Nationwide Training Program to Debut in 2001

The Partners in Training tour, set to debut in February 2001, will offer progressive installers (and their jobbers) an opportunity to learn more about their business and improve the business management skills of those same customers.

Sponsored by Federal-Mogul Canada Ltd. in partnership with the Southam Automotive Group (publishers of SSGM Magazine), eight Partners in Training (PIT) Stops are planned for locations across Canada. Bob Greenwood will conduct the E.K. Williams two-day business courses. Greenwood, a monthly contributor to SSGM, is a leading business trainer in the automotive aftermarket.

Jobbers are also encouraged to attend these sessions with their key installer customers. With an overall theme of “If you Can’t Measure it, You Can’t Manage It,” the course includes numerous sections: a financial management questionnaire; basics of management; the banker’s financial statement–what does it tell me about my business; early warning signs of operational failure; early warning signs of financial failure; how to analyse an operating statement–up-to-date formulas, ratios and guidelines; review and discussion of industry sales and productivity guidelines and averages; sales potential and capability; six questions of capability; marketing guidelines–selling your shop on quality and enhanced value, not just price; and many other key business management guidelines.

The course also includes discussions and breakout sessions. And, because the number of participants is kept small, to a maximum of about 30, there is ample opportunity for participants to ask questions based on the particulars of their own business.

The tour is slated to kick off in February in Winnipeg, Man., with other PIT Stop training dates in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, London and Halifax. There is the possibility of other dates being added. Installers and their jobbers can find more information at www.autoserviceworld.com, or they can contact their local jobber who can connect them with their local Federal-Mogul representative.