Community Highlights: Meet Erich Schmidt of Schmidt Auto Care

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erich Schmidt

Hi Erich, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my shop ownership journey in July of 2009, I worked for the same dealer group for about 15 years as well as a number of independent shops in between. I was tired of poorly run shops and toxic people and lack of proper tools and training, and I am a very independent person that thought I could do better (don’t we all think that!!). I was a master tech that was feeling stuck. I was done with the industry and pursued a career in law enforcement, I never achieved that goal due to the expansive hiring freeze that all the county’s put in place due to the housing market crash. About the same time a friend saw a shop getting cleaned up and put for rent, I rode my motorcycle over to see the shop and the owner was there cleaning up. As I approached he stopped and walked out to me, I later found out he was a moto enthusiast as well and we immediately meshed. A few weeks later I wrote a business plan and sold some very valuable vintage motorcycles and approached my mom and dad for the additional money I needed to start. Once I acquired the funding I needed we signed a three year lease and opened for business in july 2009 with not a clue what I was doing. In my mind all I needed to do was get cars in fix them and bill them out, I found out after a number of years and growth and headaches that I did not know anything about running a business, at all! My numbers grew stagnant about 4 years in and I knew we had to do something, but what!? I reached out to a industry publication that highlighted shops and loved to read about them, oddly enough I called and talked to the editor of the publication and asked who could help me reach these other shops levels I was reading about and he referred me to a coaching group that was specific to auto repair. Fast forward a few weeks and a call out to the coaching company, I was interviewed and accepted in to the program. This is where it all changed and found the help and knowledge I needed to move to the next level and to run a business that was profitable and ethical, and excellent at guest care. this allowed to build a shop that was clean and well rounded for employee’s and allowed to pay them properly and well. it has been continual growth and improvement for the last 11 years and we are still going strong with a focus on employee’s and guest services and care.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If anybody tells you that business is smooth they are lying to you! We have had many roadblocks and struggles in 15 years, I will tell the story of the most recent and hardest that ultimately about cost us our business.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Schmidt Auto Care?
My Business is Schmidt Auto Care, We are a full service repair shop. We service and repair all makes from oil services to full engine and trans replacement and warning light testing and repair. We have all ASE certified and factory trained techs as well as the latest equipment to ensure the job is done correctly. We are known for our ability to repair difficult vehicles, and our guest services set us far from other shops as well as our employee work environment and perks such as 4 day work weeks and air conditioning in the back of the shop. our brand stands for Integrity, Excellence, and superior service. That’s what we preach and that’s where we live.

What does success mean to you?
I define success as forward movement and completing your set goals well and on time.

As a business owner it took me a long time to understand what this meant. I had a busy shop that was profitable but never felt that we were successful, With the help of my wife to help me see and understand how to be grateful and understand that success is not measured in the amount of money the business made but in the happiness that you provide for a great working environment, and the help you provide in your services.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.schmidtautocare.com
• Other: https://linktr.ee/schmidtautocare