The NOLN Podcast

Scott Hempy, CEO of Oilstop Drive-Thru Oil Change and Happy’s Drive-Thru Car Wash, joins the NOLN Podcast to take a closer look at a topic covered in one of his recent columns for NOLN: how quick lube operators can maintain their margins even as their costs rise. In this conversation, Hempy explains why operators should focus on controllable factors, such as labor efficiency, bay times, and inventory management, and build a c...

Vendors who work with quick lubes have evolved from suppliers and distributors to sage advisors and full-fledged partners. On this note, earlier this year NOLN caught up with representatives from Mighty Auto Parts and Service Champ, who explained why effective vendor partnerships involve understanding the specific needs and challenges of quick lube shops, including inventory, training, and service offerings.

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Ellie Pentland, partner at Throttle Muscle, joins the NOLN Podcast to offer insights on how quick lube operators can develop effective employee training and goal-setting initiatives. Pentland, who has spent more than 25 years in the industry, explains the value of clearly defining objectives and creating measurable outcomes, and she also discusses the why operators should focus training on individual roles and consistently checking...

With the United States and Iran reaching a peace agreement that is expected to be signed later this week, RBC Capital Markets analyst Steven Shemesh joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss the ramifications for quick lube operators. In this interview, Shemesh explains why although the reported peace agreement between the United States and Iran is a positive development, operators should expect lingering effects from months of conflict th...

Increasing average repair orders starts with consistency, communication, and preparation. In this episode of the NOLN Podcast, Matt Shaw, vice president of sales at Mighty Auto Parts, discusses how thorough inspections, faster advisor communication and well-managed inventory programs can help shops identify more service opportunities, improve close rates and create a better customer experience wit...

Oil Express, a 44-year-old business 20 miles north of downtown Cincinnati in West Chester, Ohio, has emphasized customer-oriented service packages tailored to working-class drivers, including discounts on oil changes, filters, and fluid services to increase revenue. District Manager Robert Gallatin recently shared with NOLN the five straightforward considerations Oil Express works from to craft its package deals.

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Adam Miller, owner of four Grease Monkey franchise locations in Washington state, explains how implementing an online scheduling system has helped attract new customers to his stores. Miller explains how customers book appointments online, how his Grease Monkey shops balance wait times for drive-up customers vs. those who scheduled in advance, and lessons he has learned after a year of offering the online option.

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As AI-driven search engines increasingly aggregate reviews, proactive online reputation management is a critical tool for quick lube shops of all sizes. Adam Alfia, founder and managing director of Real Time Feedback, and Scott Rider, founder and CEO of the Rider Group, join the NOLN Podcast to explain how a proactive engagement strategy can boost retention, improve online ratings, and ultimately drive more revenue for yo...

Cybersecurity leaders explain why smaller, independent automotive shops can be prime targets for hackers. They also offer practical advice for protecting sensitive information, including customer and financial data, and developing an incident response plan that can prevent an attack from destroying a business.

This article was published on NOLN.net on March 9, 2026.

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Paul Elliott, group vice president of franchise marketing for Midas, joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss the company’s recent 70th anniversary celebration, as well as the company’s emphasis on innovation, customer service, using AI as a support tool rather than a replacement for employees, and strong franchisee partnerships. Elliott also dives into Midas’ new marketing campaign featuring actor William Zabka, franchi...

Anthony Lopez-Ona, managing director at Mufson Howe Hunter & Co., joins the NOLN Podcast to share insights on how private equity firms view the quick lube industry, what operators should take away from the recent sale of Jiffy Lube to Monomoy Capital Partners, and what operators can expect with regards to M&A activity in the industry within the coming months.

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Good help is hard to find, but making sure an applicant’s traits meet the role is even harder. Chris Lawson of Technician Find explains why desperation is an expensive hiring strategy, and he shares practical advice for how independent operators can develop a consistent flow of high-quality candidates to fill job vacancies in their shops.

This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on Feb. 18, 2026.

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Leadership training expert David Rogers, co-founder of Auto Profit Masters and Shop4D, joins the NOLN Podcast to share insights on “the management triangle,” how his military background and time spent working in the fine dining industry helped to shape his outlook on management in the automotive maintenance industry, management best practices, and lessons he has learned throughout his career.

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Nestor Gutierrez, CEO of Rancho Express Lube in Rancho Cucamonga, California, says retaining customers comes down to how you treat them and their vehicles. Gutierrez explains how personalized interactions, community involvement, and added perks can foster customer loyalty and differentiate quick lube shops from their competition.

This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on Feb. 23, 2026.

Read by Brittany Duncan 

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In this episode of the Endeavor to Discover series, Louie Sharp, owner of Sharp Auto Body in Chicago, joins hosts Chris Messer and Mike Jones for a discussion about giving up what you don’t need. Sharp shares his journey of building his business and why it was important to let go of negativity, emotional baggage, and limiting beliefs. Sharp, Messer, and Jones also explore the idea that choosing curiosity over reaction leads t...

As National Oil and Lube News begins its 40th anniversary celebration, the NOLN Podcast welcomes Solid Start CEO Amber Kossak and President Crystal Mathews to reflect on the quick lube and fast maintenance industry’s evolution. Kossak, who has more than 30 years of experience in the business, and Mathews, who joined the industry in 1999, share insights on game-changing moments, major developments, short-lived fads, and common...

Even when business is running smoothly, it is still worth evaluating the services offered to customers to determine what is working and where a shop might find better efficiency and improvement. In some cases, the answer might be to grow the business by moving some services to a second location. In other inst...

Having grown to more than 900 locations, including company owned, franchise, and licensees, FullSpeed Automotive recently rolled out a new training program that puts a greater emphasis on the customer experience and consistency from shop to shop. At the forefront of this launch is Jason Johnsey, the company’s director of training and development. Johnsey joins the NOLN Podcast to dig into FullSpeed’s mission to revitali...