The NOLN Podcast

Earlier this summer, Stephen Spinelli, president of Babson College and the co-founder of Jiffy Lube International, spoke with NOLN for its “NOLN at 40” series about the journey he and his colleagues took from launching Jiffy Lube International in 1979 and building it into the nation’s first quick lube chain, growing to more than 1,000 locations. In this episode, Spinelli discusses how the industry has continued to...

David Lawes, CEO of the Lubricants Packaging Management Association powered by Interchange 360, returns to the NOLN Podcast to provide listeners with an update on the state of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws and how they will impact the quick lube industry.

With lubricant packaging recycling being largely overlooked historically, Lawes discusses the launch of Colorado’s first automotive and lubricant packaging col...

Congress recently advanced legislation addressing Right to Repair, but the final language looks much different than what independent repair advocates originally sought. Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, recently spoke with Christine Schaffran, editor-in-chief of NOLN’s sister publication Ratchet+Wrench, to explain what made it into the bill, what was left out, what happens next, and how shop owners ...

Dave Schedin, an auto repair shop success coach from CompuTrek Systems, recently spoke with NOLN about the potentially fatal flaw in OEM maintenance schedules, what shops should analyze in their data to set more accurate maintenance intervals, and how this information should be presented to customers to build trust and keep their vehicles on the road.

This story originally appeared on NOLN.net on May 27, 2026.

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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.

This story originally a...

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.

This article was p...

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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