B'laster Supports Vo-Tech Students on Their 'Rusty Race to SEMA'

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Workforce Development

B’laster Supports Vo-Tech Students on Their ‘Rusty Race to SEMA’

The dedicated vo-tech students and their instructor, in partnership with B’laster, are working rapidly to finish their latest rat-rod project – a 1951 Chevy five-window pickup truck – in time for the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:
A Freedom High School student uses B’laster silicone lubricant to install Klink Hydraulics custom power-steering lines.

Four automotive technology students from Freedom, Wisconsin, are in the home stretch of their “Rusty Race to SEMA.”

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The dedicated vo-tech students and their instructor, in partnership with B’laster, are working rapidly to finish their latest rat-rod project – a 1951 Chevy five-window pickup truck – in time for the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, which kicks off later this month.

“The students have been working hard as a team to get this truck ready for its debut at SEMA,” said Jay Abitz, automotive and collision repair instructor at Freedom High School. “Spending their evenings and weekends in the shop is easy for these kids because they love the work and value the opportunity to practice their technical skills. And, of course, exhibiting at SEMA with B’laster is incredibly exciting for them. I’m so proud of the blood, sweat and tears they are putting into this project.”

The students are restoring the original cab of the 1951 Chevy, which was donated by a community member. In true rat-rod fashion, they are adding on modern elements from several other Chevy models for updated and enhanced drivability. The finished project will be on display all week at the B’laster SEMA booth, No. 53020. The students also will be sharing their experience on Instagram as they take over the B’laster account (@blasterproducts) for the week.

“Supporting vocational-technical education is one of this company’s passions,” said Randy Pindor, president and chief operating officer of Cleveland-based B’laster Corp. “When we met Jay and his students through our B’laster University initiative, we knew the Freedom automotive program was special. This truck proves that. The students’ skills and drive are impressive, and we’re excited to help them show off their hard work at SEMA.”

The B’laster SEMA booth also will feature the company’s full product line, including PB penetrating grease. Concurrently, B’laster will be exhibiting at AAPEX (booth No. 3047).

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Customer Service: How It’s Done

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

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
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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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