VehicleMD: Take Two of These and Watch Your Sales Get Healthier

by Garrett McKinnon
NOLN Staff Writer

We’re very excited to include the second edition of VehicleMD along with the December issue of National Oil & Lube News. We’ve gotten a ton of positive comments about VehicleMD, and we’re working hard to make it even better for 2010. (The early returns are great! See what operators and readers have to say about VehicleMD.)

But there are still a few operators out there who might not be sold on the benefits of displaying VehicleMD in the waiting room, so we’re here to help with a list of the most common questions we’ve received from operators:

Okay, so I’ve got this magazine. Now, what do I do with it?
That’s simple, really. Drop your copies of VehicleMD in your waiting room, where its eye-catching design and bright colors should attract the attentions of your customers. They pick it up, read it and understand exactly what those services on your menu mean, and why their cars need them.

Not convinced? Imagine this scenario: A woman comes into your store. She's already got her guard up, because pretty much every place she takes her car tries to "sell" her something she's not sure she needs, and she doesn't want to bother her husband/boyfriend/whoever to see if she needs to buy the service. But she spies this shiny magazine and picks it up. The articles inside explain in succinct layman's terms why her car needs various maintenance services, and how those services benefit her. She then makes an educated decision to purchase one or more services, and leaves your shop feeling empowered that she made the decision on her own.

What if I don't have a waiting room, or my customers usually wait in their cars?
Don't worry. You might consider ordering a few extra copies that you could allow customers to read while they wait in their car, or even give away complimentary copies.

How will VehicleMD help me as a lube operator/manager?
In a nutshell, VehicleMD helps lube operations by explaining various automotive services in layman’s terms. We tell customers what a service is and why it’s important for their car (and themselves) in a friendly, engaging manner that we’re certain will have many of those customers inquiring about the services you offer and even making a purchase decision. We explain the service so your technicians don’t have to!

That’s all well and good, but what if I don’t offer a service profiled in VehicleMD?
Well, if you have several customers ask about a service profiled in the magazine, it could indicate a healthy demand for such a service. You might consider adding the service and seeing what it does for your bottom line.

I’d like to see a particular service profiled in VehicleMD. How do I go about accomplishing that?
E-mail our features editor, Tammy Williams, at: editor@vehiclemd.com and let her know what service you’d like to see in the pages of VehicleMD. We’ll work on getting that done for you.

I displayed the first issues of VehicleMD in the waiting room, but they disappeared. Can I get more?
Absolutely. We have additional quantities of the magazine available at low cost. And if you want to display those first issues, we even have back issues available.

I’d like all my customers to see a copy of VehicleMD. Is that possible?
You bet. We’ve had several companies order bulk quantities of VehicleMD, and more than a few have even inquired about publishing special editions of VehicleMD just for their company. We’ll certainly customize VehicleMD in any way we need to in order to best reach your customers.

For more information on VehicleMD, visit: www.vehiclemd.com

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