Auto Recycling eNewsletter AutoSalvageConsultant.com

 

For immediate release – October 2010

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

 

Department of Justice Budgets Almost $6.3 Million for Electronic Vehicle Verification:  Law enforcement personnel and the general public will use the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) to confirm a car’s brand history, title history, any reports of total vehicle loss, odometer reading, and potential salvage status.  The money will go toward expanding this system and including additional jurisdictions in the database.

 

“NMVTIS is unique because federal law requires more than 8,000 insurance carriers, auto recyclers, junk yards, and salvage yards to regularly report salvage vehicle data so it can be included in this publicly available system, which currently has nearly 22 million salvage or total loss records,” said Bureau of Justice Assistance Acting Director James H. Burch, II.  Find more information at the program website.

 

Peer Benchmarking Group for Recyclers Led by Ron Sturgeon Scheduled in Fort Worth, TX: The recent recession has been hard on many industries, but you can help get your business back on track by attending a peer benchmarking group session. 

 

“One of the most important decisions that I made as the owner of a salvage operation was the decision to join a peer mentoring group,” says Ron Sturgeon. “I was much more successful in leading in my local market because of the ideas that I got from other recyclers at our twice yearly meetings. I am looking for a few recyclers (one per market) to join a peer benchmarking group.”

 

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.

New Book Provides Insights About Getting a Business Loan: If you own a business, you understand the important role financing can play in getting your operation off the ground and staying afloat. However, the current credit market can make it challenging to get affordable business financing.

A new book is designed to answer your questions and smooth the process. Getting to “Yes” With Your Banker: A Practical Guide for Small Business Owners was co-written by entrepreneur and salvage expert Ron Sturgeon and banker Greg Morse. The book’s humorous and accessible tone makes it fun to read, and it is full of important information and helpful tips.

“Building a successful business is about so much more than just getting a loan,” Sturgeon said, “but often financing is necessary, and I believe this book will help you approach the process from the right angle.” Find more information at www.GettingToYesWithYourBanker.com.

Annual Auto Recyclers’ Roundtable Meeting Held in Canada: The fifth annual International Roundtable on Auto Recycling was held in Quebec City, Quebec last month.  Attendees from around the world met to discuss issues pertinent to the auto salvage and recycling industry. Representatives came from countries as diverse as Japan, Mexico, the United States, and the Netherlands.

Attendees offered reports about the state of the auto recycling industry around the world and provided snapshots of regional challenges.  Many recyclers reported on how they have dealt with the surplus of autos related to the “Cash for Clunkers” program in the United States and the smaller “Retire Your Ride” program in Canada.

“The task of this meeting is for everyone to gain a world understanding of automotive recycling,” said Auto Recyclers of Canada chairman Ed MacDonald.  Read the full story here.

More Professional Business Approach Gives Salvage Yard a Sales Boost:  Harry Holuptzok, owner of John’s Auto Parts in Blaine, MN, significantly increased his company’s business holdings and revenue by changing his simple salvage business into an automobile recycling and dismantling center. Holuptzok employed a business growth strategy that included implementing new technologies, offering benefits to employees, and exceeding newly implemented environmental standards.

Holuptzok says the auto salvage business tends to do well in difficult economic times, and he’s looking forward to a period of continued growth.  He credits smart business practices with his success.

“I remember walking into a couple of [salvage yards], and they were just a complete shambles,” Haluptzok said. “The [owner’s] driving a brand new Cadillac. And I’m thinking if you can make money running an operation like this, this disorganized and messy, what could I do with it if I organized it?” Read the full story.

 

Missouri Auto Shredding Business Grows Despite Rural Setting: Jason Shipman, owner of Shipman’s Complete Auto Recycling Service, Inc, didn’t let a rural location stop him from expanding into the car shredding business.  What was once a small mobile car crushing service is now a large-scale metal recycling and auto shredding operation in Farmington, MO.

 

“Everyone I asked for advice said I was out of my mind—no rail, no river and 75 miles south of a metro area out in the country,” he told Recycling Today Magazine. “I was fixing to spend $6 million or $7 million—they said I’d lost my mind. But I thought I could make this work—so my attitude became, ‘Watch this.’ And now, it’s working, it’s making money, everyone here is happy—my banker smiles about it.” Read the rest of the story.

 

 

 

 

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.