I want to share with you 19 ways to stabilize your car count. Look at this as a quick review without taking the time to dig very deep into each strategy. My objective is to help you take an inventory of what you are doing in your shop and focus on the strategies you are not currently using in your business that can help you stabilize your daily car count. This is accomplished by doing everything you can to retain customers and get them to come back even in a recession and in a time of reliable cars.

01 Learn your daily count 'sweet spot'

Many owners spend too much time focusing on increasing car count and not getting the people who love you and spend money. We all have a sweet spot in our daily car count where gross profit is maximized, and you better learn that number.

Retention marketing in a recession has a better return on investment than acquisition marketing, because you should have a relationship with customers. The key to making money and making your people happy is stabilization.

03 Utilize maintenance logbooks

Our most successful clients are using a maintenance logbook with the shop's name and the customer's name on it to teach intervals and return visits on the drop. Women return to shops where the manager takes the time to teach them how to maintain their cars, according to a survey of women in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.

04 Car care clubs entice customers

Car care club programs, where your customers prepay for maintenance services at a discount to generate return visits over a 12-month period, usually are offered in three levels marketed as silver, gold and platinum. Many shop owners have stabilized car count by giving a free oil change after the customer invests in several services on their own as well with an oil change reward program.

05 Stick with the oil change stickers

The No. 1 reason women return to your shop for maintenance is still the oil change stickers, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Get one of those sticker machines and customize the oil change to K services. Many will need a rotation before an oil change, so get out of the oil change business and get into the K service business.

06 Nail down visits before they're over

The very best exit technique is to schedule the customer's next visit before he or she leaves. Many owners have tried this and failed, which caused misguided belief systems on the subject. Thousands of our clients are now succeeding at this very difficult process, but it takes leadership that believes it can work.

07 Change customer beliefs firsts

Then their behavior will follow. Go to Staples and buy a week-at-a-glance calendar so you can inspect a separate book every day. Don't ask your customers, tell them when their next visit is going to be and give them your business card with the appointment on the back. You let your dentist do it, right? Did it hurt your relationship with him? Heck no!

08 Call to confirm scheduled visits

Also, keep mailing their reminders. If your people don't have time to call, then you must be swamped with car count. Most shops are having stabilization problems due to the recession and reliable cars. So if this is you, get off your bottom and go get a new appointment calendar. In 90 days, you will see a big improvement in car count.

09 Freebies never have been so fun

Another idea whose time has passed but is making a comeback is giveaways to the customer. Giveaways such as calendars, magnets, mugs, pens, key rings, etc. help keep your name in front of your customers. Used on the exit, this is also a great time to introduce your referral program.