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4 weeks ago | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
As a small shop owner, managing time and money efficiently is always a priority. With limited hours and resources to allocate toward systems, services, and skilled help, I am always searching for ways to streamline operations and improve productivity. This extends beyond the physical work of repairing vehicles; it includes optimizing how my office staff, such as estimators, manage their time. I want to ensure they are working as efficiently as possible without burning out.
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1 month ago | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
As an avid history enthusiast, I’ve often heard the saying, “Do you want to win the battle, or do you want to win the war?” While the larger goal is to win the war with the insurance companies, I also know that winning individual battles is crucial when you're in the trenches every day. After all, I run a business, and I have bills to pay and employees to support.
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2 months ago | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
In recent years, much attention has been given to mental health within the body shop industry. We hear a lot about the importance of self-care, preventing burnout, and how to spot the signs of stress in employees. But there's an elephant in the room: the pervasive issue of alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace. If you think this problem isn't widespread, I would argue you're simply not facing reality.
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Dec 1, 2024 | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
In the world of auto collision repair, a familiar refrain has emerged among shop owners: "Are we experiencing increased pushback from insurance companies?" The answer is a resounding yes. As I engage with various shops, it becomes clear that this issue is widespread, impacting the industry as a whole. The Current Landscape Insurance companies are tightening their belts, leading to significant changes in how they handle claims and payouts.
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Sep 30, 2024 | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
There should be a course on how to identify unprofitable repairs. But for most of us, it’s a matter of trial and error. Each shop has its own learning curve in figuring out what works. When I first took over my shop, I said “yes” to almost everything that came through the door. Unfortunately, that approach didn’t always work out, and there were times it came back to bite me.
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Sep 10, 2024 | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
After I attended the Auto Body Association of Texas Trade Show and then a Shopfix Academy conference, I was motivated and had all these ideas. I just went back to my normal routine. But then I came across a quote from Dipen Parmar: “The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.” There are so many things in my shop I know I need to address that I’ve put off. I’m always busy doing busy work and not doing the tedious work that needs to get done so I can run a more profitable shop.
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Jul 31, 2024 | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
Keeping skilled and trained employees is a top priority for all shops. But good employees are especially hard to come by for smaller shops that often must compete with larger shops or dealerships on the pay scale and benefits they can offer. That is why I think as a small shop owner, it’s important for me to have strong employee benefits. What I offer to my employees has evolved and grown as my shop has grown. I wanted to offer my employees health insurance, but I would have to cover the cost.
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Jul 18, 2024 | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
I see articles all the time talking about setting up training pathways for technicians and career pathways for employees, but I always feel like they are geared toward larger shops. A smaller shop may not have the ability to have technicians and employees step away from the shop for an extended period or even know where to start. It also feels like it’s hard to set up a career path in a small shop because there are only so many positions available.
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Apr 18, 2024 | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
Some standard insurance knowledge is key when dealing with auto insurance claims. Everyone has some basic insurance knowledge, but there is some insurance knowledge I think that is critical to know to help your customer. Insured vs. Claimant: It is important to know if your customer is the insured or the claimant when you are dealing with an auto insurance repair. If the customer is the insured, he or she is going to have the limitations of the insurance policy he or she purchased.
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Feb 29, 2024 | 
fenderbender.com | Tiffany Menefee
Leadership is a daunting word for me that makes me conjure many questions. How do I know if I am a good leader? Am I effective? Am I helping my team to grow, or am I holding my team back? Am I showing enough empathy? Am I communicating enough? These questions — and more — have played out in my head many times. I read books on self-growth. I listen to podcasts. I have even taken a few classes. Ultimately, what I found for myself is that to be an effective leader, I have to continually work towards that.
