Automotive Repair News Today

Braxton Critcher [00:00:05]:
Sweet, man. What do you want to chat about?

Travis Troy [00:00:08]:
You.

Braxton Critcher [00:00:09]:
Let's do it.

Travis Troy [00:00:10]:
Your deep, dark secrets.

Braxton Critcher [00:00:12]:
I know, right?

Travis Troy [00:00:12]:
Skeletons in the closet. This is Automotive Repair News Today, and I am here with my newfound friend, Travis Troy. You're the head honcho. You're like the big man in charge this week.

Braxton Critcher [00:00:28]:
I wouldn't say that. Um, I'm one of the co chairs of Vision High Tech Training and Expo.

Travis Troy [00:00:34]:
Okay.

Braxton Critcher [00:00:35]:
Yeah.

Travis Troy [00:00:35]:
We are at Vision 2025. I've been here once before. First time was 23. So now two years later, I'm back. Feels like it was longer than two years ago, but I think it was two years ago when I was here and I left North Carolina 65 and sunny, and now I want to go back because it's like 35 and snowy here. Showed up to a blizzard, wind. Yes, it was. It was interesting getting here.

Travis Troy [00:01:03]:
Flight cancellations twice, and then all the things to get. And it was actually smooth once I got the flight rescheduled, but kind of hectic. So hoping that that doesn't happen on the way back, but excited to be at Vision.

Braxton Critcher [00:01:20]:
And.

Travis Troy [00:01:23]:
So how long have you been doing this for Vision?

Braxton Critcher [00:01:26]:
This is my second year as Vision co chair. I've been an attendee for probably 10 years. Close to 10 years.

Travis Troy [00:01:36]:
How long has it been here at the conference center?

Braxton Critcher [00:01:40]:
Way past me, really. It's been going on, I think, since I've been born.

Travis Troy [00:01:45]:
It's a big place.

Braxton Critcher [00:01:46]:
It is, yes. Sherry knows the deep history, and Jerry knows the deep history. I came in when it was a big event, not when it was, you know, a very, very small event. And it was just a few of them, and it's grown. They've done such a phenomenal job, you know, growing it each and every year. And I have a deep passion for this industry. Every aspect of the industry I love. And, you know, one of the things that I see is there's so many people aging out of this industry.

Braxton Critcher [00:02:23]:
And if us younger people that are passionate about this industry don't do something about it, we're going to lose great events like this. We're going to lose the phenomenal instructors that we have. And there's such a large wealth of knowledge in the younger generation because of the older generation. And I just think we need to get out of our shell a little bit and make things happen. And I'd love to see some younger people start stepping up and really, you know, doing the training, getting outside of your comfort zone and, you know, really trying something different. And that's really kind of Why I stepped up and when I was asked to be vision co chair, this is not me. I am not a forward facing person. No, I like to, I like to be in the background and.

Braxton Critcher [00:03:25]:
But it needs it and our industry needs it and I took it as a challenge to myself and a challenge to the industry to, you know, do what needs to be done to keep great events like this going.

Travis Troy [00:03:44]:
So you and I just met like an hour ago.

Braxton Critcher [00:03:48]:
Right, Exactly.

Travis Troy [00:03:49]:
I have been in the industry for just over a year, have known Lucas Changing the Industry podcast for five, six years at this point. So I mean, I've known of the industry, been plugged in.

Braxton Critcher [00:04:00]:
Yeah.

Travis Troy [00:04:01]:
But I don't know the industry. I'm not a car guy. I've never changed oil. Like I can start my car and drive, but that's it. So, I mean, I'm not a super knowledgeable person when it comes to cars. So here's a question that, you know, I've asked myself and I've asked other people and I want to hear your perspective because. So you're talking about training, the importance of it, the younger generation getting in. So there's videos online.

Travis Troy [00:04:32]:
You can find good training online. People offer that.

Braxton Critcher [00:04:36]:
Yeah.

Travis Troy [00:04:38]:
And once you, this is just me, but once you own a shop, you sort of figure things out. Your market, get some policies, procedures and things are on the upward trajectory and you can find online training. Why go to an event? That means sometimes I feel like people probably have those thoughts. I can see myself, if I was an owner, I was starting to figure things out. Why go to an event?

Braxton Critcher [00:05:08]:
It's a really good question and it's a valid question. Right.

Travis Troy [00:05:12]:
Like I'm the kind of person that feels like there's value in face to face, there's value in connections with an industry. And so that's definitely a draw. Is that the main draw or is there something extra to going in person to training rather than online?

Braxton Critcher [00:05:28]:
There's a lot of different elements to it. That is one very big part. You'll never hear somebody say that they didn't come to an event and not have good networking. Right. It gives the opportunity for the vendors that support the events to get face to face with their end users or potential end users. And you don't get that online. Right. You can send them all the spam mail and everything you want, but when you really get that personal interaction with them, person to person, you hear them out, whether they're frustrated or they want to see an enhancement with something, or they're just looking for, you know, A new, a new vendor partner, right? That's what these events can be used for.

Braxton Critcher [00:06:11]:
Those are just a few elements, right? But going back to the, once you really get your shop going and everything else, honestly, when you think you've got it all figured out, if is usually when you start going backwards in business. And I've been coming here, like I said, For 10 plus years now and I opened this company when I was 19 years old. And you go through those phases where like you start doing pretty good and you think you do have it figured out and then you come back to an event like this and you're like, gosh, there's so much more to learn. And I've sat through the same class three times. They're taught differently each time. Maybe they bring a different spin to it each time. Or you know, like they say, you sit through a class, you know, at best maybe you retain 20% of it, right. So you could sit through that class five times before you really retain all of it.

Braxton Critcher [00:07:06]:
So you think about that and being able to just continue to print that knowledge into yourself and do the networking. That's why I think these events are so powerful and go back to the vendors, this real big supporters of the events and it gives them that opportunity to be able to get face to face with these potential customers and or current customers.

Travis Troy [00:07:38]:
Does it usually take hitting rock bottom or struggling for shop owners to find that out or what does it take for them to come?

Braxton Critcher [00:07:49]:
No, I mean, honestly, if you're, if you're humble enough, you just know you need it. But sometimes it does take rock bottom. I hope it doesn't, but for some it does. You know, they've got to go through a challenging event, a life changing event, whether it's in business or personal, that you just go, I need some personal development, I need some professional development, whatever that is. And, or as a technician, I mean we're kind of talking a little bit about owners, but even as a technician, right, you know, you think you've got it all figured out and then you just have this one car that just kicks your butt and just keeps killing you. Like I wish I could get training on this. Well, you come to an event like this and it's just a plethora of different training that is you can get exposed to. And the other thing that's really nice about it is as a shop or a shop owner, the team building that you can get, the team building aspect that you can get when you come to an event like this.

Braxton Critcher [00:08:45]:
We're not just coming to learn. We're coming to forget about the shop for a little while. We're coming to break bread, have fun and continue to get to know each other. You know, I mean, we're, we're inside these four walls 10 hours a day, five, six, seven days a week, depending on however long you're open. And you come to this event and you just don't have to. The walls are different, the conversations are different and you kind of cut loose, have fun and enjoy yourself.

Travis Troy [00:09:19]:
Right. So it is the vision training.

Braxton Critcher [00:09:25]:
Vision High tech.

Travis Troy [00:09:26]:
High tech training.

Braxton Critcher [00:09:26]:
And Expo.

Travis Troy [00:09:27]:
And Expo.

Braxton Critcher [00:09:28]:
And Expo.

Travis Troy [00:09:29]:
So like, what is this, you know, what is this event or events mean for. For manufacturers, for tool providers, you know, other companies for. For them, you know, what does that mean for them?

Braxton Critcher [00:09:41]:
Yeah, absolutely. So, I mean, you think about tonight, we've got the High Tech Tool Expo, which is all of the new high tech equipment that's coming out. Whether that's scan tools, you know, manufacturing equipment, whatever that might be, they're going to be able to have that on display. Some of it's beta tested or beta tested equipment. Some of it is out in the marketplace for you to use today. And this is really an opportunity for them to roll that out and get it in front of the people, back to that person to person connection and get some instant feedback and allow technicians and shop owners to get their hands on it.

Travis Troy [00:10:21]:
So you're a shop owner too? Yes, Yep. So you started this when you were 19?

Braxton Critcher [00:10:26]:
19 years old. I was still in college.

Travis Troy [00:10:28]:
Wow. I feel like there's actually a good bit of. I didn't realize that getting into the industry, there's a good bit of owners that start real young like that. And I always figured, and I think it probably is the vast majority, the natural progression of, you know, technician, you've been in the shop or you've been in some other business, that capacity and so you own a shop, whatever. But there are more than I expected. Shop owners who start young. 20s.

Braxton Critcher [00:10:54]:
Yeah.

Travis Troy [00:10:55]:
And that is such an undertaking. I mean, you don't even figure out, you know, who you're married to yet. Whatever.

Braxton Critcher [00:11:00]:
I was not here you are starting your own parachute.

Travis Troy [00:11:03]:
That's wild.

Braxton Critcher [00:11:04]:
It goes back to that. You need to be humbled. Right. You think you know it all, you think you can do it. And so you're like, I can do it better. And then you go out and you open your shop. And Marcus Lemona said it best today. The technicians are the most underappreciated in our industry and I wholeheartedly agree with that they never get to see the win.

Braxton Critcher [00:11:32]:
They never get to see the smile on the customer's face. They never get the thank you. So they're just behind the scenes all day long, making transportation possible for so many people. And it just becomes expected. And I just, I agree, it's just not appreciated enough. And I think we need to put a little bit more emphasis on that, for sure, and figure out a way as shop owners to really tie that in and give them those wins, bring the client out and introduce them to the technician before they work, allow them to come out and thank the technician once the work is completed. All of those things that I think really tie all of that in and really, really creates an exceptional customer experience and then also get to feel good for the technician as well.

Travis Troy [00:12:33]:
So this podcast is called Automotive Repair News Today. So the idea is, will I cover the news in the industry and get people's perspective on what's happening, why it's important? And it's great because with me not being in the industry for a long time or having experience as a shop owner or a technician, I come at it as a different perspective. And so I can ask questions that I think sometimes people think that, oh, well, that's obvious, or, oh, everybody knows that. So what vision this year, 2025, what's newsworthy? What's happening in the industry that you think is this next three days that is going to be helpful for people to know? And what's happening at Vision that people need to know about?

Braxton Critcher [00:13:25]:
That's a really good question because I.

Travis Troy [00:13:29]:
Think the industry, like, everything is changing, like, so fast.

Braxton Critcher [00:13:32]:
It is.

Travis Troy [00:13:33]:
And coming to training, obviously, I think would help. So what. What is happening at Vision this week that somebody listening to this podcast is not coming to the. The show? What did they miss out on?

Braxton Critcher [00:13:45]:
The first thing is the. The new technology that the technicians are. Are being trained on at this event. I started in this industry as a technician. I do not consider myself a technician any longer. The. The information has way outpaced me. And that is one big, big part, is just trying to stay up with the technology is absolutely insane.

Braxton Critcher [00:14:09]:
And it is. It's nuts. And not only that, the consumer habits. No, no, the consumer habits.

Travis Troy [00:14:19]:
And by the way, if you're listening to the podcast, I'll just put a pin in that thought. We are, we are recording upstairs at the expo. And so if you're here and you want to record or get on a podcast, please come, come do that. You may have just heard something going on in the background. I think These microphones, I just did a test recording a second ago. I think they're fantastic.

Braxton Critcher [00:14:38]:
Yeah.

Travis Troy [00:14:38]:
And you may not hear that, so but if you did, that's what that was. So come and, come and say what's up and get on the podcast. We'd love to have you. But anyway, that's, that's what's going on. Absolutely.

Braxton Critcher [00:14:47]:
Yeah. But also, I mean, I think another really big change that's happening currently that, not currently, but really kind of after Covid world is the way consumers want to do business. That has changed tremendously. The you're seeing a lot more of the seven day a week shops and the different ways to be able to serve the client. And I think really being able to learn that and be able to adapt to the outrageous, outrageous customer service and really, really tailoring it to the customer. We went a long ways of being able to tell the customer how we do business. That transitioned very fast. So the consumer is now telling us how they want us to do business.

Braxton Critcher [00:15:37]:
And if you don't do business the way they want you to do business, they will go somewhere, well, where that can happen.

Travis Troy [00:15:42]:
And next time you say something like that, make sure you. I have my camera out.

Braxton Critcher [00:15:46]:
Right.

Travis Troy [00:15:47]:
That was great.

Braxton Critcher [00:15:48]:
Yeah.

Travis Troy [00:15:50]:
So you know, when you go to training, something like this, I've heard it said you take notes, but it's an overload of information. There's a lot going on. You can only take so much back and actually apply it to what you do. So you've owned your shop since you were 19. You've been coming to Vision forever. Now you're. What was it again? You're the c. Co Chair.

Travis Troy [00:16:15]:
Co Chair. You're the co chair of Vision. So what, what's a word of advice you would have for somebody who's maybe coming or is here that hey, take three things and, and do this at your shop because it is drinking from a fire hose.

Braxton Critcher [00:16:32]:
100 I call it FTI failure to implement. We all get it. We come to this event, we leave exhausted and fired up at the same exact time and we put our heads back in those same four walls and continue to do the same exact thing that we did before we showed up.

Travis Troy [00:16:53]:
So what does it take? Like, you know, because I think you can go and try one thing but then over time you just revert back. So what have you found to be successful?

Braxton Critcher [00:17:03]:
So one thing that we do with our staff that comes is, is we have a Slack channel. So I would highly recommend whether it's email, text message thread, whatever your communication thread Is at the end of each class, we ask our team, send us three good things that you learned that you would like to either implement. See change in our organization, see change in yourself. Right? Three things at each one. And then we'll talk about it at dinner. And then now we're sharing knowledge. Right? You might have one person that sat in that class and they just shared it with everybody at our table. So now that person then is now teaching the rest of our team.

Braxton Critcher [00:17:40]:
And then we go back to our shop and we can really set out a plan of, hey, we're going to take this, we're going to try this. If this works, we're going to then implement this. Once we're done with that, then we move on to the next step. So then you really kind of create a strategic plan when you get back of rolling out, maybe a new process, a new system, a new policy, a new way to do business. And you can take that back to your shop and really roll it out. But you have to have that plan before you come. So when you get back, now you're in action and you're out rolling that out. And I think that's really important.

Braxton Critcher [00:18:20]:
And when you do that, the amount of momentum that you can keep up when you get back to your shop is almost. I mean, it just makes you unstoppable.

Travis Troy [00:18:31]:
So it's definitely worth it to come to these shows.

Braxton Critcher [00:18:34]:
I think so, 110%. I mean, that's my. My biased, personal opinion. It is, it is very much worth it to. And there's so many great events. I'm. I'm really unbiased when it comes to the events as well as coaching companies. Um, I have a coaching company that I work with.

Braxton Critcher [00:18:55]:
I won't name it because I am very unbiased with that. I think there's so many phenomenal coaching companies out there. There's so many phenomenal events out there, and you just have to pick 1, 2 or 3 and go to them and enjoy them and take something back from them. Right? And they're all going to have something good for you. You just have to see which one fits best for you, whether that's a coaching company, an event, whatever it is.

Travis Troy [00:19:24]:
Where can people find you this week or online for questions or thoughts, comments about the show?

Braxton Critcher [00:19:32]:
Absolutely. If anybody wants to reach out to me, look me up on Facebook. Travis Troy, I'm on LinkedIn. If you are here at the show, come find me. I would love to shake your hand, give you a fist bump. You know, I love feedback on the show. So if there's any feedback that you have, come find me. I'm all open ears.

Braxton Critcher [00:19:50]:
You know, we can't continue to make this show better and greater without, you know, feedback from the people that come to it. And yeah, if you're around, come, come say hi.

Travis Troy [00:20:00]:
He may not want to be in charge, but he is.

Braxton Critcher [00:20:02]:
Exactly. Hey, I. I love it. I call it being voluntold.

Travis Troy [00:20:07]:
Yeah, well, we all have people like that, that volunteer tell us to do things. It's just, do you say yes or no? Apparently you have.

Braxton Critcher [00:20:15]:
So somebody's got to step up. And like I said before, the deep passion that I really, really have for this industry, it's deep into my core and it's changed my life and it's changed a lot of other people's lives that are close to me. And I owe it to the industry to continue that on.

Travis Troy [00:20:32]:
Well, the industry is changing and there are plenty of people that have enthusiasm for the industry. And right now with all the changes, you have a choice to be a part of it or not.

Braxton Critcher [00:20:43]:
Yeah, 100%.

Travis Troy [00:20:44]:
You know, I think coming to stuff like this is great. I'm here, so.

Braxton Critcher [00:20:48]:
Exactly.

Travis Troy [00:20:49]:
Thank you.

Braxton Critcher [00:20:49]:
Really appreciate you coming. I think it's awesome and appreciate you guys having me on the show and yeah, it's fun.

Travis Troy [00:20:56]:
Cool. Travis Troy, the co chair. This is the second year.

Braxton Critcher [00:21:02]:
Second year.

Travis Troy [00:21:03]:
Second year co chair. So thanks for being on, man.

Braxton Critcher [00:21:05]:
Yeah, appreciate you having me.

Braxton Critcher [00:21:11]:
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