Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Lawson.
Hi Nick, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Worked on my own cars in the driveway from the age of 15. I then worked at a Ford dealership at 18 and fell in love with the customer service side of the industry. More recently I managed a small specialty shop in St Louis Park for 10 years and gained the experience to purchase and run my own repair shop. Purchased Autopia in March of 2022 and have turned it around from a flailing $400k a year shop to projected $1.3m is sales for 2025 and growing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When we acquired the shop is was running in the red due to a lack of innovation in technology and training. It had a long standing customer base and good reputation so I knew it could be fixed. We experienced a lot of growth in the first 2 years with 50+% of customers being new. In 2024 we tried to grow too quick when i added more staffing and increased advertising budget for the year by $50k. We did not produce the sales to support that move and have settled into 2025 with a smaller staff and a more focused advertising approach. Finding quality technicians is the number one pain paint for most shops including us.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have my previous employer to thank for most of what I learned on how to properly run a repair shop. I learned the importance of properly trained staff and using the latest technology to streamline repairs and customer experience. We are on the cutting edge of the products we offer. Utilizing digital vehicle inspections and including pictures, videos and descriptions for the customer so they can see what we see and understand the importance of what we are recommending. We are able to send these digitally for customers to review, approve and eventually pay all online. Our schedule is integrated into an online tool where the customer can pick the date and time and service that fits them best. Our loaner car fleet and shuttle service take away the pain point of being without your vehicle. Keeping the staff up to date on the most current technology keeps us in front of issues before they become a surprise.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
By checking out our website and scheduling your next service through our scheduling tool at www.autopiabloomington.com
Pricing:
- Our oil change pricing ranges from $49 to $119 and includes our inspection
- Diagnosis starts at $94 and includes our inspection
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.autopiabloomington.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autopiabloomingtonmn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063951016207
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@autopiabloomington6487
