Archive for May, 2011

Does Your Trim Shop Have a Slogan?

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 25th, 2011

Does your auto trim shop have a slogan? If not, maybe it should. According to Business News Daily, “[I]f there’s a lot of competition in your market, a good slogan could be the thing that separates you from the competition.” It helps build brand awareness and communicates what you’re all about.

Many of our industry suppliers already use slogans. It’s mostly independent auto trim shops that don’t. So let’s use the comments section of this blog post to share our slogans, as well as some of the best ones we’ve heard.

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WV Auto Trim Shop Inspires

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 24th, 2011

WOWK, a local TV news channel in West Virginia, recently aired the inspirational story of Jack Waldron, owner and operator of JW Auto Upholstery. Waldron, who has been in business since 1978, became a paraplegic in ’73, after breaking his back in a life-changing car accident. While others in Waldron’s position may have wallowed in sorrow, Waldron decided to not allow his handicap to slow him down. He learned how to stand on two feet, enrolled in an auto trim training program and went into business for himself.

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Weekend Reading: “The History of the Convertible”

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 22nd, 2011

It’s only May and many upholstery shops are already knee-deep in convertible tops. Before you find yourself drowning in a pile of worn canvas and rotted tacking strips, why not brush up on the history of the product you’ll spend most of the summer stripping and installing?

In 2001, Autos.ca published a great article titled “Motoring Memories: The History of the Convertible.” It’s brief, interesting and really informative – perfect for a lazy Sunday. So check it out and impress your customers with a little bit of history.

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How to Expand Your Customer Base

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 19th, 2011

Harry Weimann, auto trim shop owner and Director of Education at WyoTech, published a great article in Hotrod & Restoration today titled “How to Expand Your Customer Base With New Products & Services.” In it, he offers some solid advice on how to offer more services and grow your customer base, without overextending yourself or putting off regular customers.

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Ugly Upholstery: Denim Interiors

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 18th, 2011

Last year, Fiat debuted a limited-edition 500C designed by Diesel, the brand-name clothing company. Its interior was trimmed in denim fabric, stitched together in bright yellow thread and even featured a fifth pocket - you know, to give it that jeans look.

At the time, I scoffed at the idea – as jeans seldom look good on anything but pants (need I remind you of men’s denim jackets?). But, as it turns out, the Diesel 500C’s interior didn’t look all that bad. Sadly, the same can’t be said for these copy cats…

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Why Incorporate Your Auto Trim Shop?

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 17th, 2011

Now that US tax season over, it’s time to consider incorporating your shop. Doing so will help you save money on next year’s tax return and limit your liability if something goes wrong. Small Business Trends recently published an article that does a great job of explaining how.

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Explaining to Customers How the Sun Can Ruin Car Upholstery

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 16th, 2011

Well, it’s summer and you know what that means – headliners will fall, leather will crack and upholstery will fade. And, invariably, customers will ask, ” Why?”

Auto upholsterers, of course, already know the answer to that question. It’s the sun. Explaining that to customers, however, can prove quite difficult. Thankfully, The Financial Express does a great job of explaining how the sun ruins auto upholstery and what owners can do to avoid the negative effects of sun exposure.

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Steamer Broke? Use a Microwave

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 14th, 2011

The last time we posted a video by Ish, he was teaching us how to expertly wrap a steering wheel in leather. This time, he shares a tip on what to do if your steamer is broken and you need to get wrinkles out of a seat cover fast. His methods may be unconventional, but they seem to work.

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Giving Constructive Advice to Your Employees

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 13th, 2011

Entrepreneur magazine published a short piece titled “Five Steps for Giving Productive Feedback” that’s definitely worth a read – especially if you run your own auto upholstery business or manage one’s shop-floor activities.

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NY Taxis Feature Antibacterial Fabric

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 12th, 2011

WIRED reports that Nissan just won a 10 year contract (worth over $1 billion) to supply the city of New York with new taxi cabs. The Nissan NV200, a “cleaner, greener” cab, will soon replace the iconic Ford Crown Victoria. So what makes the NV200 so special? For one thing, its interior is trimmed in antimicrobial nonstick upholstery that resembles leather.

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