How Clean is Your Repair Shop?

By Dave Trux

Years ago, I read an article in an industry magazine asking this very question. The author was challenging repair shop owners to take a look around their respective shops and ask themselves, “Do I run a clean operation?” Personally, I took that article to heart and have always strived to maintain a clean, well presented shop.

One of the key points the author emphasized was that if a shop was clean up front in the office, then chances were high that the shop, its employees and it practices were clean in the back of the shop as well. Our shop is unique to most as we maintain complete transparency between the front and the back of our operation. We have five large windows looking on to the shop floor. We can’t hide anything. As a result, we strive to keep things as clean as possible. I hear weekly from our clients what a nice, clean facility we have. Those statements merely reinforce what I read years ago.

Now, I challenge you, the reader, to take inventory of the repair shop where you currently take your car. Is the front office clean and organized or is there paperwork strewn about and grease on the countertops? If there is a waiting area, is it clean and comfortable? Is the restroom clean? Do the employees you encounter have dirty, oil stained clothes, or are they relatively clean looking? I’m writing in metaphors, yet these are just a few examples of things you may look for.

To be fair, all shops get busy and no busy shop is going to be 100% spotless. But, from my perspective, a shop that makes the effort to present itself in a clean, organized fashion in the front of the shop most likely has processes and policies to properly maintain and repair you vehicle once it’s inside the shop.

Food for thought and happy motoring!

Do Peaceful Protests Work?

By Bob Cox

Just one day after the U.S. Presidential Inauguration, over 2.6 million people in over 670 cities around the globe came out to support a variety of human rights principles, according to the USA Today and the Sacramento Bee. In our nation’s capital, 500,000 demonstrators showed up, along with hundreds of thousands of others in cities across all 50 states and 32 countries. During these events, one question has been asked by many: What good can come of this, now that the presidential election is in the rear view mirror?

To answer that question, let’s take a brief stroll through the history books. One of the biggest movements in early American history began in 1848 when a small group of women, who were searching for an equal voice in society, gathered to discuss the conditions and rights of women on July 19-20 in Seneca Falls, New York. From those humble beginnings of the Seneca Falls Convention, a grass roots movement sprouted up behind Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone, leaders of the women’s suffrage movement. It would take another 72 years of hard fought perseverance through numerous demonstrations for the group to accomplish its crowning achievement, when on August 26, 1920; U.S. Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment, giving women the right to vote.

A century later, the power of peaceful demonstrations would change our country for the better again with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 60’s. The seeds of this uprising were planted in the blood soaked battlefields of the Civil War when on January 1, 1863; President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which set free the slaves of all Confederate states. Within seven years, three important amendments (Thirteen-Fifteen) would pass, officially abolishing slavery, granting citizenship and voting rights to former slaves. So from there, we all lived happily ever after…right? Wrong!

The hypocritical horrors of institutional racism festered in America; however, as the unjust Jim Crow Laws were enacted in 1890 in former Confederate States; laws that enforced “separate but equal” public facilities that were proven to be consistently inferior for African Americans. It would take a number of spontaneous and organized protests to create and pass the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965), thus ending the Jim Crow era for good in 1965, exactly one hundred years after the conclusion of the Civil War.

So, what can come from the newest peaceful demonstrations that circled our globe on January 21, 2017? If history repeats itself as it often does, then profound social changes can happen. If the protests remain law abiding, peaceful and persistent; their message will have a better chance of appealing to the masses, which is the key to getting things done. Organized and peaceful demonstrations also provide individuals with the opportunity to creatively brainstorm with other like-minded people who are determined to stand up for the things they believe in. The initial protest can establish a strong foundation, but it is just the first step. Staying involved by participating in more protests, starting your own grass roots movement or even running for public office are the kinds of consistent actions that make change more likely to occur. If you are frustrated with the way things are, resist the urge to sit around griping. Get involved, do something positive and go for it! 

Why See a Chiropractor for Weight Loss

By Dr. Beth Blakely

For those of you who have made losing weight your New Year’s resolution, I’m confident that with a little help from yours truly, we can get those extra pounds off safely, effectively and permanently.

I believe that most people who chronically struggle with excess weight tend to have an underlying issue that is the root cause to their growing problem. If that underlying issue is not addressed, it’s a losing battle. Actually, it’s a gaining battle as the weight piles on!

I have found that many people who suffer from chronic pain and discomfort tend to over-eat unhealthy food; aka comfort eating.  Some attempt to manage pain by drinking alcohol or taking pain medication, either prescription or over-the-counter.   

While these unhealthy habits are nothing to be ashamed of, the dangerous territory you’ve entered cannot be ignored. Over time, the consumption of alcohol or pain medication can lead to kidney or liver damage and once you have a liver problem, you will not only be unable to lose weight; you will have opened yourself up into some very serious and possibly irreversible health disorders.

Tragically, many people that suffer from chronic pain often live in unnecessary agony because of undetected nerve damage, which can be the underlying problem. My priority is helping my patients learn how to make healthier choices while reducing the unhealthy options that are enemies of more than just the bathroom scale.

I’ve found that the two most common culprits to excessive weight are digestive problems and hormonal imbalances. Both of these disorders are created and exacerbated by an unhealthy and imbalanced diet. Many people are shocked to discover that insulin is actually a hormone, and this important hormone needs to be balanced in order to lose weight. Keeping your blood sugar steady is critically important to the big picture of maintaining a healthy weight and a nourished body.

It’s extremely common for people to be overweight and undernourished at the same time. If you’re having a problem with losing weight and/or keeping it off, the combination of chiropractic treatments and functional medicine may be the answer to your New Year’s resolution. You deserve a trim and healthy body!

2017: The Year of No More Compromises!

By Chris Barr

If you’re like most people, you spend more of your waking hours in and around the kitchen than in any other part of your home.  It’s a place where you can provide for your loved ones and enjoy each other’s company.  But let’s be honest:  there are things about your kitchen that you really hate.  The old white ceramic tiles are chipped and cracked, or the Formica is peeling, and for sure you don’t want to even think about all the germs that live in the graying grout lines.  Your porcelain or stainless sink is scratched and never looks completely clean.  Maybe you don’t like the look of your short backsplash with stained paint above it.  And above all, the whole room seems friendly but tired – and completely outdated.

It’s time to stop compromising!  You deserve a kitchen that excites you when you walk into it and that reflects your true personality – stylish or elegant or fun or country or super contemporary, whatever it is.  It’s your time!  And the best part is, you can have that very kitchen, the one in your occasional fantasies, faster, more affordably and with much less hassle than you’ve dared imagine.

Meet the folks at GRANITE TRANSFORMATIONS.   Our beautiful engineered surfaces of granite, quartz or recycled glass are the most durable and lowest maintenance countertops anywhere, bar none.  Even better, we’ve specifically engineered them to fit directly over your existing surface, saving you the mess and aggravation of the demolition process (meaning you add no junk to the landfill.) In most kitchens, we’ll be in and out of your hair in just one day!   Nothing needs sealing or treating ever and your new countertops have an exclusive lifetime warranty.

While we’re there, we can install a stunning new full-height backsplash made from hand-cut artisan glass and replace your sad sink with a new Blanco Silgranit sink in your choice of styles and colors, also with a lifetime warranty.

You’ve earned this, haven’t you?  There’s absolutely no cost or obligation to meet with one of our experienced Design Consultants.  They’ll ask enough questions to really understand what you want to accomplish, give you some great ideas to consider, and provide an accurate price while they’re there.  It’s that simple.  Drop by the showroom or call today to schedule your free in-home consultation – (916) 851-9745.

P.S.   We also do bathrooms, fireplaces, cabinet refacing and more…but that’s another story.

iParts

By Mark Tornatore

Being without your phone is kind of like being without your car. It can be a major inconvenience because our phones are so much a part of our lives. So, when I damaged my phone a few years ago, I instantly felt a little stressed out at the thought of being cut off from the outside world. Fortunately I heard about a shop that repairs mobile phones called iParts and I’m so glad I took my phone to them.

Over the years, they’ve never disappointed me. I really like their fast turnaround, fair prices and excellent service. The thing I like most about them is their prompt service. Whenever I walk in, they greet me with a friendly smile and generally speaking, they’re able to repair my phone on the same day.

I have five children and most of them have a cell phone. I’m not in the habit of trashing my kids, so let’s just say that they don’t have the best track record with keeping them in good working order! So, it’s quite common to seek out iParts for a speedy repair for our family.

While at work, I’ve also needed the help of iParts for a variety of fixes. As the general manager of a busy automotive repair shop, a lot of our guys have found themselves in need of cell phone repairs, especially cracked screens caused by dropping their phones on the concrete floor. Fortunately, a lot of our guys have used iParts and are really happy with their service.

Another thing I really like about iParts is their versatility. They are pretty much able to fix any kind of little gadget that you might have. We have a specific tool at our shop that we use to reset tire lights, which is something that’s on most newer vehicles. This is a very expensive and necessary piece of equipment which much like a phone, gets dropped. When that happens, it can knock loose electronic components inside the device. The last time that happened, iParts was able to fix it for me very quickly and economically. That could’ve been a very pricy replacement had they not been able to fix it, so that was wonderful!

Last year, one of my younger children wanted a hover board, so I actually purchased one from iParts. Unfortunately, my son has broken the charger twice since then, but they were able to get that resolved for me. I highly recommend iParts without a shadow of a doubt. I wouldn’t use anybody else when it comes to those types of repairs.

This Knight sees the Light

By Bob Cox

Once upon a time and just over three years ago to be exact, lived a young man who was a gifted and skilled mechanic. People would travel from the ends of the earth to have their vehicle’s properly diagnosed and repaired. All in this story would go on to live happily ever after, all that is except for the young mechanic who felt conflicted and torn. His name was Marcus Knight.

You see, Mr. Knight had been raised with a strong set of ethical standards that were not being practiced by some of the repair shops he had worked in. According to Marcus, it was common for some shops to not honor warranties, while others would either break things or misdiagnose problems and then go on to charge their customers because they could get away with it.

Finally, the day came when Marcus had had enough, so he packed up his tool box and started his own repair shop called Knight’s Automotive off Power Inn Road in Sacramento. We had a chance to speak the other day and here’s how it went.

Q: How long did you work at other shops as a mechanic?

A: About 10 years. I worked at a machine shop for about three years and then a dealership for a little while, but mostly independent shops. I spent about five years working at a shop in downtown Sacramento before the owner passed away.

Q: What drew you to the automotive industry?

A: Well, my Grandfather was a machinist for the military and he worked on aircraft. So I started out working on airplanes when I was a little kid and he would take me flying. We would work on stuff at home and it was just in my blood. I was born to do this.

Q: What separates your shop from other shops in town?

A: Well, multiple things really. One of the things that definitely stands out is that the repairs we do are being explained to you by a mechanic, not a salesman, which means we don’t try to pull as much money out of you as possible. I noticed how that happened at some of the shops I worked at. Another thing is just being basically honest and having integrity. We are dedicated to excellence in every aspect and really go the extra mile, like if a customer needs to be towed. I’ve even met people on the side of the road.

Q: What do you do in your shop to maintain your high ethical standards?

A: Well, I’m just upfront and refuse to charge for stuff that we break. We specialize in diagnosis, but if we do misdiagnose a car and hang a part on there that doesn’t fix it, we don’t charge for that because I feel like that is wrong. You’re paying us to figure out what’s wrong with the car and fix it. We have a strong faith and we all practice the golden rule.

Q: Is it common for auto mechanics to misdiagnose a car?

A: It’s pretty common in the industry. That’s why we check and recheck. I think that’s why I have developed good relationships with all my customers and a lot of them have become friends. There’s more to life than just going to work and collecting a paycheck.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to mention about your shop?

A: Yes, we literally work on everything. We do hybrid repair, diesels, foreign and domestic cars and trucks up to one ton. We’re also looking to hire one more full time mechanic with at least five years of experience that has a good ability and a strong knowledge base. That would free up more of my time to spend with my customers.

Marcus credits much of his inspiration for opening up his own business to his mother Rebecca Spuehler. Rebecca has enjoyed a fulfilling and prosperous career as the owner of her own Avon business. She has rented a space off Madison Ave. near Auburn Blvd. for several years and has used it as a retail store and training center. In a career spanning nearly three decades, Rebecca’s contagious enthusiasm and generous heart have helped her recruit and develop the top sales team in Sacramento. I caught up with Rebecca recently find out what’s new and exciting at Avon.

Avon is on the Move!

Q: You’re in the process of moving your business from a retail shop to your home. Do you think this will change anything for your customers or your sales team?

A: Yes and I’m excited about the move! This move will give me more time with my sales reps and my customers, especially when I’m delivering products. I’ve built an incredible business from home before I even opened up my store 25 years ago, so I’m looking forward to building up our team from my home and plan to double my business this year!

Q: How were you able to build the number one sales team for Avon in Sacramento?

A: Just being consistent in everything I do and having a belief system that it can work. Also, just wanting this badly enough. You have to believe in and love your product. That’s really one of the most important things. Somebody made a joke about me one time when she said I was a walking, talking Avon machine! And she was right because I wear their clothes and use all their products. I’m always excited about the products and how it changes people’s lives.

Q: If someone is interested in selling Avon, why should they consider joining your team?

A: Well, I have a lot of knowledge and experience. I feel like I’m generous and I believe in giving things to my team members to help them be successful, like catalogs and samples. I also have an incredible manager and we work really well together and have built a winning team.

Q: What’s new and exciting at Avon?

A: We are putting together a ton of gift baskets and I customize them for people that are busy and don’t have time to shop. I arrange beautiful customized gift baskets for Valentine’s Day and fill them with things like cologne and jewelry. I even deliver them to my customer’s home or place of business. All they need to do is let me know what their sweetheart is interested in and their price range and we’ll do the rest!

Q: How difficult is it to start a part-time or full-time Avon business?

A: Avon has made it really easy to start a business, so if you’re interested in selling Avon, call me and I can help you get started in just 10 minutes! For just $25, we will help you get off to a great start with a beautiful starter kit.

Editor’s notes: For more information about Knights Automotive, call (916) 753-4332 and for more information about Avon call (916) 331-1001.

Real Estate News for 2017

By Joel Perez

Well, I’m sure you’ve heard that interest rates have gone up a little bit recently. If you feel like you’ve missed your opportunity to buy a home, it’s important to have some perspective as interest rates are still at historical lows. So, whether you’re applying for an FHA loan, a conventional loan or a VA loan, you can still enjoy a great value.

On the other hand, the small rise in interest rates have put some pressure on buyers to get off the fence and purchase now before rates have a chance to go up again. On the other hand, many experts believe that interest rates should either hold steady or inch up a little more.

For a number of years during and after the Great recession, lenders dramatically increased their requirements to purchase a home loan. Fortunately for people looking to purchase a home in the near future, 2017 looks bright as lenders are expected to loosen up a bit. This all means that there should be more opportunities for folks to get loans.

If you have tried to qualify for a home loan in the past few years but were rejected, don’t give up hope. Perhaps all you need to do is make a few little adjustments that would put you in a better position in the near future to qualify for a loan. I’m confident that I can help you if you’re in this situation as I do have a very competent team of lenders that can offer advice on subjects like credit repair or other challenging situations.

If you’re on the other side of the fence and planning to sell your home, I will be happy to assist beyond just marketing your home. For example, if you need some work done to improve your property, I have a strong network of professional contractors, plumbers, home inspectors and other trades-people to help you sell faster, easier and hopefully put more money in your pocket. These professionals have the highest standards of integrity and knowledge and we will be there to help you every step of the way, whether you’re buying or selling your home.

As we enter 2017, it’s important to understand that inventory levels are still very low, which means that home values are expected to continue go up some, likely in the single digits. If you’re planning to purchase a home, it’s important to work with an agent who is very familiar with the home values of the specific neighborhood you’re interested in. That should increase the likelihood that your offer is more than just competitive: it’s accepted. The same goes when you list a property because you want to be priced at a point that generates maximum interest and gives you the best value for your property.