Operator: Matt Wagg
Location: Bennington, Nebraska
Staff: 7 employees
Size: 7500 square feet
Number of Bays: 8
Average Monthly Car Count: 195
Average Repair Order: $720
Annual Revenue: 1.69 million
Matthew Wagg started his auto repair shop from the ground up. Accelerated Diagnostic & Automotive began in his home garage as a part-time job, while he worked as a training instructor full-time.
“I didn’t know a whole lot about business at that time, it was kind of a hobby still,” Wagg said. “So, I started taking some business classes at the university and I ended up working with a consulting group at the University of Nebraska. By August 2020, my wife and I signed a lease and opened the shop the Tuesday after Labor Day.
The Customer-Centric Approach
Amongst the clean black and white sign out front, the grey and white checkered lobby floor, and the smooth wood and granite front desk, an appealing atmosphere is just the beginning of what this repair shop has to offer.
With free Wi-Fi and after-hours drop-off, this shop knows how to make its customers comfortable, but it also understands the importance of building trust with its guests.
“I spent eight years in my career as a training instructor, and it ingrained in me the importance of helping people understand the why behind stuff,” Wagg said. “A key to education is people must know what's in it for them before they believe in it and buy into it. I want to educate each customer, make them feel heard, and have them understand what's wrong with their car and what we're going to do to fix and prevent it from happening again.”
Adding a Personal Touch
Additionally, to help further its education and transparency with customers, the shop has a slew of in-the-know blog posts available on the company website.
“I write all of those myself and enjoy sharing different information about our industry or different things we see in the shop,” Wagg said. “Again, it goes back into that education piece. I'm a very big believer that people want to do business with those that they know, they like, and they trust. Blogging allows people to know me because they see how I write and how I communicate.
Accelerated Diagnostic & Automotive, knows to create loyal customers good relationships are key. “We're very value-driven here,” Wagg said. “We live by making good decisions on behalf of our customers.”
