Aaron's Repair Center Wins A $50,000 Shop Makeover In The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance's Garage Overhaul Promotion

Aaron’s Repair Center Wins A $50,000 Shop Makeover In The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance’s Garage Overhaul Promotion

The Whitefield, New Hampshire, shop is the second winner in the Alliance’s spring sweepstakes

bond-auto-parts-alliance

Aaron Belanger thought something was up when, as he put it, “…two big wigs from Bond Auto Parts were coming to see me. I thought it meant something was serious, but no way did I figure it was about that!” The “that” Aaron was referring to was winning a $50,000 shop makeover in Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper’s Garage Overhaul Sweepstakes.

The “big wigs” in question were Mark Mast, vice president of marketing and Patrick Marshesseault, regional manager of Bond Auto Parts, who presented Aaron with the check for $50,000.

When asked about how he might put the money to work, Aaron didn’t hesitate; he knew exactly how he planned to use the money.

“Winning the money couldn’t come at a better time. I just finished making some improvements, and this will allow me to really elevate my shop to the next level.”

Belanger started with the shops exterior and plans to improving his signage, installing an exterior lift along with some landscaping and repairs to the driveway. For the interior he plans to update his waiting room and customer service area with fresh paint, new moldings, flooring and furniture. He also wants to freshen up the office with new paint and shelves as well as updating the bathroom and installing a work sink for the shop techs.

Belanger’s shop is already fairly advanced in technology tools, but he plans to install an upgraded security system and add security cameras to the outside.

Aaron’s Repair Center is a valued customer of Auto Value shareholder Bond Auto Parts. He participates in many of the programs Bond offers and is a devoted user of the Auto Value’s e-commerce tool, MyPlaceforParts.

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Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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