The PartsEdge Podcast with Kaylee Felio – Details, episodes & analysis

With over 30 years of experience in the automotive parts industry, Mike Kraft is a seasoned Parts Manager at Suburban Chevrolet in Minneapolis. He recounts his journey from manual parts management to overseeing a thriving department that boasts over 100 employees and more than $90 million in annual sales.

In today’s episode, Mike shares the evolution of his dealership’s parts operations, how technology has transformed his daily workflow, and the pivotal role PartsEdge plays as an “assistant manager” in the background.

Together, they dig into lessons from decades in the business, the impact of automation and expert support, and creative strategies for managing a fast-growing parts department.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Automate to elevate.

2. Delegate for accuracy and peace of mind.

3. Continuous improvement and collaboration is a must.

   
   

Chapters

00:00 – Mike Kraft’s backstory and evolution as a parts manager

01:05 – How PartsEdge automates daily reporting and “takes the work out of the work”

03:02 – The push to adopt PartsEdge and handling dealership growth

04:34 – Real-world impact of automation and PartsEdge support during CDK outages

06:39 – The value of delegating routine tasks for accuracy and peace of mind

08:25 – Customizing inventory sources for creative strategies

09:40 – Reflecting on the comfort blanket of having PartsEdge in the background

12:11 – Integrating with RIM and the challenges of system alignment

15:00 – Opportunities for further automation and partnership innovation

17:05 – Mike’s advice and humorous metaphor for ongoing process improvement (“bald tires”)

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Mitch Brady partnered with PartsEdge to refine his company’s parts inventory. He uncovered and resolved issues with broad phase-in/phase-out criteria by customizing categorization for each part. This optimized stock, improved team clarity, and fine-tuned parts management.Together,

Kaylee and Mitch dive into how using PartsEdge not only enhanced inventory efficiency at Ressler Toyota but also uncovered hidden challenges and gave Mitch the tools to be creative with inventory management. Hear about actionable strategies for reducing obsolescence, tailoring phase-in and phase-out criteria, and leveraging data to make smarter decisions—all while maintaining a perfectly balanced inventory.

If you’re a parts manager looking for practical insights and real-world success stories, you won’t want to miss Mitch’s honest take on the impact of PartsEdge and the value of having a true partner in your corner. Let’s get into it!

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗 www.partsedge.com

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Takeaways

1. Customize inventory processes

2. Actionable reporting matters

3. Collaboration fuels creativity

   
   

Chapters

00:00 Optimizing Inventory with PartsEdge

05:07 Optimized Phase In/Out Strategy

06:50 Customized Parts Source Management

10:13 Managing Obsolescence in Inventory Returns

13:22 Custom Reports on Obsolete Parts

16:30 Effective Collaboration in Service Management

Connect

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Chuck Hartle is the co-founder and President of PartsEdge, a powertool for Dealerships Parts Operations, helping to increase DMS utilization, improves efficiency, accuracy, and profitability with solid and consistent plans for eliminating all types of idle inventory in a Parts Operations. With over 40 years in the auto industry Chuck has the know-how and love for the industry that has enabled PartsEdge to identify the biggest needs of dealerships.

Today, Chuck Hartle explains how dealerships handle return processes that often involve navigating multiple criteria with varying degrees of complexity. This complexity is further exacerbated when managers deal with different manufacturers, each having unique policies and restrictions. Some manufacturers offer streamlined processes while others pose intricate obstacles, usually tied to codes, quantities, and limited allowances for returns.

The discussion also delves into the intricacies of Retail Inventory Management (RIM). Chuck highlights how parts perceived as RIM-protected can sometimes fall through the cracks due to purchases from external distributors or emergency purchases, emphasizing the necessity of meticulous tracking systems to handle credits and returns efficiently.

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This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Their strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit 🔗⁠www.partsedge.com⁠.

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Takeaways

1. Toyota offers straightforward parts returns.

2. Know part sources for smooth returns.

3. Different makers have varying return rules.

Quote

“What the ASR programs are terrible at doing is tracking credit returns and now guaranteeing the two.” -Chuck Hartle

Connect:

Chuck Hartle

LinkedIn:⁠www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-hartle-1923ab14⁠

Website:⁠www.partsedge.com⁠

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn:⁠www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl⁠Website:⁠www.partsedge.com

Sean Reyes is the Chief Marketing Officer of Recall Masters, a leading provider of technology and communication solutions to facilitate efficient repair of vehicles with a recall. Today, Sean joins Kaylee and shares his story of how he got started in the automotive industry, discusses how owners are able to reach out to dealers through Recall Masters, and adds how recalls also drive warranty revenue and generally bring customers back to the dealership to buy more parts and services.

When consumers come in to get their recalls attended to, they are often presented with additional products and services that they can purchase. This presents an opportunity for the dealership to make additional revenue. In fact, 52% of the time, people who have a recall reach into their wallet and buy additional products and services from the dealer.

Sean believes in the importance of safety and vehicle recall compliance, and he is committed to the work of informing and educating people about recalls and product liability. Sean Reyes also understands the importance of personal responsibility and takes steps to ensure that he is not associated with dangerous products.

Overall, dealerships must take the necessary steps to ensure that they are not held liable for recalls. By staying up-to-date on any recalls that may affect their customers, dealerships can protect themselves from liability and create a positive customer experience.

Connect

Sean Reyes

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sgrmarketing/

Website: www.recallmasters.com

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: www.partsedge.com

Takeaways

1. Recalls drive dealership revenue.
2. Recall compliance is important.
3. Dealers are liable for recalls.

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“Recalls are a great way for consumers to come back to the dealership."

Megan Mahon is the VP of Sales and Business Development for Remarketing Plus, a one-stop-shop for eCommerce remarketing needs and the newest go-to-market vertical subsidiary of Advent Resources, a leader of the automotive digital revolution since 1988. Today, Megan joins Kaylee to talk about her journey and how she got into the automotive industry.

Megan Mahon has an impressive story of success in the automotive industry. After swearing she would never work in the industry due to her father's long hours, she fell into it by accident. Her father was one of the largest wholesalers in Orlando, and she decided to take a six-month break from her job as a food and beverage manager at Disney World to work with him. That six-month break turned into 18 years of experience in the automotive industry.

Megan's experience has helped her improve her skills and learn more about the automotive industry and the product she works with. She has been able to identify the pain points of consignors and developed a platform that can help them move cars faster, make more money, reach more people, do it more efficiently, and make a bigger impact in the industry.

Megan's story is a testament to the power of experience in the automotive industry. Her journey has been long and winding, but it has paid off in the end.

It serves as a reminder that passion and dedication can help create something bigger and better than what was there before.

Connect

Megan Mahon

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/remarketingplus

Website: www.remarketingplus.com

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: www.partsedge.com

Takeaways

1. Automotive industry experience pays off.
2. Cars are a passion.
3. Grow in personal desires.

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“When you're in a startup mentality, you literally wear every hat."

Julie Douglas is the president and CEO of Dealer Pay LLC, a company that provides seamless, integrated payment processing and advanced software solutions to the automotive industry. She's also known as the "Sales Lady Extraordinaire."

Today, Julie joins Kaylee to discuss her experience founding the company over 9 years ago, as well as the challenges they faced when first scaling the company.

Customers value payment convenience when making purchases. Customers now have more payment options than ever before thanks to technological advancements. Dealer Pay began as a payments provider, allowing customers to accept credit cards and checks while also providing reporting. It quickly became apparent to Julie and her team that there was a need for a full point-of-sale solution for dealerships.

With the rise of technology, companies are now able to streamline their businesses through the use of tools like Dealer Pay. This allows them to bill customers once the parts have been delivered. Furthermore, their new mobile app allows parts managers to take payment as a card-present transaction in front of the customer. This convenience factor is a huge time saver for parts managers.

With the help of tools like this, businesses are able to save time and money while providing a better experience for their customers.

Connect

Julie Douglas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedouglas/

Website: www.dealer-pay.com

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com/

Takeaways

1. Save money with modern payments.
2. Tools help streamline business.
3. Women in the auto industry are valuable.

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“Starting a company requires you to wear multiple hats."

AJ Holst is the President of AJ Holst Consulting and an independent Fixed Operations Coach, Consultant, and Facilitator. He has 37 years of automotive experience and is a highly skilled, passionate automotive professional. Today, AJ shares his 37-year career in the automotive industry with him, initially as a salesperson but later switching to service work to spend more time with his daughter while she pursued her daughter’s softball career.

In the automotive industry, AJ believes that advisors are on the front lines of customer service. They communicate with customers, process transactions, and offer repair and service advice and recommendations. Unfortunately, many advisors are not adequately trained to perform their duties.

According to one advisor, they were simply thrown into the service drive with no formal training. They were expected to figure things out on their own and were blamed when they didn't. This lack of training can lead to costly mistakes and misunderstandings for the dealership and its customers.

By providing advisors with the proper training, dealerships can ensure that their advisors are knowledgeable, capable, and confident in their job.

Connect

AJ Holst

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajholst

Website: www.ajholstconsulting.com

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com/

Takeaways

1. Train service advisors properly.
2. Everything happens for a reason.
3. Trust is essential for success.

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“Having a mentor can make all the difference in your career."

Dave Hines is the owner of XSRE.io, a company that allows car dealership’s customers to bundle accessories with their inbound leads, and allow the dealer to fully customize what accessories they push. Dave is also a Field Architect, Customer Engineer at Google Cloud and operates Davehin.es, which creates simple and functional websites for local businesses.

In this episode, Kaylee interviews Dave Hines on his company XSRE.io and its digital organization of accessories for vehicles. Dave talks about the success of his product, its automated process, and the technology that powers it. They also discuss Dave's career, imposter syndrome, the power of golf, and the benefits of teleporting.

As entrepreneurs, it is essential to focus on customer needs. We must be passionate about providing a product or service that meets the needs of our customers. This is the foundation of any successful business. By focusing on it, we can create products and services that will not only meet their needs but also exceed their expectations. We must be willing to take risks and use data and customer feedback to gain valuable insights into customer needs and preferences.

By doing this, we can ensure that we reach our goals and succeed.

Connect

Dave Hines

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-hines-78a3b043/

Website: www.xsre.io

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com/

Takeaways

1. Technology improves sales performance.
2. Work hard for success.
3. Upsell to increase ROI.

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“The first thing off-road clients want is to accessorize it. Better tires, wheels, and suspension.”

Shon Kingrey is the VP of Fixed Operations of the Kayser Automotive Group, with over 28 years of experience for a variety of dealerships. Shon believes Fixed Ops is key to success in the current market.

The automotive industry is in a state of flux. As car sales decrease, dealerships are being forced to re-evaluate their operations to remain profitable. Shon is trying to centralize warranty and reduce the number of administrators needed.

Fixed Ops must evolve to succeed in this competitive market. Dealerships must invest in technology, processes, and training to stay profitable. They must also have a team of motivated, knowledgeable employees to help customers. A well-trained staff with proper resources is your biggest advantage.

Connect

Shon Kingrey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shon-kingrey-0990ab11

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Takeaways

1. Dealerships must invest in technology.
2. Fixed Ops must evolve to succeed.
3. Learn from others' mistakes.

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“We're installing processes one at a time. Not everybody runs at the same pace."

"People need to realize that the parts department is a crucial element in the fixed ops community."

Tully Williams is the Fixed Operations Director for The Niello Company in Sacramento, California. He works tirelessly to ensure his inventory is well-managed and he is able to give back to the company.

Inventory management is the process of tracking and managing the flow of goods, from the point of production to the point of sale. In today’s business environment, it’s essential for businesses to manage their inventory in order to stay competitive and profitable.

The goal of inventory management is to ensure the right products are available in the right quantities at the right time. It’s important to monitor the age of the inventory, special orders, the shelf life of parts, and the working stock in order to ensure that the right products are available in the right quantities at the right time.

Following these tips will help your parts business bottom line!

Connect

Tully Williams

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tully-williams-3b9097a/

Kaylee Felio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gotopartsgirl

Website: https://www.partsedge.com

Takeaways

1. Inventory management is crucial for business success.
2. High fill rates indicate customer satisfaction.
3. Joint effort by departments improves efficiency.

Quote

"People need to realize that the parts department is a crucial element in the fixed ops community."