It’s award season: Here’s to your jobber!

By Allan Janssen

Every great business needs great suppliers.

Without the products, services, and training they offer, most enterprises would be hard pressed to keep their customers satisfied.

And nowhere is that more true than in the just-in-time world of auto repair.

Your customers expect you to diagnose their vehicle problems efficiently, get your hands on the right replacement parts quickly, and get the job done before day’s end. Given the complexity of modern vehicles, that’s a tall order indeed. And without good suppliers, it’s unlikely to happen.

Given your suppliers’ potential impact on your success, let me ask you a question: Do you reward a particular store with the bulk of your parts purchases? Or do you deal with three or four different jobbers in equal measure?

Industry watchers tell us that splitting the pie equally doesn’t make as much sense as developing a strong relationship with a particular supplier, one that understands your business, knows you and your staff, and is willing to work hard for the lion’s share of your business.

If you have a
special relationship
with your jobber,
you might want
to let them know
how much you
appreciate them.

Those of you who give 80% of your business to a first-call jobber know exactly what I’m talking about. Together you’re creating a productive and symbiotic bond that drives both of your success.

Each year we recognize a jobber that goes above and beyond the call of duty, that has made significant and positive changes in the last 12 months, and that deserves a shout out for their contributions to the betterment of our industry.

As a trade publication, we share your passion for the industry. We’re always looking for good stories to tell – stories about companies that have implemented new work systems, improved productivity, delivered high levels of customer satisfaction, won surprising victories, and overcome real-world challenges.

These stories will fill our year-end issue, as we name the jobber of the year.

Nominations for the 2020 Jobber of the Year are now closed, but we got a bumper crop of great nominations. Stay tuned to find out who won.