Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_April_2021 - 8

Building contact
back into our day

BRITTANY VINCENT
MANAGING EDITOR

Understanding the reality that not all
experiences can thrive virtually.

EMILY MARKHAM
ASSISTANT EDITOR

by Krista McNamara, Editorial Director
KMcNamara@EndeavorB2B.com

hese days, it is all about
the " virtual " experience. It
has taken over many of our
schools, work environments, and
even social engagements one
would have never thought possible on a screen - birthday parties, holiday celebrations, even
weddings and happy hour. You
can have groceries delivered, a
doctor's appointment and - as we
know too well - a vehicle repair, all
while remaining contact-free.
As vaccines continue to roll out and we inch
back toward closing the laptop and interacting in person, many of these virtual elements
of life that have become routine will remain.
While it is not a model that works best in a
shop, a recent poll by Gartner reported that
80 percent of responding companies planned
to allow remote work at least part of the time
going forward.
Customers may continue to prefer a nocontact key exchange and text notification
when repairs are complete, rather than scrolling through social media with a cup of coffee
in your waiting room.
Technicians may find it easier to work on
continued technical training through ondemand streaming options they can access
on their own time, as opposed to having to
travel to training events and adjust their work
and family schedules accordingly.
The use of ecommerce for ordering tools
and equipment continues to tick upward, and
as we report in our Aftermarket Profile this
month, 74 percent of our PTEN readers pur-

PTEN

APRIL 2021

VehicleServicePros.com

chase from online retailers including Amazon,
eBay, Tooltopia, and more. Does this mean the
automotive aftermarket is trending toward a
model of as little contact as possible? Not quite.
Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and the
like may have had a banner year. But the need
for and importance of live, in-person communication and interaction remains. Ecommerce
may be growing, yet our readers still name
mobile tool distributors as their No. 1 source
for tool and equipment purchases.
Over the past year, we've learned the meaning of " essential " in terms of the workforce.
In keeping your business profitable and properly equipped, personal relationships also
remain essential. Whether that be maintaining communication and connection with your
customers or talking through a new tool or
equipment purchase with your mobile dealer,
some interactions cannot be replaced with
virtual options.
As the newly appointed editorial director
of Endeavor Business Media's Vehicle Repair
Group, I look forward to the opportunity to
connect with our readers - both virtually
when needed and in person when able. In
better understanding our audience and their
needs, I hope to help our group's five brands
- PTEN, Professional Distributor, Motor
Age, Auto Body Repair Network (ABRN), and
Aftermarket Business World - remain a staple
in the aftermarket space. It is a role that after
nearly 15 years of experience in the industry
I'm excited to tackle, albeit from my home
office. So, while I prefer to meet you with a
handshake and a hello, for the time being,
virtual will have to do.

KAYLA OSCHMANN
ASSISTANT EDITOR

BARRY HOYLAND
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

SCOTT BROWN
TECHNICAL EDITOR

PTEN EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
TECHNICIANS
JOHN HARRIS,
Brooks-Huff Goodyear, Timonium MD
ERIC MOORE,
DeMary Trucks, Columbus, OH
LOU FORT,
K.A.R.S. Inc., Huntingburg, IN
SHOP OWNERS
PHIL FOURNIER,
Phil's Auto Clinic, Hemet, CA
JD GOAD,
Goad's Body Shop, Lexington, VA
EDWIN HAZZARD,
Southeast Mobile Tech, Goose Creek, SC
BARRY HOYLAND,
VSSCA, Camarillo, CA
PETE RUDLOFF,
Pete's Garage Inc., Newark, DE
EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
CHAD SCHLEY,
Schley Products/SP Tools
JIM O'HARA,
Clore Automotive

http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_April_2021

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