Gearbox Podcast

 In this episode, Jimmy sits down with shop owner Josh Rainwater, who’s in the thick of a serious growth phase — and not holding back. Josh talks about what it means to go all in on your business, pushing through those brutal weeks where quitting sounds tempting, and the strategy behind hiring to free himself up from the bay and the front desk. If you’ve ever been stuck between turning wrenches and running the show, this o...

 Private equity firms are flocking to the auto repair industry like never before—but why? In this episode, Jimmy Purdy sits down with industry expert Jim Parker to break down the boom in shop acquisitions, what makes auto repair recession-resistant, and how COVID put the spotlight on blue-collar businesses. Plus, they dive into a shocking stat: 40% of small business owners are nearing retirement, but many aren’t prepared t...

We sit down with Josh Coomes, who is in his second year of running his auto repair shop. We dive deep into the challenges of managing car count, marketing strategies, and the struggle of balancing growth with efficiency. Josh and Jimmy discuss the tipping point where too much work can actually hurt a shop, the importance of processes, and whether discount services like free diagnostics are a smart play or a race to the bot...

Gear up for a special edition of The Gear Box Podcast! 🎙️🔧

This time, I’m bringing you along for a Saturday morning like no other—live from the airwaves of Gear Head Radio!  It’s a call-in radio show where we talk cars, repairs, industry insights, and everything in between—unfiltered and in real-time.

Get ready for live questions, expert advice, and a whole lot of gearhead banter. Whether you're a shop owner, technician, o...

In this episode of The Gearbox Podcast, we sit down with Brandon Jones, a former shop owner, coach, and leadership mentor, who is on a mission to change the way repair shops estimate jobs. Brandon has just launched Hub Shop Solutions, a groundbreaking company that provides a team of remote estimators, allowing service advisors to focus on what truly matters—building strong client relationships.

We dive into Brandon’s journe...

 Are you giving away free work without even realizing it? Struggling to raise your labor rate without losing customers? In this episode of The Gear Box Podcast, we sit down with Jaron Kleber from Repair Shops of Tomorrow to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the automotive industry—knowing your worth and charging for it. We’ll break down why so many shop owners underprice their services, how to confidently set and inc...

Today, Jimmy Purdy and David Toole talk about the pros and cons of owning multiple repair shops. David emphasizes creating a strong shop culture, particularly when expanding locations. He shares advice on preforming reviews and evaluations of technicians to ensure they are aligned with shop standards and discusses the challenges involved in managing financial aspects of a growing business. 

00:00 Streamlining for Growth and...

Christian Mosley joins Jimmy Purdy to talk about automotive repair shop marketing. Christian talks about the pros and cons of social media how many shops have found wide success online. Jimmy shares his experience offering no-cost inspections to improve customer retention, saying that their retention rate increased significantly. The bottom line, though, is that quality work and good processes are essential in long-term cu...

In this episode of The Gearbox Podcast, Jimmy Purdy and Mike Allen talk about adaptability in today's industry. Mike shares why he offers free diag and gets into the constant balance between maintaining quality service and achieving growth.

Listen to Mike Allen's new podcast "Confessions of a Shop Owner" HERE

00:00 Rural Store to Automotive Career

04:13 College Dropout Party Life

07:59 "Anomaly and Natural Selection in Busine...

Today, Jimmy Purdy and Coralee Zueff talk about shop management and how to find the ideal ratio of technicians to service advisors. Jimmy asks Coralee to share her experience and advice to shop owners on how to gain trust between advisors and technicians. Coralee gives tips on setting expectations and improving diagnostic processes for shop owners.

00:00 "Gearbox Podcast: Automotive Journeys"

05:42 Setting Customer Expectati...

Todd Westerlund is an industry vet. Over 15 years of technical experience and more than 18 years in the repair shop coaching. Todd is a believer in opening your shop seven days a week for ultimate customer service. He also shares advice on how to make your processes more efficient. 

00:00 Industry Insights & Training

07:25 Technician's Journey: 15 Years Experience

10:46 Hands-On Training Initiative

20:16 Flexible Work Sche...

Jimmy talks with Kingston and Ava about their family-run transmission business at AAPEX 2024. Ava shares her journey in office management and how she's learned hands-on and gotten pretty good at multitasking. Kingston is excited about the technical side of the business, and even though he's in the 8th grade, he loves rebuilding transmissions. 

00:00 Transitioned from packaging to office management tasks.

05:51 Mom suggests l...

Listen to Arun's podcast "We Are Driven"

In this episode, Jimmy Purdy is joined by Arun Coumar, owner of Driven Auto Care and host of the "We Are Driven" podcast. Arun discusses the significance of efficient operations and avoiding high-pressure sales tactics to enhance the customer experience. Jimmy shares the challenges he faced in expanding his business, emphasizing the importance of having documented procedures for cons...

In this episode, Jimmy Purdy is joined by Jim Cokonis to discuss the significance of mindset and culture in business, especially within the realm of technician coaching. Jim Cokonis shares an anecdote about Simon Sinek to highlight the benefits of positive management on employee satisfaction. Jimmy emphasizes the difference between treating technicians as people versus mere productivity tools and suggests focusing on posit...

Phil Leone, a seasoned automotive business coach, joins Jimmy Purdy. Phil emphasizes the necessity of thorough car inspections to ensure efficiency and job satisfaction among technicians. He shares the importance of quick quoting for waiting customers to enhance customer experience and minimize delays. Additionally, Phil discusses the value of ongoing coaching and how shop visits help identify real operational issues, ensu...

Cecil Bullard is the CEO of The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence. Cecil discusses the challenges of dealing with driven individuals in group settings and the risks impatience can pose in business decisions. He also shares his experiences with vetting marketing companies, emphasizing the importance of thorough evaluation to avoid issues. 

00:00 Coaching programs tailored to client business levels.

05:23 The M&...

Jimmy Purdy chats with Buckaroo Bob about organizing major training events in the automotive industry. Buckaroo Bob explains the strategies behind attracting participants from outside the local area, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and education in automotive diagnostics and repairs. Jimmy reflects on the enthusiasm of younger technicians today, contrasting it with past advice to avoid the industry, a...