From service stations with gas pumps to today’s DVIs, Mike Scaglione of Kempsville Auto Care Center shares 45 years of lessons on running a shop, leading in Virginia, and why he believes inspections and charging what you’re worth matter more than ever.
Guests:
Mike Scaglione — Kempsville Auto Care Center — Virginia Beach, VA
What you’ll learn (shop-owner takeaways):
How service stations evolved into modern shops
Why DVIs boost sales and protect your shop
State inspections: burden or business builder?
Balancing customer trust with photo/video evidence
Local zoning battles and expansion challenges
VAA membership benefits for shop owners
Passing credit card fees vs. absorbing costs
Work-life balance and importance of date night
Timestamps
00:00 – Mike’s shop intro
01:07 – From service stations to food shops
02:55 – Early manuals and time guides
05:30 – Internet replaces phone books
07:39 – Math errors cost real money
09:36 – Why DVIs matter
12:39 – Handling customers with photos/videos
14:01 – Trust vs. oversharing inspections
15:00 – Cars visit shops less often now
16:45 – Work-life balance in the early years
19:14 – Using DVIs for comebacks
20:49 – State inspections in VA and PA
23:54 – Should more states require inspections?
25:52 – Inspection costs and politics
28:03 – Is it worth keeping inspections?
29:57 – Safety and liability on the road
32:00 – Rising ownership costs with ADAS
32:48 – Autonomous cars in the future
35:39 – Freedom, rural vs metro pushback
40:07 – Why service stations still exist
41:36 – Local zoning and shop expansion
44:05 – Elections and zoning impact
47:11 – Environmental rules: runoff ponds
48:06 – Recycling water and gray water use
49:55 – Virginia Automotive Association (VAA)
52:12 – $350 membership pays for itself
54:37 – Today’s time crunch for shop owners
56:40 – Relying on your team
58:02 – DoorDash now delivers parts
01:01:08 – Family life vs. shop chaos
01:05:36 – Charging credit card fees
01:08:50 – Marketing cash discounts
01:12:54 – Fishing after hurricanes
01:15:50 – Offshore windmill farms debate
01:20:00 – Final lessons on saving and balance
01:23:52 – Upcoming VAA meet and greets
01:24:36 – Ongoing training and events
01:26:32 – Closing reflections
01:28:40 – Wrap
Call-to-Actions
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Links
Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/garagegrit
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/forautorepairshopowners/
Learn more: https://aashopmarketing.com