A recent poll done by the International Automotive Technicians’ Network (iATN), www.iatn.net, indicates 41.3 percent of members had an increase in business in 2010 compared to 2009. Of the 41.3 percent, 28.7 percent report business increased slightly, while for 12.6 percent, business increased significantly. Business stayed about the same for 18 percent of members. The online poll concluded February 2011 with 4,282 votes from iATN members.
The results, when compared with results of the same poll done approximately a year ago, indicate that business continues to improve for many iATN members. In the previous poll, 32.5 percent of members had an increase in business in 2009 compared to 2008.
“While the recent poll results show an upward trend and are very encouraging, they also remind us that 2010, compared to 2009, was still a difficult year for a number of shops,” said Scott Brown, iATN president. Approximately 40.8 percent of iATN members reported business was off in 2010. This number, however, also continues to show a positive trend compared to the same poll a year ago when 53.5 percent of members indicated business was off.
A slightly greater trend toward preventive maintenance and speculation that people are keeping cars longer were among the reasons given for an increase in business. A common reason given for the shop’s decrease in business was its increased cost of doing business.
In a separate poll conducted in early 2010, 67 percent of iATN members predicted an increase in business for 2010. A new iATN poll is underway to determine members’ business expectations for 2011.
