Back to resources Surviving a Car Count Crisis & an Economic Slowdown in Automotive Repair Posted on November 5, 2025 in Podcast When car count drops and competition rises, how do shop owners stay profitable - and sane? What happens when the phones stop ringing and car count drops overnight? In this episode of Changing the Industry, Lucas and David sit down with shop owners Brett Hunziker and Jacob Wierengo to unpack what it really takes to weather an economic slowdown. From shifting marketing strategies and changing customer expectations to the rise of low-cost, unlicensed competitors, they dig into the realities facing today’s repair shops. The conversation touches on everything from balancing repair costs and perceived value to leadership, delegation, and finding balance at home when the business feels overwhelming. Your SMS Should Work As Hard For Your Customers As You Do. See the difference a good shop management software can make. Super hero sales tools Elevate your customer experience Lightning-fast Workflow Mention promo code "CTIWELCOME" when you sign up to receive a free data transfer! Stay ahead of the competition with all-in-one software that speeds up your workflow, delivers data-driven decisions, and automates profitability. Present the value directly to your customers. Provide the customer with the inspection result, notes about the issue, photos with markup, and a detailed cost for the fix, all in one place Capture technician findings with unmatched speed of service. Provide the customer with the inspection result, notes about the issue, photos with markup, and a detailed cost for the fix, all in one place Present the value directly to your customers. Provide the customer with the inspection result, notes about the issue, photos with markup, and a detailed cost for the fix, all in one place See What Shop-Ware Customers Have to Say "We got so much more."We wanted an automotive repair software package with integrated DVI and we got so much more: enhanced customer communication, instant financial reporting, and great work in progress visuals. - Bill Moss, Owner of EuroService Automotive Learn How Shop-Ware Can Help Boost Your Auto Repair Shop's Profitability. Get A Demo of the Industry's Leading Shop Management System Today. Let's Talk Notes from Raleigh: shop owners at ASTA Expo 2026 are ready to stand outThe Shop-Ware team spent September 24 through 26 at the Raleigh Convention Center for ASTA Expo, the annual training and trade show event put on by the Automotive Service & Tire Alliance. We came home with a full notebook and a list of fruitful conversations to follow up on. Learning how the marketers market One […]Keep reading After Hours Is When Your Customers Finally Have Time To Schedule Repair ServiceYour auto repair shop closes at 5, but your customers don’t stop thinking about their cars at that time. Somebody gets home at 6:30, hears that noise again pulling into the driveway, and finally has ten quiet minutes to deal with it before dinner. The call to your auto shop doesn’t disappear, it just moves […]Keep reading Bad Reviews Can Lead To Better Practices.Keep reading Beyond the Repair: Building a Shop for What’s Next.Keep reading
