“The 3 Jobs of a Shop Owner” – Kevin Bird of JM Auto Service | GGP #031

"The Three Jobs of a Shop Owner Are Marketing, Hiring, and Training" – Kevin Bird of JM Auto Service | Trust, Team Culture & CoachingKevin Bird of JM Auto Service in Eveleth, Minnesota, breaks down the three jobs every shop owner must master—marketing, hiring, and training—while sharing how he built customer trust, shaped team culture, and embraced coaching to grow his shop.I’m Brad Hurlock, host of the Garage Grit Podcast and founder of AA Shop Marketing. In this Origin & Impact episode, I sit down with Kevin Bird of JM Auto Service in Eveleth, Minnesota.Kevin shares the story of taking over a long-standing repair shop, the lessons he learned from corporate life, and how he’s applied them to running a 12-bay operation in a small northern town. He talks about the realities of earning customer trust, creating a culture where his team thrives, and why investing in coaching groups has helped him level up as an owner.At the heart of this conversation, Kevin lays out a simple but powerful truth: the three jobs of a shop owner are marketing, hiring, and training. If you’re an independent shop owner, this episode will challenge you to refocus on what really drives growth and long-term success.Listen anywhere: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/garagegritWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aashopmarketingLearn more: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/196102239998551👉 Subscribe today and join the Garage Grit community for more stories, insights, and straight talk from shop owners like you.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction and Kevin’s background01:35 – Overview of JM Auto Service and serving a rural community06:30 – Balancing longtime customers with new ones12:00 – Shop management, TechMetric, and building trust with customers17:00 – Transitioning from previous ownership and shop culture changes23:00 – Team dynamics, daily meetings, and culture outside of work28:40 – Kevin’s path into shop ownership and lessons from corporate life32:30 – Hiring strategies and building the right team38:40 – The three jobs of a shop owner: marketing, hiring, training44:40 – Marketing lessons, mailers, reviews, and Google visibility52:00 – Training processes for techs and service advisors57:30 – Moving from growth to consistency1:01:00 – Loaner car program and liability setup1:08:00 – Coaching groups, ShopFix, and the value of a tribe1:12:30 – Closing thoughts and invitation to the Garage Grit community