PBMA April Newsletter
A little bit about certification
Some tidbits of information
How much information is too much or too little? It's a real challenge to determine an answer to that very simple question. If we share too much and it's not tested and verified the naysayers hit us hard. If we detail it in full with full functionality we risk our hard thought and crafted ideas being used by others.
The cycling industry should be a well oiled slick functioning machine, unfortunately at times it simply isn't. As mechanics in a larger shop we are set to our daily tasks from clock-in to clock-out without another worry in the world. Perhaps our manager is smart and includes some training and education time but likely not. Mostly everyone is worried about the bottom line, making as much money in the day and turning as many repair tickets as possible. In the smaller shops the mechanic is tasked with way more and surely in most instances there is never time to sit down and do some training.
Will certification and training fix that? In some cases yes because through these pieces we are creating we will help the shop owner, the service manager and the mechanic understand the value of a well trained technician. We already know that a dedicated service writer (in shops that have the need) will easily pay for themselves if given the opportunity to do that critical job. Managing labor intake and eliminating disruptions to the technicians is critical to success in service. Certification and training will definitely help you here.
We know from surveys that most shops charge an hourly rate of $60 to $80, we know that just over half utilize a dedicated service writer and we know that most shops we are evaluating service correctly are realizing 60% profitability. Here is what we also know:
15% of shops provide free adjustments for life
70% do not provide the service team a bonus or incentive
38% still don't service suspension
86% don't bill the cost of building a bicycle to sales
88% view technical training as improtant
60% want more availability of training
51% want a nationally recognized system of certification
Why are those numbers important? Giving away labor in free adjustments is a selling point and we understand that, but are you tracking it and billing it into sales? The service department builds bicycles and absorbs the labor cost. Imagine if you took those two pieces and assigned them to the correct department? You'd probably realize an instant 10% or more increase in profitability in your service department. You could provide your mechanics a bonus. Mechanics and shops want training and education, they want it to be more easily accessible and affordable.
The PBMA will be producing a series of regional training events. These events are ideally to be held on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday cycling and we are aiming to have a handful of technical partners providing hands on tech in addition to one or two professional development courses. We want to help you as individuals, as managers and as owners make more money on the services you provide. We will host these and there will be a cost, that cost however will be reduced for members and by moving these events to different locations we're able to hopefully cut down on travel costs for those attending. These events will tie into certification by helping individuals fulfill the continuing education requirements to remain certified.
The PBMA is working hard as you read this to fund and detail scholarships to that those members who can't afford to travel, pay the tuition, pay for meals or pay for their lodging have options. Tying it all together we are funding a hardship program for those instances when a member has a major life event and needs our help.
What does it all mean and why is it all so important? It means that certification will help individuals prove their worth, it means individuals can say look I have X Y and Z and those are marketable qualities. It means that a shop can advertise their certified staff. It means those working on the bicycles consumers are riding have proof of the knowledge they possess. It provides a consumer an understanding of why choose shop A over shop B. It provides purpose for our existence as bicycle shops and sets us apart from those other places just slapping together and selling bicycles.
Certification is a pathway to the change in consumerism. It's a pathway to stability in what we all do.
- James Stanfill, President
Some tidbits of information
How much information is too much or too little? It's a real challenge to determine an answer to that very simple question. If we share too much and it's not tested and verified the naysayers hit us hard. If we detail it in full with full functionality we risk our hard thought and crafted ideas being used by others.
The cycling industry should be a well oiled slick functioning machine, unfortunately at times it simply isn't. As mechanics in a larger shop we are set to our daily tasks from clock-in to clock-out without another worry in the world. Perhaps our manager is smart and includes some training and education time but likely not. Mostly everyone is worried about the bottom line, making as much money in the day and turning as many repair tickets as possible. In the smaller shops the mechanic is tasked with way more and surely in most instances there is never time to sit down and do some training.
Will certification and training fix that? In some cases yes because through these pieces we are creating we will help the shop owner, the service manager and the mechanic understand the value of a well trained technician. We already know that a dedicated service writer (in shops that have the need) will easily pay for themselves if given the opportunity to do that critical job. Managing labor intake and eliminating disruptions to the technicians is critical to success in service. Certification and training will definitely help you here.
We know from surveys that most shops charge an hourly rate of $60 to $80, we know that just over half utilize a dedicated service writer and we know that most shops we are evaluating service correctly are realizing 60% profitability. Here is what we also know:
15% of shops provide free adjustments for life
70% do not provide the service team a bonus or incentive
38% still don't service suspension
86% don't bill the cost of building a bicycle to sales
88% view technical training as improtant
60% want more availability of training
51% want a nationally recognized system of certification
Why are those numbers important? Giving away labor in free adjustments is a selling point and we understand that, but are you tracking it and billing it into sales? The service department builds bicycles and absorbs the labor cost. Imagine if you took those two pieces and assigned them to the correct department? You'd probably realize an instant 10% or more increase in profitability in your service department. You could provide your mechanics a bonus. Mechanics and shops want training and education, they want it to be more easily accessible and affordable.
The PBMA will be producing a series of regional training events. These events are ideally to be held on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday cycling and we are aiming to have a handful of technical partners providing hands on tech in addition to one or two professional development courses. We want to help you as individuals, as managers and as owners make more money on the services you provide. We will host these and there will be a cost, that cost however will be reduced for members and by moving these events to different locations we're able to hopefully cut down on travel costs for those attending. These events will tie into certification by helping individuals fulfill the continuing education requirements to remain certified.
The PBMA is working hard as you read this to fund and detail scholarships to that those members who can't afford to travel, pay the tuition, pay for meals or pay for their lodging have options. Tying it all together we are funding a hardship program for those instances when a member has a major life event and needs our help.
What does it all mean and why is it all so important? It means that certification will help individuals prove their worth, it means individuals can say look I have X Y and Z and those are marketable qualities. It means that a shop can advertise their certified staff. It means those working on the bicycles consumers are riding have proof of the knowledge they possess. It provides a consumer an understanding of why choose shop A over shop B. It provides purpose for our existence as bicycle shops and sets us apart from those other places just slapping together and selling bicycles.
Certification is a pathway to the change in consumerism. It's a pathway to stability in what we all do.
- James Stanfill, President
THE PROFESSIONAL BICYCLE MECHANICS ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE, DEVELOP, AND ADVOCATE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL BICYCLE MECHANIC.
