Gain Traction Podcast Por Mike Edge arte de portada

Gain Traction

Gain Traction

De: Mike Edge
Escúchala gratis

The Gain Traction Podcast features top tire and auto repair professionals, shop owners, industry executives, and thought leaders.© 2025, All Rights Reserved. Gain Traction Podcast. Economía Gestión Gestión y Liderazgo Liderazgo
Episodios
  • Why Independent Shops May Lose the Right to Repair

    Why Independent Shops May Lose the Right to Repair
    Apr 1 2026
    David Manley is the Managing Editor of Tire Business, where he covers the trends, policy shifts, and operational challenges shaping the tire and automotive repair industry. With more than two decades in journalism across photography, writing, and editing, he brings a well-rounded perspective on how industry changes impact shop owners on the ground.His work consistently highlights the growing tension around right to repair in auto repair, giving operators a clearer understanding of how legislation, technology, and manufacturer control are reshaping what independent shops can and can’t do.In this episode…Control over the repair process is quietly shifting away from independent shops. What used to be a straightforward job now stops at the final step because access is blocked, not because capability is missing. Shops can complete the work, but can’t finish it.The core issue sits inside right to repair in auto repair. Vehicle data, software access, and manufacturer restrictions are redefining ownership. Customers believe they own their vehicles, but access limitations tell a different story. That gap is where frustration builds and where shops start losing ground.The pressure doesn’t stay inside the industry, it moves directly to the customer. Higher costs, longer wait times, and forced dealership visits become the new normal. Right to repair in auto repair shifts from a policy conversation to a daily operational problem that affects revenue, workflow, and customer trust.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [01:15] David Manley’s role and industry perspective[03:17] Career background and transition into Tire Business[06:22] Key challenges currently impacting the tire industry[08:44] Lack of awareness surrounding right to repair[10:00] How restricted access is redefining vehicle ownership[13:46] Cost and service delays driven by repair limitations[14:56] Tesla’s approach to open repair information access[16:11] The role of vehicle data, safety, and manufacturer control[18:33] ADAS limitations and implications for third-party service[20:23] Importance of reporting real-world repair access issues[24:02] Urgency for industry-wide awareness and action[24:47] Personal conversations and closing statementsResources mentioned in this episode:David Manley LinkedInTire Business WebsiteGain Traction Podcast Episode #176: Right to Repair: The End of DIY Car Maintenance?Tire Industry Association (TIA)Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)TIA Right to Repair: Report your IssueTread PartnersGain Traction Podcast on YouTubeGain Traction Podcast WebsiteMike Edge on LinkedInQuotable Moments:“Shops can complete the repair, but just can’t turn off the check engine light.”“The consumer should be able to get their product fixed where they want.”“Access is going to be restricted, and it’s happening in small ways right now.”“It becomes a price issue and a time issue for the customer.”“You’re connected to the manufacturer long after you buy the vehicle.”Action Steps:Audit recent repair jobs where your team couldn’t complete the work due to access restrictions and document the exact limitation.Train your advisors to clearly explain right to repair in auto repair to customers so they understand why delays or referrals happen.Start reporting specific access issues through industry channels like TIA to contribute real-world examples that influence legislation.Evaluate how often dealership referrals are increasing and track the revenue impact tied to incomplete jobs.Position your shop as an advocate for customer choice by educating your audience on right to repair in auto repair through content, conversations, and in-store messaging.
    Más Menos
    32 m
  • How Do Peer Groups Help Auto Shop Owners Grow?

    How Do Peer Groups Help Auto Shop Owners Grow?
    Mar 25 2026
    Nick Fox is a Pro Service Coach and Facilitator with Elite Worldwide and a former multi-location auto repair shop owner. After helping grow and operate his family’s automotive service business for more than a decade, Fox sold the operation and transitioned into coaching independent shop owners across North America. His work centers around helping operators improve leadership, operations, and profitability through structured collaboration and shared learning.Today, Fox works directly with independent operators through auto shop owner peer groups, helping them compare strategies, challenge assumptions, and solve real business problems alongside other experienced shop owners. His perspective combines firsthand shop ownership with years of facilitating leadership discussions among some of the most growth-focused operators in the automotive industry.EPISODE SPONSORThis episode of the Gain Traction Podcast is sponsored by Cosmo Tires. Cosmo Tires offers a wide range of tire solutions designed for durability, reliability, and performance across multiple vehicle segments. Learn more at https://www.cosmotires.comIn this episode…Running an auto repair shop places enormous pressure on leadership. Owners make financial decisions, manage employees, solve operational problems, and plan long-term growth, often without trusted advisors who understand the realities of the automotive aftermarket.That isolation explains the rise of auto shop owner peer groups across the industry. These groups give operators a place to share real numbers, discuss operational challenges, and learn from people running similar businesses. The conversation with Nick Fox reveals how these environments accelerate leadership development and decision-making in ways that traditional business advice rarely achieves.Fox explains how structured collaboration between shop owners creates a powerful feedback loop. Operators bring real problems to the table, receive direct input from peers who have already navigated those challenges, and leave with solutions that impact staffing, workflow, and customer experience. For many leaders, auto shop owner peer groups function like a board of directors built specifically for independent repair businesses.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [01:15] Background on Nick Fox and his role at Elite Worldwide[01:51] Nick Fox shares his transition from shop ownership to coaching[03:44] How peer groups shaped Nick Fox’s leadership development[05:53] Key differences between one-on-one coaching and peer group collaboration[09:33] Overview of Elite Worldwide’s master meeting structure[11:56] How host shop visits create operational feedback and accountability[18:09] Membership criteria and entry points for Elite Worldwide peer groups[20:16] How members are grouped based on business size and goals[21:04] Ways members connect and collaborate beyond their core group[24:39] Closing reflections and personal recommendationsResources mentioned in this episode:Nick Fox on LinkedInElite Worldwide WebsiteTread PartnersGain Traction Podcast on YouTubeGain Traction Podcast WebsiteMike Edge on LinkedInQuotable Moments:“Life changing.”“I personally prefer a peer group setting because I don’t get only one opinion, I get numerous opinions.”“It’s almost like having your own board of directors to bounce anything you want off of them.”“Being an entrepreneur or a business owner can be very lonely.”“Eighty minds is a lot better than one mind.”Action Steps:Build a leadership sounding board. Strong operators surround themselves with people who challenge their thinking. Auto shop owner peer groups create structured environments where owners review decisions, financial strategies, and operational challenges with experienced peers.Compare operational systems with other shops. Workflow bottlenecks, service advisor processes, and customer experience systems improve quickly when shop owners see how other successful operators run their businesses.Bring real problems to the table. High-performing peer environments focus on real numbers, real staffing challenges, and real operational constraints. Honest conversations lead directly to practical solutions.Treat leadership development like a business investment. Shop owners invest heavily in equipment, tools, and technology. Leadership development delivers the same level of return when operators actively learn from other experienced shop owners.Expand your professional network inside the industry. The strongest operators maintain relationships with other shop leaders who openly share best practices, industry insights, and operational lessons learned.
    Más Menos
    28 m
  • Are Cheap Truck Tires Actually Costing Fleets More?

    Are Cheap Truck Tires Actually Costing Fleets More?
    Mar 18 2026
    Matt Gibbons is the Sales Director at Ozarko Tire Centers, one of the largest commercial tire distributors in Missouri and Arkansas, operating 12 locations and multiple retread facilities. With more than a decade of experience in the commercial tire industry and previous roles working with Michelin North America, Gibbons has built his reputation helping fleets improve operational performance through smarter tire strategies and disciplined maintenance programs. His work focuses on helping operators reduce fleet tire costs by shifting the conversation away from purchase price and toward long-term performance metrics.At Ozarko Tire Centers, Gibbons leads teams that consult with trucking fleets across the region on tire programs, cost-per-mile analysis, and preventative maintenance systems designed to reduce fleet tire costs while improving uptime and operational reliability.EPISODE SPONSORThis episode of the Gain Traction Podcast is sponsored by Cosmo Tires. Cosmo Tires offers a wide range of tire solutions designed for durability, reliability, and performance across multiple vehicle segments. Learn more at https://www.cosmotires.comIn this episode…Cheap tires feel like a smart business decision on the surface. The invoice is lower. The purchase looks efficient. The problem appears later on the highway.One fleet spent $2.8 million on roadside tire failures in a single year, driven entirely by preventable tire issues. That reality exposes a hidden operational blind spot across the trucking industry: most fleets measure tire cost by purchase price instead of cost per mile.Matt Gibbons explains why that single mistake quietly drains profit from fleets across the country. Tires that fail early create emergency road calls, driver downtime, missed deliveries, and operational disruption that rarely gets tied back to the original purchase decision.Shop owners and tire dealers who understand this shift hold a strategic advantage. Operators looking to reduce fleet tire costs stop thinking like buyers and start thinking like fleet managers. The difference shows up in uptime, service revenue, and long-term customer relationships.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [01:02] Mike Edge introduces Matt Gibbons and Ozarko Tire Centers[02:16] Matt Gibbons’ unexpected path into the commercial tire industry[08:17] How Ozarko Tire Centers expanded into a multi-location commercial operation[11:20] The scale of Ozarko’s sales force, service operations, and retread facilities[12:04] Tariffs, inflation, and pricing pressure across the commercial tire market[13:01] The biggest operational mistakes fleet managers make with tire programs[16:24] Why premium tires often deliver stronger ROI than cheaper alternatives[17:10] Understanding cost-per-mile and why most fleets calculate it incorrectly[19:09] The hidden risks of buying cheap tires without performance tracking[20:27] How roadside service calls impact fleet profitability and uptime[21:58] A real-world example of millions spent on preventable tire failures[23:56] How proactive tire programs dramatically reduce roadside breakdowns[28:28] Challenging industry habits and the danger of “the way we’ve always done it”Resources mentioned in this episode:Matt Gibbons LinkedInOzarko Tire Centers WebsiteOzarko Tire Centers LinkedInTread PartnersGain Traction Podcast on YouTubeGain Traction Podcast WebsiteMike Edge on LinkedInQuotable Moments:“You can’t buy cheap and get ahead in the tire business.”“Most people think cost-per-mile is what they paid for the tire, but that isn’t the real cost.”“The longer a tire stays on the truck, the more money that fleet saves.”“If we can prevent those tire failures before they leave the yard, we’ve just saved the customer hundreds of dollars per road call.”“Since when did the status quo become the standard by which we operate?”Action Steps:Start tracking tire cost per mile immediately.Audit fleet tire failures and roadside service calls.Build preventative lot checks into your service workflow.Shift customer conversations toward long-term tire strategy.Challenge the “cheap tire” buying mindset.
    Más Menos
    38 m
Todavía no hay opiniones