3 Common Driving Mistakes (You May Be Guilty of)

For most motorists, driving has become like second nature. But, just because you have countless years of driving under your belt doesn't mean you aren't making these common driving mistakes. These mistakes not only cause damage to your car, but also they can increase the risk of accidents. 1-800-Radiator and A/C franchises explain the most common driving mistakes and how you can avoid them

  

Mistake #1: You're driving on an empty gas tank

Do you wait until your gas tank is on empty before you think about refueling? Running your car past one-quarter of a tank can cause damage to the engine. While it's always important to keep your gas tank at least one-quarter full, it's especially essential in the wintertime. In fact, during the winter your gas tank shouldn't fall below a half of a tank. The cold weather can cause the gas line to freeze, and if you were to get stranded your engine is the only heat source you have.

Mistake #2: You're driving distracted

When many people hear "distracted driving," then envision teenagers texting while behind the wheel. While texting and driving is a major epidemic, it's not the only distraction drivers have to worry about. There are various types of distractions that impede your focus and attentiveness. Anything that takes your mind and eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel is a distraction. Talking to passengers, adjusting the temperature, eating, or reaching for an object are all distractions. When you get behind the wheel, always maintain complete control and concentration. If you need to eat, check the map or make a phone call, pull over.

Mistake #3: You're not maintaining your vehicle

All vehicles have a maintenance and repair schedule. When you follow this schedule, which is outlined in your owner's manual, then you can maximize the life of your vehicle. Too often, drivers neglect to care for their car and only take it to the mechanic when an issue arises. Make sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance to avoid issues and keep your vehicle operating at peak performance. 

1-800-Radiator & A/C Franchise Spotlight: Steven Edelstein

Each month 1-800-Radiator & A/C recognizes the franchise with the best performance. To determine the top franchise of the month, a variety of sales and growth metrics are considered. For the month of July, Steven Edelstein of warehouse #533 in Pittsburg, PA was recognized.

Steven and his wife, Stacey, began their business careers selling children's amusement ride equipment to indoor malls nationwide. They grew the business into a multinational company, and their success earned them the 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. After selling the business, Steven chose to utilize his business experience and expertise by running a 1-800-Radiator and A/C franchise. He opened his franchise in 2015 and has been successful ever since.

In July, Steven's sales were up 25% and equaled a staggering $70,000 in additional revenue. His out-of-stock inventory remained below an average of 5% across all main categories. This means he had mostly all of the parts in-stock when a customer called to request them. His customer visits increased 27% year-over-year, and he visited more than 750 customers in July.

According to Steven, the following components are the keys to success:

1. Follow the inventory model and work the auto generator properly.

2. Have the right sales guys out there who will work the model properly.

3. Have the right delivery guys and vehicles along with the right methods to manage. 

When you combine these pieces, 1-800-Radiator & A/C franchises can achieve great success.

"If you can take the three components from above and really wrap your head around everything I think truly anyone can be successful," Steven said.

Choosing the Right Franchise

Franchise companies greatly appeal to aspiring entrepreneurs. They offer many of the same perks as having your own business, such as the ability to work for yourself, control your own destiny, and set your own schedule. Along with the advantages of running a business, franchisees benefit from buying into a well-established business model and customer-base. 

While franchises offer countless advantages, they're not all the same. Franchises spread across all industries, and each specific company has its own unique brand and business model. To ensure you are choosing the right franchise for you, consider these tips. 

Consider your goals

People consider franchising for a multitude of reasons. Perhaps you're an experienced executive looking for a career change, or maybe you're an entrepreneur seeking a new profitable opportunity to invest in. No matter, you need to consider your goals and think about what you want to accomplish from running your own franchise. You might want to increase your income, have a better home-work life balance, build equity, or explore your hobbies and benefit from essentially being your own boss. Outlining your specific goals and objectives will help you understand which franchise system is the best for your needs and aspirations. 

Research franchise companies 

Franchise companies aren't specific to any industry. There are franchises in all fields, from tutoring and child care, to restaurants, beauty salons, and auto shops. Research the types of industries that you'd be interested in getting into, and then look at specific franchise companies within those industries. Look beyond their sales pitches and find out what it's like to be a franchisee within their network. Consider franchises that have years of experience and success under their belt and exhibit a strong reputation, continuous growth, and low turnover. 1-800-Radiator & A/C franchises, for instance, are the fastest growing franchises in the auto parts industry and have a reputation of providing the highest quality wholesale auto parts and customer service. 

Know what you can invest  

The amount of capital you need to invest in a franchise varies by company. Assess how much capital you have and establish a clear idea of how much you can invest in the franchise. No matter how successful the franchise network is, you won't make a hefty profit overnight. Make sure you have enough money to enter this venture; then with smart management, you'll be able to gradually turn your location into a profitable franchise.

1-800-Radiator & A/C Founds Charity for Injured Military Service Members

The 1-800-Radiator & A/C franchise, the fastest growing franchise in the automotive industry, is proud to announce the creation of the 1-800-Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting injured military service members through raising money and awareness for those who have so bravely served our country. 

The Foundation has partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) — a non-profit service organization committed to empowering injured veterans and their families— to provide support and assistance for our heroic veterans and their loved ones. Through free programs and services, WWP aims to improve the physical, mental, and financial wellbeing of injured service members, as well as their families and caregivers. 

To date, WWP has served approximately 89,000 warriors who have endured a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while on duty on or after September 11, 2001. The organization has also provided services to nearly 19,000 family members and caregivers of these heroic warriors. These programs and services have included recovery programs, peer support groups, and higher education programs, trainings, and employment assistance services to promote long-term financial stability. 

To learn more about the 1-800-Charitable Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Project, and how you can help, please click here.

About 1-800-Radiator & A/C Franchises

Founded in 1982, 1-800 Radiator & A/C is recognized as one of the largest parts suppliers in North America, and one of the fastest growing franchise companies in the automotive aftermarket industry. By utilizing cutting edge technology, giant buying power, and maintaining excellent vendor relationships with locally owned and operated franchised businesses, we are able to offer the best solutions for the auto parts industry. We have warehouses in over 200 locations across the nation, and our high quality auto parts are delivered right to customers’ doorsteps within just a few hours. 

On average, 1-800 Radiator & A/C franchises provides parts for 1,200 automotive repair businesses as its primary customers. These include parts stores, repair shops, collision shops, and car dealerships.  Our fully integrated proprietary software system helps franchises flourish over local competitors. Franchises can purchase the best inventory with the lowest failure rates, ensuring customers receive the highest quality parts at competitive prices.

Also, our stocking algorithms optimize inventory levels based on local market activity to ensure the correct parts are available when a customer requests them. Additionally, our system provides marketing and sales data so franchises are aware of which areas to focus its advertising efforts on, as well as real-time information on sales performance, profitability, and employee productivity.

In order to ensure franchisees will continue to have opportunity to grow their business, new product lines continue to be added to the network. This allows even the most mature territories to maintain continued growth.

For more information, or to find out how to start your own 1-800-Radiator & A/C franchise visit, www.1800radiator.com today or email franchisesales@1800radiator.com.