Finally, we have made it through another winter! Although I always look forward to winter after a hot summer, spring is a welcome sight. In our part of the world, the grass is turning green and the flowers are in full bloom. Spring is a good reminder that new life is sometimes just under the soil waiting for the right time to emerge.
The oil and lube industry is also enjoying new life. I know many operators have had a good winter, and from most indicators, the winter services have been up this year over last. I think we are all ready to transition into spring and summer services, which traditionally have been our most profitable time of year. I know spring is also the time of year when we evaluate shop performance and if we need to add new services or stop doing other services that are not as profitable as they use to be. On pg. 42, we give some insight on how to raise your prices. If that’s something you need to do, I am sure this article will help. Kit Sullivan continues to provide some in-the-shop perspective in his article about lube shop misconceptions on pg. 68.
NOLN has experienced “new life” in the form of several new vendors. Our industry is very fortunate to have so many strong and successful organizations that continue to breath new life into our industry. I encourage you to call on these vendors. They have proven track records of helping shops in our industry be more successful. Look on pg 73 at the advertiser index; we have a special prize for the first three people who correctly list the new vendors for 2016. Hint: there are five. Email your answers to: [email protected]
Also at NOLN, we have welcomed a new life. Our editor, Tammy Neal, and her husband Jason recently welcomed a baby boy. Grant Davis Neal was born on December 4, 2015, and is healthy and happy. Needless to say, we are happy his mommy is now back at work!
As you go about your day, I ask you to stop and take a moment to be thankful for the new life that’s all around us.
Keep on lubin’.
