Auto Recycling eNewsletter AutoSalvageConsultant.com

 

For immediate release – April 2011

Written and published by Ron Sturgeon, autosalvageconsultant.com, email to rons@autosalvageconsultant.com.  To register for future free issues, visit http://www.autosalvageconsultant.com.  Don’t forget to watch for our management articles monthly in Recyclers Power Source Magazine, or posted at our web site.

 

This Month’s News

 

Dallas City Council to Vote on Salvage Yard Location: The future of a potential new auto salvage company in Dallas is up in the air as community members battle the property owner over the location. The current proposed location is near the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.  The property owner has made several concessions to area residents, including landscaping and fencing, but the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce is still in opposition.  The city council will vote on the matter in mid-April.

 

“This is the backbone of West Dallas,” said Victor Toledo, president of the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce. “It’s raw land. It’s never been developed before. You bring in a use like that? It’s incompatible with the positive changes that are happening in this area.”

 

To learn more about the proposed salvage yard, read the full article here.

 

Auto Salvage Professionals Benefit from Peer Benchmarking:

One Fort Worth business consultant has the solution to making the most of a recovering economy.  Ron Sturgeon, who owns Mr. Mission Possible, says the secret is cooperation with other professionals.  To that end, he has organized a series of peer benchmarking sessions for entrepreneurs in a variety of industries, including auto salvage.  The sessions only include one professional from each market, so there is no threat of competition.

 

“The economy is recovering,” says Sturgeon. “So this is the best time to grow a business.  Working together, we can learn from one another’s experiences.”

 

Learn more about how peer benchmarking can help make 2011 your best year yet. The next group will be on May 14, 2011.  Register now.

Consumer Reports Recommends Buying Some Auto Parts Used: In a recent article on how to save money on car repair, Consumer Reports came out in favor of buying some auto parts from salvage yards.  The consumer agency even went so far as to recommend specific used parts, including bumpers, mirrors, hoods, and alloy wheels.  However, they cautioned consumers against buying used safety equipment like seat belts and brake parts.

The organization also cautioned car owners about voiding their warranties.  Consumer Reports recommended that auto owners check with dealerships and mechanics before purchasing a used part in order to make sure the piece will fit their vehicle.

Read the full story here.

Auto Salvage Insider to Head Up Pennsylvania DCNR: The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will receive a new secretary.  Richard Allan, a past director for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and previous owner of Allan Industries, a scrap metal company, will now run the state agency.

“Richard Allan is a proven leader and commands a wealth of knowledge and experience in environmental and energy issues,” said Pennsylvania’s Governor Corbett about the appointment. “I am confident that his abilities and background will be a tremendous benefit to DCNR, especially during this critical time in the agency’s history.”

To read more about the appointment, see the full article here.

LKQ Corporation Borrows Up to $1.0 Billion: In a recent press release, LKQ Corporation announced that is was borrowing up to $1.0 billion from a group of lenders.  The company, which is the nation’s leading supplier of salvaged auto parts, says the money will be used for general business purposes.

John Quinn, CFO and Executive Vice President for LKQ Corporation, said, “In addition to the increased borrowing capacity, we expect the new facility to bring a number of benefits including lower borrowing costs, reduced amortization payouts, more efficient cash management and extending our only major debt maturity to 2016.”

Read more about the details of the agreement here.

South Carolina Salvage Yard Victim of Copper Thieves: Auto Salvage Company in Ladson, South Carolina was recently the victim of area copper thieves.  The same thieves are believed to have dug under an electric fence to steal several spools of copper wire from the nearby Gregory Electric Company.  In both instances, the person cut a hole in the side of the building in order to enter.  Auto Salvage Company also reports that metal is missing.

 

Read more here.

 

How’s Business?

“The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.”

Dale Carnegie

AutoSalvageconsultant.com was formed in 2001 to help recyclers improve their businesses. The group has become THE definitive source for recyclers’ management and training needs. The founder, Ron Sturgeon is past owner of AAA Small Car World.  In 1999, he sold his six Texas locations, with 140 employees, to Greenleaf.  In 2001, he founded North Texas Insurance Auction, which he sold to Copart in 2002.  In 2009, his book Salvaging More Millions from Your Small Business was published to help small business owners achieve significant success. Ron consults, speaks, and writes about issues key to successful entrepreneurship. Reach Ron at 817-838-8477 8# or contact him on www.autosalvageconsultant.com.