Auto Recycling eNewsletter AutoSalvageConsultant.com

 

For immediate release – June 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

 

Copart Chief Describes Plans for Future Growth: Jay Adair, Copart’s chief officer, maintains that the company’s recent advancements in technology and infrastructure are important to future growth plans.  These advancements are key to the launch of integrated systems between the U.S. and U.K., which Adair hopes will streamline the company’s operations.

 

“We’re focused on eliminating processes that are clunky,” Adair said. “iPhones didn’t exist five years ago. iPads didn’t exist five years ago. We’re in a new technology age today where people expect mobile computing, data at their fingertips and mobile bidding. That’s the road we’re headed down. That’s going to drive efficiency. That’s going to drive unit growth because the more transparent you are, the more information you can give your customer and the more likely they are to see the results they can get through the tools you offer. They’re going to be more apt to use them.”

 

Read the full article here.

 

Auto Salvage Professionals Work Together to Succeed:

For many business owners, including those in the auto salvage industry, economic recovery has been a slow process. Many younger business owners seek out the wisdom of more experienced professionals who have weathered hard times in the past. Ron Sturgeon, who has been part of the auto salvage business for more than 30 years, is formalizing this knowledge transfer process by creating a series of peer benchmarking sessions for auto salvage professionals from different market areas.

 

“It’s easy for people to get caught up in competition,” says Sturgeon. “But when we work together, we can solve more problems than we can on our own.”

 

Learn more about how peer benchmarking can help make 2011 your best year yet. The next group will be on November 12, 2010.  Register now.

Auto Salvage Business a Way of Life for One Family: When Chuck and Dawn Godfrey purchased a Riverdale, Michigan salvage yard 28 years ago, they were taking a major risk. The couple had only $35 to their name when they started the business, which they’ve turned into a successful family enterprise.  Today, all the members of the Godfrey family have worked at the salvage yard at one time or another, and it’s expected that future generations will follow suit.  The Godfreys feel that working in the salvage yard is a great way to teach their kids and grandkids about the good, old-fashioned values of hard work and treating people right.

Dawn Godfrey says her secret to a successful business is simple: “I like to be fair and honest. That is what has kept us in business for 28 years.”

Read the full story here.

Texas Auto Theft Ring Busted at Salvage Yard: Brownsville, Texas police arrested three people suspected of being involved with an auto theft ring that allegedly stole vehicles and sold them to area salvage yards. Rigoberto Velasquez, his girlfriend Oralia Cepeda, and her son-in-law Juan Vicente Arrellano were arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The three were allegedly targeting pick-up trucks made in the 1990s.

 

“In order for it to look like a junk vehicle, they take the tires off, the gas tank off. The catalytic converter is gone; they took the carburetor out, and the battery out,” says Joe Lee Rubio, whose 1992 pick-up was found in a salvage yard in Brownsville.

 

To learn more about the charges, read the full article here.

 

New Manheim President Announced: Cox Enterprises has announced a new president for Manheim, its automotive services subsidiary.  Manheim is a leading provider in vehicle remarketing services with a global client base.  In the announcement, Cox Enterprises CEO Jimmy Hayes praised Sandy Schwartz, the new Manheim president.

 

“Sandy’s extensive automotive, online and media experience is a valuable asset to Cox Enterprises,” said Hayes. “Sandy has a broad and deep understanding of our Cox businesses and unique culture, and I am delighted for him to bring his expertise to Manheim.  Under his leadership, Cox Media Group has thrived through transformation and he will bring the same innovative thinking to Manheim.”

 

To learn more about the charges, read the full article here.

Nova Scotia Salvage Yard Fire May Have Been Intentional: A fire broke out around 4:30 am June 12 at a Westville, Nova Scotia salvage yard, but no one was injured.  Area fire fighters had the blaze under control by 8:00 am, and none of the equipment at 3D Auto Parts was damaged in the fire.  However, the owner of the salvage yard has concerns about the origin of the fire.

“If it was through the week, I could see it being work-related,” Gary Vint, co-owner of the salvage yard, said. “But it was over the weekend – I can’t see it being caused by anyone working there. I don’t know what else could have caused it, it had to be someone in around the cars.”

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

New ASPA Board Member Announced: The American Salvage Pool Association announced a new member of its board of directors.  Jim Jackson, team leader and senior remarketer at Automotive Resources International, will bring 28 years of remarketing experience to the group.

“I am extremely honored to serve on the board for ASPA,” said Jackson. “Being on this board will provide me with the opportunity to learn from and partner with industry leadership. I look forward to adding value to the membership of ASPA during my tenure.”

Read more about the ASPA board here.

Milwaukee Salvage Yard Fire Cause Unknown: A fire at Skrap-Cor, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin salvage yard, destroyed the auto salvage building and a nearby painting company building.  The cause of the fire has not been determined, but area police and fire departments are still investigating.  The blaze injured one firefighter, and all salvage yard workers escaped unharmed.

 

Jacquari Brown, who had just started working at the salvage yard four days before, said the situation was too close for comfort. “Stuff happens every day, and like that, it happened, within a blink of an eye,” Brown said.

 

To learn about the fire, read more here.

 

Restrictions Lifted for Salvaged Auto Buyers in Arkansas: A new law makes it possible for anyone to buy a vehicle with a salvaged title.  The legislation was signed into law March 10 by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe.  Prior to this law, only those with an auction buyer’s identification card could purchase salvaged vehicles at an auction.

 

To learn about the new law, 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.