Business management training

Have any of you attended classes or seminars put on by a company called ATI automotive training institute ? Was considering signing up for a 1 day class.

We have been ATI clients for about seven years off and on. We were on the brink of financial disaster about three years into shop ownership, primarily because we didn't know what we were doing from a business perspective. I always thought that hard work and common sense would bring success, but there are so many forces working on you that you can't achieve real success without expert help. We joined ATI seven years ago and spent two years being C students and learned enough to dig ourselves out of the hole we had dug. Then I decided I could use that money elsewhere. Big mistake. After about a year, we found ourselves still struggling and missing the help we had been getting, so we joined back up and we won't go without some form of tutoring and business coaching again. Even the best athletes have coaches to keep them focused and to sharpen their game. We have had different coaches at ATI, but the gentleman we have been working with for the past few years is amazing. He guides you, but makes you do the decision making and he holds us accountable for the things we commit to. A couple of years ago, we joined an ATI twenty group composed of shops similar to ours. We actually look at each other's numbers and we have all found that shops have similar problems. The group sets group goals and as a member, you have to commit to work on achieving them. ATI has allied themselves with companies who are experts at every aspect of competing in this business. If I sound like an advertisement, it's because I credit these guys with saving my butt. We now have two shops with great car count, great margins, but we struggle every day with ARO - but we're not struggling alone. It may seem expensive, but if you put aside ego and take advantage of what they have to offer, it's free. Go to the one day class.

There are some other posts about ATI on this site. We are an ongoing ATI client and have had great success with their program. The one day program a great opportunity to see what they have to offer. If you want my long winded version send me an email or give me a call.

Russ

ATI client here as well. At least go to the one day class, its a great motivation to work hard on your business and they give some great tips and advice.

I have gone to one if Ati's boot camp classes but I just cat seem to pull the trigger on the system.

You have to understand where your business is in terms of maturity and financially. If you are struggling, any training program will help you leaps and bounds. If you are already successful and have your business pumping but need to take it to the next level I would suggest to do a lot of research and be as picky as possible.

Ati is good and bad.  My business took a major downturn after starting with them.  We were doing ok but struggled to get to the next level.  We went from ok to barely making it after implementing their approach.  We moved from an extremely low income area to a much better location and voila we are now doing better than ever.  The moral is the ati approach is great in most circumstances.  The advisor training is worth the price of admission.  They do offer a lot more than you would think at first.  All said, I would do it again.

I just signed up for ATI after attending 4 seminars in last 9 years.  Coach seems very good.  They seem to have the most complete program as I did elite, and apm.  It is expensive, but I don't see how I can lose. Goal is to make more net profit, AND have better processes, accountability and KEEP it going.

flacvabeach, you said it all when you said "Even the best athletes have coaches to keep them focused and to sharpen their game". Get the training that's right for you! You won't be disappointed - well, unless you don't follow instruction. I'm not trying to be funny or pushy or anything like that - but being the best tech doesn't guarantee success in the business. If you ONLY concentrate on being the best tech, then it's a hobby. 

Good luck!

Matthew Lee
"The Car Count Fixer"
Get More Car Count, Income and Profits - Join me on YouTube at Car Count Hackers!

Bob

Lots of good advice in these reply's. I have attended 3 of their one day work shops and they are always worth while in my opinion, as long as you apply some of the filters outlined in the other reply's. Your store would not be a typical ATI client, yet everything they (as well as most management training organizations) work with you on, will show you benefit to the degree your market and your engagement will allow. Just to be clear, I did not say it wouldn't work in your market, i said it would work to the degree your market and level of engagement with the process, will allow. Having a connection to most management trainers, will make you a better shop. You just may not see the kinda of benefit, others in stronger markets might see. The reply from Smart Automotive demonstrates that to a point. I have seen other cases where shops in low potential markets take a hit when first signing up with a management training organization. That hit, is kind of a right of passage, in my opinion. 

Attached is an informal market analysis of your market, plus both the old and the new  Smart Automotive locations, as well as various other market locations throughout the country. About 100 or so. 

Your automotive retail market potential score puts you in the very low end of the markets compared there. That does not mean you can't be successful. It may mean that you don't have the luxury of making a lot of mistakes when it comes to how and where you spend your training dollars. 

Randy

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