Dec. 30, 2019—CarCareConnect, an all-in-one marketing solution for auto repair shops, has launched e-commerce selling capabilities that will allow local auto repair shops to build an online store of their products and services in order to stay competitive with big online retailers such as Amazon and Groupon.
Consumers today no longer want to visit a brick-and-mortar business before making a buying decision, and CarCareConnect found that this was no different for service-based businesses like auto repair shops. Unfortunately, auto shops have not yet shifted their selling tactics to reflect these new buying habits, and consequently big online retailers like Amazon are starting to encroach upon these auto shops’ local markets and take their business.
“Similar situations have happened in other industries,” said Vu Hoang, CEO of CarCareConnect. “Airbnb took market share from the hospitality industry, Uber from the transportation industry, and now companies like Amazon and Groupon are targeting the auto repair industry. In the end, the people that hurt the most are the small business owners. We want to give independent shop owners the best chance to succeed by developing tools and technology that will keep them competitive.”
CarCareConnect’s new e-commerce offering will give auto repair shops the ability to align their product and service offerings with how consumers are shopping today—by combining marketing, engagement and the full online transaction.
In addition to auto repair product inventory, the e-commerce offering includes pre-built subscription plans that auto shops can sell directly on their websites and in-person. The subscription plans offer multi-packs of auto repair services at a discount. For example, a three- or six-pack of oil changes can be bought at a discount to ensure customers will come back for a year or more.
Auto shops will be able to connect their merchant account to the platform and receive 100 percent of the sale profits instead of paying a percentage to a third-party platform, like Groupon. This strategy has been implemented by many other industries and has proven to greatly improve overall customer loyalty in the long run.
With CarCareConnect's new online store capabilities, auto shops will also gain access to a full library of assets to distribute and promote their store across the internet. The library includes pre-built email and text campaigns, Facebook and Google ads, cart abandonment retargeting ads, landing pages and more.
The library of distribution assets are included as part of an all-in-one growth marketing platform that also includes a customizable website, CRM, landing pages, paid advertising, and text and email automation. These features will allow shops to better connect, engage and win more customers.
“We are excited to be an early adopter of CarCareConnects’s e-commerce feature,” said Angie King, director of marketing and communications for Killian Automotive and a current CarCareConnect client. “We strive to remain innovative, and we believe e-commerce integration will enhance our customer experience by giving them the convenience to purchase automotive services on our website.”
