are extremely unhappy with something give them a larger discount. That way if you d mess up you can still keep the customer.

From working in consulting, we have the same issue. You need to build your name, which is tough. Once you build your name you get all the customers you can handle. We literally had to scratch and crawl to get what we could get.

Another thought....approach a local business that maybe has an old fleet of used vehicles. You may be able to swing a deal with one of them to do their oil changes, or maintenance. That might make them worth your while to pitch to them on person.

Just some ideas, sales is tough.

[Marty]

I'm no marketeer, but I'll just throw something out as a long shot. If the shop does something in the way of charity and/or community service and can get a mention on the local news, that would be great and positive publicity.

[fourbizz]

Exotic dancers.

[burleytog]

Topless mechanics, oil changes with happy endings.

[Jake P]

Exotic dancers.

My boss told me pretty soon I was going to be at the curb wearing a grass hula skirt holding a sign that says we will lay you since im the lowest man on the totem pole as of now :-[. I suggested a cookout/muscle car show on a saturday with hooters girls  8-), that one is being strongly thought about.

[done]

Thanks a lot burley. Now I got the visual of the mechanic at the shop i go to topless, let me go get my Dewalt and drill that image out of my brain....

[Fisher of Men]

I'm no marketeer, but I'll just throw something out as a long shot. If the shop does something in the way of charity and/or community service and can get a mention on the local news, that would be great and positive publicity.

What about sponsoring a local t-ball or soccer team or something? I've never known the return on that, but I do respect businesses that help out their community. Also, perhaps buying a champion market animal at the local stock show? Just a couple of quick ones that were on the top of my brain.

-Fisher

Another: Oriental trading has alot of business oriented "give-away" items (Cups, notepads, pens, etc.). Perhaps handing these out at a local festival, etc.?

Jake, more specifically, what part of the metroplex is the shop located in.  I'm sure local economy plays into this somehow.

[Dean]

Exotic dancers.

Got a new slogan for the shop, "We got chicks, so get you're car fixed"   ;D

[Jake P]

I'm no marketeer, but I'll just throw something out as a long shot. If the shop does something in the way of charity and/or community service and can get a mention on the local news, that would be great and positive publicity.

What about sponsoring a local t-ball or soccer team or something? I've never known the return on that, but I do respect businesses that help out their community. Also, perhaps buying a champion market animal at the local stock show? Just a couple of quick ones that were on the top of my brain.

-Fisher

Another: Oriental trading has alot of business oriented "give-away" items (Cups, notepads, pens, etc.). Perhaps handing these out at a local festival, etc.?

Jake, more specifically, what part of the metroplex is the shop located in. I'm sure local economy plays into this somehow.

Its in the Keller/Fort Worth border, close to Roanoke and North Richland Hills. We have been asking around so to speak and most of the businesses have been saying the same thing as us, its dead. Im hoping it will pick back up soon, it sucks to see my boss work so hard and so good and have so little business.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Ever seen those placemats in a small resturant or diner with the advertisements and coupons for businesses on them?

[Long Mike]

I recently started a job at an automotive/ state inspection garage. The place has been here for years but things seem to be at a dead stop. The owner is getting frustrated due to the lack of business and is looking for ways to get our name out there. I have been thinking and have come up with a few ideas but i would like some more. If anyone has any ideas at all for a good marketing scheme it would be greatly appreciated. Just something to get the name out that we do anything you need done and more.

If the owner has been there for years, then at one point in time he was either providing quality service and/or had few local competitors who could provide the same quality at the same price.

Times have changed.

Have the owner take a look at the latest demographics in his area.  What has changed?  If larger, Big Box stores have sprung up in his area, then he is fighting an uphill battle unless he has already built up a dedicated client base.  It appears to me that, at sometime in the past, the owner allowed the quality of his service to deteriorate because he doesn't seem to have that client base.

If I were you I would find another job.

[Fisher of Men]

I'm no marketeer, but I'll just throw something out as a long shot. If the shop does something in the way of charity and/or community service and can get a mention on the local news, that would be great and positive publicity.

What about sponsoring a local t-ball or soccer team or something? I've never known the return on that, but I do respect businesses that help out their community. Also, perhaps buying a champion market animal at the local stock show? Just a couple of quick ones that were on the top of my brain.

-Fisher

Another: Oriental trading has alot of business oriented "give-away" items (Cups, notepads, pens, etc.). Perhaps handing these out at a local festival, etc.?

Jake, more specifically, what part of the metroplex is the shop located in. I'm sure local economy plays into this somehow.

Its in the Keller/Fort Worth border, close to Roanoke and North Richland Hills. We have been asking around so to speak and most of the businesses have been saying the same thing as us, its dead. Im hoping it will pick back up soon, it sucks to see my boss work so hard and so good and have so little business.

Like Mike said, are there many new Kwik Kar, Pep Boys, Firestone, etc. service centers in the area (new Wal-mart nearby)?  These places could have taken some of his business.  I'd be willing to bet that many people just aren't having their cars serviced as much as they used to due to the high gas prices and slumping economy.

He also makes a great point about your job.  Keep your options open regarding further employment.  If the business continues to go south, you might be looking for something else soon.

[Jake P]

I'm no marketeer, but I'll just throw something out as a long shot. If the shop does something in the way of charity and/or community service and can get a mention on the local news, that would be great and positive publicity.

What about sponsoring a local t-ball or soccer team or something? I've never known the return on that, but I do respect businesses that help out their community. Also, perhaps buying a champion market animal at the local stock show? Just a couple of quick ones that were on the top of my brain.

-Fisher

Another: Oriental trading has alot of business oriented "give-away" items (Cups, notepads, pens, etc.). Perhaps handing these out at a local festival, etc.?

Jake, more specifically, what part of the metroplex is the shop located in. I'm sure local economy plays into this somehow.

Its in the Keller/Fort Worth border, close to Roanoke and North Richland Hills. We have been asking around so to speak and most of the businesses have been saying the same thing as us, its dead. Im hoping it will pick back up soon, it sucks to see my boss work so hard and so good and have so little business.

Like Mike said, are there many new Kwik Kar, Pep Boys, Firestone, etc. service centers in the area (new Wal-mart nearby)? These places could have taken some of his business. I'd be willing to bet that many people just aren't having their cars serviced as much as they used to due to the high gas prices and slumping economy.

He also makes a great point about your job. Keep your options open regarding further employment. If the business continues to go south, you might be looking for something else soon.

That is exactly it. Back when it was first opened in the mid 80's he was the only mechanic in that area for 3 miles in every direction. Now there are 2 Wal-Marts within 5 miles and a few Kwik Kars and some Exxon service stations. Like I said, everyone in this area has been saying the same thing, its dead slow. The quality has not went down because since ive been there it is A+ work from what I can see. Hopefully things will change, I Love going to work everyday and thats something I have never had before.