Independent repair shops that use social media to promote their shop’s services overwhelmingly prefer to use Facebook, according to the Aftermarket Business World 2015 Independent Repair Shop survey.
Seventy three percent of the shops responding said Facebook was their preferred social media channel. Respondents were permitted to select more than one channel if they used multiple channels. As a result, 26 percent said they use Google+, 11 percent use Twitter and 10 percent use LinkedIn.
Some 48 percent of respondents said their sales results stayed the same in 2014 compared to the previous year, while another 48 percent said they experienced a sales increase. Of those posting an increase, 23 percent said they increased sales 1 percent to 5 percent and 16 percent increased sales 6 percent to 10 percent.
Looking ahead to 2015 sales, 43 percent expect their sales to stay the same while 52 percent said they expect to sell more in 2015 than in 2014. Only 5 percent expect a sales decrease in 2015.
Regarding preferred suppliers, 38 percent of respondents want to use auto parts retailers, 34 percent favor warehouse distributors and 23 percent prefer to buy from jobbers.
When it comes to the most important supplier quality, 29 percent of respondents cited parts availability, 23 percent said fair pricing and 14 percent said inventory options and carrying certain brands.
Thirty six percent of respondents said the number one product need of their customers is quality, 24 percent said price, 21 percent said availability and 13 percent said OEM form, fit and function. Click here to see the study.
Methodology: The Independent Repair Shop Product Study was fielded to readers of Motor Age magazine via email. Survey results are intended to show general market trends, not statistical certainties, as results were garnered from a small sample audience.
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