FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

What’s essential to those starting out? Professionals discuss how the industry can be more welcoming to new technicians and salespeople.

WORDS BY ROSA SOPHIA

In recent years, we’ve seen renewed efforts to draw fresh talent into the industry using trade shows as a platform, networking and country-wide initiatives such as through Skills USA’s Mobile Electronics division. On the retailer level, we’ve heard from business owners who’ve gone to local technical high schools and colleges to raise awareness for the 12-volt industry and seek new employees.

In the February 2023 issue of Mobile Electronics magazine, we looked at ways and means that shops find new team members—including by looking outside the industry at other closely-related fields for people who might want to switch their focus.

Philip Lindsley of Titan Motoring in Nashville, Tenn. was one such advocate for making connections at local technical schools. However, he noted, many shops might be unprepared to hire someone who’s totally new to the industry.

“It sounds like we need to train shops to know how to do that,” he said. “Myself or Dan [Bowman], or any other shop that’s doing that with some success—we can show people how.”

Another challenge, according to James Smith of A.C.T. Audio in Vernon, Conn., lies in the fact that the industry is “split.” Smith feels that for every shop that’s dedicated to education and growth, there’s another that doesn’t attend trainings or doesn’t feel they need to. Can the disconnect be resolved? Education is always key, Smith said.

“It’s all about continuing that education and trying to get more shops involved in training events,” he explained. “And even get them involved in the social media groups where we’re trying to educate and grow people—so they can expand their horizons.”

Ensure A Support System Is In Place For Employees

When Smith first opened A.C.T. Audio, he said, “My shop was a hole in the wall. I didn’t know any better. I thought it was what it was.”

Customers will walk out, he said, if they notice the store isn’t presentable. “Maybe it’s cluttered or dirty. When it comes to selling, it’s not always about money, price or budget. It’s about being able to trust you. If you’re not relatable, or your store doesn’t look good, customers may not trust you with their investment.”

Prior to owning his own shop, Smith worked at Best Buy where he had benefits. “Then I became a business owner. I made a lot of money and it didn’t seem to matter as much. We hired entry-level, and our employee retention was low.”

Low retention, he said, is often a result of a lack of positive company culture, low pay, or no benefits. Smith said he sees a lot of shops that still struggle with these issues. “I feel there are more low-paying shops that don’t offer benefits, and when people come into the industry, it’s because they love it, but they have family and they need more money or insurance, and they don’t get that,” he said. “When I went to KnowledgeFest, I saw a whole world I didn’t know about, which led me to level up and grow my business.”

Creating Retailer of the Year videos, he noted, helped him to grow and see where he needed to improve. “When I recorded