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By Counterman
To be successful in aftermarket parts sales requires a very broad knowledge base. It means having the ability to address customer parts requests for dozens of different vehicle manufacturers spanning more than 75 years of production, including multiple vehicle systems. Much like our inventory mix, our employees’ knowledge needs to be “spread out” to accommodate these varied requests. Sure, we all have our strengths and specialties, but imagine the bottlenecks at the counter if Heather was the only staff member familiar with reading the paper catalogs covering vintage applications, or that Larry couldn’t catalog anything unless it was for a domestic vehicle.
While we would never hire a counterperson with such gaping blind spots concerning vehicle knowledge, when it comes to store operations, these kinds of scenarios happen every day. Cross-training staff eases the burden for everyone in the organization, from the top down. Becoming an “expert” in your own particular role doesn’t need to prevent you from being a versatile member of the team.
link hidden, please login to view For obvious reasons, not every employee will be responsible for making management-level decisions. But when it comes to daily operations, each member of your staff needs to be given not only the tools to succeed, but also the skills and authority to use those tools effectively. We’ve all worked in locations with extended business hours or short-staffing situations, and felt the pinch when a key member of the team was absent. Picking up the slack in these situations has become a harsh reality in today’s business environment, and without cross-training for the remaining employees, everyone on both sides of the counter suffers for it.
Depending on your individual role within the organization, you may have very little exposure to some of the other roles being performed around you, or you may already have experienced each role along the way to your current position. The hierarchy of roles in this industry tends to follow a natural progression, from delivery and stocking associates to counter and sales positions, and eventually to various management roles. Along the way, there is often considerable overlap in skills and responsibilities at each stage.
At any level of the hierarchy, the most destructive employee attitude is the “not my job” attitude. Traditional workforce roles generally fall into either “labor” or “management” categories. Many organizations even reinforce this idea through uniform choices. Unfortunately, this also may create a division among employees, who feel that titles are designed to separate them rather than to complement each other. Even worse than those employees who claim that something is “above their pay grade” are those members of the team who believe that performing a particular task is beneath them. Having a delivery driver who is comfortable with helping with simple customer service tasks is no less important than the keyholding manager who makes a hot-shot delivery to help maintain a commercial customer’s workflow. Cross-training works in both directions!
There may not be an “I” in “team,” but there are two of them in “idiot.” Building a team that can move effortlessly between roles requires all parties to be invested in the overall success of the business, not just their own individual interests. We need to identify those members of our team who are most capable of (and interested in) growth beyond just a narrowly defined job description. We need to encourage them to acquire new skills, and to remind employees who already possess those skills that having others trained in their role is a benefit, not a threat.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view was recognized by Hahn Automotive with the 2025 Outstanding Logistics Support Award at the annual Hahn Automotive National Sales Conference. Held last month in Rochester, N.Y., the conference prepares staff for the upcoming spring selling season and honors companies for their support and dedication to Hahn Automotive. WIX Filters Support for Hahn Automotive
link hidden, please login to view was honored for its service levels and order fill rates last year. The company has partnered with Hahn Automotive for nearly 30 years, providing a full line of filters. “Hahn Automotive stresses that service makes all the difference, emphasizing their commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction,” said David Barraco, trade marketing manager at WIX Filters. “WIX Filters has supported Hahn Automotive and its customers for almost three decades, and this award demonstrates our exemplary drive to provide on-time deliveries of the highest quality filters on the market.”
Hahn Automotive Warehouses and Auto Parts
Hahn Automotive owns nine full-service warehouses and 28 pickup warehouses that distribute auto parts throughout the Midwest, New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. The company operates Advantage Auto Stores, Car Parts/Motor Supply, Genuine Auto Parts, Norwood Auto Parts, Nu-Way Auto Parts and Speedway Auto Parts.
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By OReilly Auto Parts
SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (the “Company” or “O’Reilly”) (Nasdaq: ORLY), a leading retailer in the automotive aftermarket industry, today announced record revenue and earnings for its first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
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By Counterman
Don Bickle Jr. and Tim Bickle, owners of Hays, Kansas-based Warehouse Inc. and its network of S&W Supply stores, announced they have partnered with
link hidden, please login to view, a third-generation, family-owned auto parts distributor based in St. Cloud, Minnesota. APH supports more than 300 locations across the Midwest. Corporate locations rebranded as S&W Supply Auto Value
Warehouse Inc.’s nine corporate locations will be rebranded as S&W Supply Auto Value, as part of the transition. Following the transition, Don Jr. and Tim Bickle will remain involved as senior advisors, and Ryan Bickle, vice president of sales, will continue in a leadership role.
Roots date to 1934
S&W Supply’s roots date to 1934, when Claude Sutter and Don Wells founded the company during the Great Depression. What began as a small automotive parts operation grew steadily, with Don and Lyle (Bickle) Wells helping expand the business and relocate it to Hays, where it remains today.
In 1966, Warehouse Inc. was established to support wholesale distribution across western Kansas. Today, the company serves customers in automotive, heavy-duty, industrial, agricultural and oilfield markets.
Commitment to people, service and long-term growth
The decision to partner with APH reflects a shared commitment to people, service and long-term growth.
“Family and service have always been at the heart of S&W Supply,” Don Jr. said. “Joining the
link hidden, please login to view family ensures our employees and customers will continue to be supported while expanding our reach and capabilities for the future.” Tim Bickle said, “Joining APH gives us the opportunity to strengthen our operations and expand the services we offer to our customers. With their resources and support, we can innovate more quickly, streamline processes, and continue building on the foundation our family established more than 90 years ago.”
“APH was a natural partner,” Ryan Bickle said. “They share our values and our approach to growth – investing in people, maintaining a strong culture and staying focused on the customer.”
Strategic expansion and longstanding relationship
For APH, the partnership represents both a strategic expansion and the continuation of a longstanding relationship.
“We are honored that Don and Tim chose to join the APH family,” said Corey Bartlett, CEO and owner of APH. “S&W Supply and Warehouse Inc. share our customer-first mindset and commitment to service, making this a strong fit as we grow into new markets. We’re excited to welcome their team and build on the impressive business they’ve created.”
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By OReilly Auto Parts
SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (the “Company” or “O’Reilly”) (Nasdaq: ORLY), a leading retailer in the automotive aftermarket industry, announces the release date for its first quarter 2026 results as Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with a conference call to follow on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
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