Record Attendance Expected For Federated National Membership Meeting

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Record Attendance Expected For Federated National Membership Meeting

During the annual meeting, Federated members will attend sessions on a variety of topics including technology, inventory management, employee health care and marketing programs, as well as receive updates from select manufacturers on their latest product offerings. Prior to the official start of the meeting, the Federated co-man council and board of governors will convene.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:

STAUNTON, Va. – A record number of Federated members and suppliers are set to attend the upcoming Federated Auto Parts national membership meeting taking place April 30 through May 3 in Phoenix, Ariz.
 
During the annual meeting, Federated members will attend sessions on a variety of topics including technology, inventory management, employee health care and marketing programs, as well as receive updates from select manufacturers on their latest product offerings. Prior to the official start of the meeting, the Federated co-man council and board of governors will convene.  
 
Highlights of the 2014 meeting will include a keynote speech by Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), who will provide Federated members with an update on the auto care industry, and the return of the Federated Vendor Expo, which has been expanded due to its popularity with both members and vendors.
 
On May 1, Federated will host its annual awards dinner to honor Federated members, vendors and technicians with such prestigious awards as Outstanding Vendor of the Year, the Art Fisher Memorial Membership Award and the Federated Shop of the Year presentation. Also, as part of the awards dinner, the annual Toys for Tots auction will be held.
 
“Our annual meeting is a valuable chance for our members and suppliers to get together and share ideas, opportunities and strategies for the coming year as well as celebrate recent accomplishments,” said Rusty Bishop, CEO of Federated Auto Parts. “We are very fortunate to have a strong, active membership that takes advantage of this time together to interact, learn and help each other be successful.”
 

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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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