#022 Origin & Impact: Kelli Weatherby of Accurate Automotive

Join Brad Hurlock on the Garage Grit podcast as he sits down with Kelli Weatherby, co-owner of Accurate Automotive in Mesa, Arizona, for an inspiring "Origin and Impact" story!

In this candid conversation, Kelli shares the remarkable journey of building Accurate Automotive from the ground up with her husband, Lee, starting from an unexpected decision to quit a dealership job. Discover how they transformed side work into a thriving business, focusing on their core philosophy of "friends serving friends".

Key Discussion Points:

• Building a Legacy: Hear about their longest-tenured employees, who have been with them for over 20 years, growing alongside the business.
• Family & Business: Kelli opens up about balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship and how their children forged their own paths outside of auto repair.
• The Power of Relationships: Learn how Accurate Automotive cultivates deep trust and loyalty with customers, treating them like family.
• Navigating Challenges: Kelli discusses adapting to changing customer behaviors, the impact of hybrid work on car maintenance, and the unique challenges of operating in Arizona's extreme climate.
• The Importance of Coaching: Understand how a 20-group and business coaching helped them embrace digital advancements (like DVIs) and overcome hurdles, including emotional discounting.
• Succession Planning & Resilience: A transparent look into their multi-year succession planning efforts, why it didn't go as planned, and their resilience in returning to the shop.
• Embracing Change: Kelli's personal philosophy on facing fear with spontaneity and a "let's get it done" attitude.

Connect with Accurate Automotive: Visit their website for more information and to schedule an appointment: www.AccurateAutomotiveAZ.com

Chapters:

0:00:00 Introduction to Kelli Weatherby & Accurate Automotive0:00:57 Longevity of Employees & Building the Shop from Scratch0:02:00 Current Staff Structure & Shop Operations0:03:45 Lee's Health Journey & Easing Back into Work0:05:16 Work-Life Balance in Auto Repair0:06:34 The Importance of Self-Care for Business Owners0:08:06 "Friends Serving Friends" - Core Philosophy0:10:13 Real-World Examples of Customer Relationships0:15:02 Why Car Count is Down & Adapting to New Realities0:16:06 Impact of Arizona's Extreme Weather on Cars0:17:15 Reaching Younger Generations of Customers0:20:22 Valuing the Consumer: Nordstrom vs. Target Analogy0:21:24 Social Media for Shops: People First, Cars Second0:22:34 Getting Back into Content Creation & Authenticity0:25:34 Team Dynamics & Fostering a Supportive Environment0:29:24 The Power of Compliments & Validation0:32:13 The Decision to Start Accurate Automotive0:36:44 Baby Steps to Building a Business0:38:18 Kelli's Background & Transition to Business Owner0:40:38 Transition to Digital Vehicle Inspections (DVI) & Coaching0:42:12 The Value of a Business Coach & 20 Groups0:45:02 Challenges with Employee Loyalty & Accountability0:47:59 Helping Employees Find the Right Fit0:51:53 Overcoming Emotional Discounting in Pricing0:55:49 Charging Fairly for Expertise0:58:41 The "Secret" Strategy for Influencing Decisions1:01:05 Investing in Marketing & Growth1:03:02 The Long Journey of Succession Planning1:06:00 Why Their Succession Plan Didn't Work Out1:07:06 The Risks of Business Ownership & Spousal Support1:08:58 The Shift to Digital Manuals & Training1:11:05 Kelli's Initial Reaction to Starting the Business1:12:11 Embracing Change & Spon