Focus on Fixed!
Jim Bell & James Bell Jr. publish monthly articles in Canadian Auto Dealer. These industry leading articles range in topics about the ever changing service industry.
Jim Bell & James Bell Jr. publish monthly articles in Canadian Auto Dealer. These industry leading articles range in topics about the ever changing service industry.
Jim has over thirty five years of world wide automotive experience gained by working on three continents. Europe, Africa and North America and is a Fellow of the Institute of Automotive Management. He commenced his career with a five year apprenticeship as an automotive technician and quickly progressed to Forman, Service Advisor and Service Manager. Jim has also worked extensively with the manufacturing segment of the industry and held positions as Zone Service Manager, District Parts and Service Manager, Regional Sales Manager and Market Representative franchising new dealers. This unique career experience together with enthusiasm and drive keeps Jim focused on the leading edge of our business and has earned him a reputation of being a very effective, knowledgeable, no nonsense fixed operation facilitator and in store consultant.
Jim is currently working with a number of companies both in Canada and Europe, he is a strong proponent of building a one on one relationship between the customer and mechanic and is a firm believer the automotive service business can still be very profitable if we are prepared to make necessary changes to stay in the game.
James Jr. was born with engine oil running through his veins. He started his interest in the automotive industry at a very early age while visiting dealerships with his father. James believes that before you can walk into a dealership as a consultant or trainer and expect people to take you seriously you have to have walked in their shoes first. James has certainly done that; he started his career on the lubrication rack, and then moved on to become a technician. James, then worked in car sales for a short period of time just to get that front end experience, but his main passion has always been with the service industry. James spent time as a Service Advisor before becoming a Service Manager, which as planned, rounded out his hands on experience.
James is known for his passion and enthusiasm towards fixed operations, his team building abilities, and his clear direction on how to increase gross margins and hours per work order, decrease expenses and drive bottom line numbers.