50th Anniversary - Hurray! Scholl

Scholl is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Wow! What a way to go.

It is indeed a celebration that deserves it's call because who in the world would have kept these retro design cans for 50 years? Well ! Scholl did.

I guess this would soon become a benchmark for many other manufacturers to follow! This photo is not "creative" photography because I did get my hands on these stuff.

Is quality measured by number of years? Or is it also measurable by performance? I believe it's both. The question is ... are both these elements sufficient? Not so, I think. One more element would be ... tenacity. Scholl would not have come this far without tenacity.    

One thing for sure and let me get this straight; Scholl did not pay me for writing all these. It's my perspective and Scholl deserves the credit.

For all those detailers out there, somehow we need to associate ourselves with things that birth positivity. People that are contagious with tenacity. I salute to many of you, detailers, whom I believe are tenacious. Detailiing is not about competitiveness. It's about celebrating our work that is filled with immensity of selflessness. 

This would be what I am going to do next..........grab Scholl's S3Gold and work on this car that has really an unappealing surface. Stay tune:)   

Beginning

"It is rare to find a business partner who is selfless, If you are lucky it happens once in a lifetime. "
Michael Dammann Eisner ( CEO, The Walt Disney Company - 1984 - 2005 )


Everything that happens in your life is a journey. Presently, I have already lived half my life but in no time, I would be celebrating my 50th Birthday Anniversary. The above retro picture is a product from a German company tucked in Stuttgart, Remseck, is now 50 years- Scholl Concepts GmbH. (www.schollconcepts.com.)

Being a car enthusiast and detailer, I have experienced a great deal of detailing/polishing products from many corners and all over. I would say that many manufacturers did a real good job in making our life easier and not having to struggle over grave yard hours detailing a car. However, I want to highlight a product that I came across last Autumn 2011, Germany, which is Scholl. She has made an impact in my detailing experience. 

I want to thank Franky Boy, Frank's lovely mother, Margaret Scholl , most hospitable lady and Roland Scholl ( Frank's Dad) and his team: Patricia, Gabi and Susann for their willingness to share their company's wealth in manufacturing the World's Firstclass auto detailing products. Oh! Yes! Not to forget......Jurgen Wolf, who has coached me in how to get the bottling machine worked out ( all products of Scholl Concepts for Asia are Re-Packed in Malaysia), and also for those I had met briefly as other staffs of Scholl Concepts. Truly, this is what I say ".....a partner who is selfless..." in making all things possible and available for Asia region.



   

Winter Driving

If there are any doubts as to the hazards of winter driving, follow this link:

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/why-are-snowy-roads-like-these-never-closed/#continued

You've seen clips on NBC and the Weather Channel, but this tells the whole story. Four wheel drive and snow treads mean nothing when ice is involved. Stay safe, stay home!

Happy Motoring!

Better Mileage Through Synthetics

I have wanted to post about this for a while but haven't gotten around to doing so. As you I am a big believer in using synthetic fluids in vehicles. One of the benefits that I had mentioned was improved gas mileage. As evidence I offer up my 96 Jeep Cherokee with 370,XXX miles on it. 

When I acquired the vehicle last summer it has standard fluids in it. The dealership I purchased it from had changed the oil but had put in non synthetic oil. I had done some tune up work on it like changing out plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, air filter, coolant, and fuel filter but hand't gotten around to changing out any of the fluids before going pheasant hunting. When I left I topped off the tank and filled it up again after going 186 miles and put in 9.3 gallons. On the way back I put 185 miles on it and put in again 9.3 gallons. Shortly there after I manged to get around to changing the gear oil in the transmission and differentials as well as fluid in the transfer case. The engine oil is still the non synthetic fill from the dealership. This time when going deer hunting in colder weather I drove 187 and 183 miles between fill-ups and this time only put in 8.3 gallons each time. 

Those 2 gallons of gas alone come close to covering the difference in the cost between standard and synthetic fluids that I put in. With the other driving that has been done the cost of those fluids have now been easily recouped. Granted this is just anecdotal evidence but does help to support the claim of better mileage by using synthetic fluids.

When it is time to change the engine oil I should see more of an increase in mileage but I don't know how much.  Now before I change the engine oil to synthetic I will be changing the oil pan gasket and valve cover gasket as they are old and are a bit on the leaky side so that should eliminate any of the associated problems people claim are caused by synthetics.

Factory Scheduled Maintenance & Preventive Maintenance

At Mastermind Enterprises we believe the best way to avoid expensive auto repairs is -
to keep up with regular scheduled maintenance.

Most auto owners change their car's oil every 3,000 miles or so, but overlook or are unaware of some important areas of their car's auto service needs. In fact, the most expensive maintenance task is an oil change. At around $35 every 3,000 miles you would spend $350 in oil changes for every 30,000 miles. On the other hand, a transmission service is around $175 and should be done every 30,000 miles. That is only half of what your costs are for oil changes in the same time frame.

Most maintenance items are under $150, that's a lot cheaper than the average auto repair. Let the professionals at Mastermind Enterprises go over or recommend what maintenance items your car needs most.

Mastermind Enterprises features BG Products & Services.
We insist on the best for your vehicle! 

To learn more about the benefits of BG Products and 
auto maintenance services by Mastermind Enterprises, 
click here to visit our website or watch the video below. 

80 Customer Testimonials & Counting!

Alexander ‎ - Jan 10, 2012

A huge THANK YOU to Norm & Heidi!!! I've needed some work done on my Honda Accord and I am fearful of taking it to a dealership. I found Mastermind and am glad I did! They are HONEST, STRAIGHT FORWARD, UNDERSTANDING, EASY TO WORK WITH, and TRUSTING. I had a list of issues with my car. Norm helped me to prioritize them. He worked within my budget to make sure that all my vehicles issues were resolved. They're not out to scam you out of your hard earned money. They do understand the value of a dollar and for that I am grateful for. 

Thank you very much for your kind words, Alexander! It's good friends and customers like you that help make our work enjoyable!

Read more auto repair customer testimonials for Mastermind Enterprises.

ZANU PF YOUTHS In Harare Taking Over City Parking

A youth group with links to Zanu PF is planning a chaotic takeover of lucrative parking bays owned by Harare City Council after the local authority cancelled a controversial joint venture with a South Africa firm, Easihold. Easihold and Harare formed Easipark to control city parking, but the deal is ending in two months after the city pulled out of the two-year partnership.

Upfumi Kuvadiki, which temporarily invaded the parking bays last March, says it will promptly move to take over the spaces, even without council approval.

“We have a new company called Nehanda Holdings which will be running the towing and clamping of vehicles in the city,” Alson Darikayi, chairman told the Daily News yesterday.

“We have been telling the city council that the Easipark deal was not viable and they should incorporate the youths of the country and in March when the deal terminates, we shall be taking over,” he said.

Harare town clerk Tendai Mahachi said council would “cross the bridge when we get there”.

Darikayi said his group had the backing of minister of Local Government Urban and Rural Development Ignatius Chombo.

Chombo, a Zanu PF appointee to the coalition government, has had several run-ins with local councils in the past, forcing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party to push for the amendment of the Urban Council Act that gives him vast powers to meddle in council matters.

“We have the minister’s blessings,” said Dakarayi, adding the youth group will be approaching another hawkish Zanu PF minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, in charge of the indigenisation and youth ministry.

“This is part of the empowerment that our government has been talking about and this year we shall do it. This company (Easihold) should relocate to South Africa and leave our country alone,” said Darikayi.

Threats by pro-Zanu PF groups and individuals to haphazardly take over private businesses under the indigenisation project have scared away foreign investors, with many holding out until the situation is stable.

Darikayi said his group would not seek the city’s authority, although they will meet mayor Muchadeyi Masunda “to update him of the take-over”.

Parking business has become lucrative as motorists are charged $1 an hour. Harare was supposed to get 60 percent of the profits, with Easihold pocketing the remainder under the souring deal.

But councillors say the city has not benefitted since the deal was signed hence the decision to pull out.

Credit: newsdzezimbabwe

11/01/2012

Avoid Costly Breakdowns with Timing System Repairs

Don’t take chances.  
Replace timing belts, tensioners and idlers BEFORE they fail.

The right time to replace timing belts. Timing belts are considered wear items and should be checked according to the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule. Most manufacturers suggest replacing the belt between 60,000 to 105,000 miles. Check the manufacturer’s recommendation on mileage in your vehicle's owner's manual.

A broken timing belt will stop a vehicle in an instant. 

It can also result in costly engine damage and inconvenience. 

Free-Running or Interference Engine? An engine is either “interference” or “free-running” depending on its design. If the timing belt breaks in an interference engine, an open valve may be struck by a moving piston. This can result in serious damage and expensive repairs, and in some cases even a new engine. A “free-running” engine design will not result in extensive engine damages should the timing belt fail. You will still have to deal with the inconvenience of being stranded, towing expense, and the cost of timing belt replacement and necessary timing system components.


Tensioners and idlers are critical components that work hand-in-hand with the timing belt. Tensioners and idlers work together to keep the timing belt properly tensioned. The timing belt system uses idlers and/or pulleys to either change the direction of the belt or transmit power to a component such as a water pump or oil pump.


Why replace tensioners and idlers? Worn tensioners or idler pulley bearings are the leading causes of timing belt failures. Like timing belts, tensioners and idlers wear out. They need to be replaced BEFORE they fail. Tensioner and idler wear is difficult to detect. Many tensioners that look okay may be at or near the end of their service life. In some cases, the newly installed timing belt may fail after a few thousand miles if the tensioner or idler is worn or loose.


Should timing belt driven water pumps be replaced? You can save yourself considerable expense by replacing an already high mileage water pump at the same time as replacing the timing belt. In both cases the labor cost is a large part of the expense and the labor procedures are basically the same. Doing everything at the same time will result in big long-term cost savings. Save money by asking for a water pump when having a timing system replacement on your vehicle. When replacing a timing belt, have the tensioner, idler and water pump replaced at the same time. The additional cost is insignificant compared to the cost of accessing the timing belt. The new timing belt will be protected from damage caused by failure of these parts.

Don’t take chances. Replace timing belts, tensioners and idlers before they fail! Don’t take chances with costly engine damage – replace timing belts and all related system components at the same time. Change Timing Belts, Tensioners, Idlers, and Water Pumps at the Manufacturer's recommended interval.

Mastermind Enterprises gives FREE Timing Belt Estimates 

and a 12 Month/12,000 Mile Nationwide Warranty. 
Most timing belt replacements can be done in one day or less.

Call us at 303-297-AUTO (2886) or send us an email today!

Parking in Africa blog to be restricted to members only soon

Parking-in-Africa Blog is the most widely read parking blog-site emanating from Africa as from 2011. The blog-site boast of over 300 readership a day of whom close to 85% are global parking professionals based on goggle analysis result as at 31st Dec 2011. As a result of this, the owner of the blog-site is proposing to restrict it to only members only starting from February 2012 for effectiveness and efficiency.


The pointless ocean moans on top of each conventional mathematics


Currently there is no restriction of access to the public and parking professionals for posts on the blog and the only benefit current members enjoy is ability to view further attachment to the post which is visibly hidden from non-members. The entire site will soon be password protected as proposed...  


Please leave your comment(s) as to why you support or oppose this message proposed which will help in making final decision by the end of January. Thank you














Credit: African News Online
11/01/2012

MAXIMIZE PROFIT WITH YOUR HOTEL PARKING

                                                   
Parking revenue is regularly disregarded and is often one of the biggest sources of unrealized income in hotels. While every property and location is unique, hotel owners and asset managers must encourage operators to identify this revenue opportunity.


In all major cities in Nigeria, parking problems are reaching breaking point and city authorities are now considering some drastic changes. Governmental studies are looking at the prospect of introducing the on-street maximum parking time to 1 hour in some of the busiest areas in order to avoid double-parking and to make parking spaces available for the maximum number of drivers. A lot of the offices, hospitals, malls and hotels used to offer free surface/underground parking to visitors but they are slowly introducing paid parking via the use of VAP Cards Technology, PARCS and Parking Meters by engaging parking operators, much to the satisfaction of staff, residents, guests and dissatisfaction of un-wanted visitors tagged “free-parkers”. 

Parking is often not a consideration for hotel operators; however, asset managers and owners should encourage them to capitalize on this unrealized income. With the recent construction regulations, city hotels, airport hotels and resorts have the potential to generate additional revenue with their large parking space.

In Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja, big hotels such as Eko Hotels, Federal Palace Hotels, Sheraton, etc, have all introduced paid parking for the use of their parking spaces with the utmost objective of restricting unwanted visitors tagged that do not patronise the hotel for business. This according to an insider helps boost revenue for the hotels and also aid facility security.

If a parking spot is not occupied or is provided free of charge, it represents a loss of revenue. Sounds familiar? Yes, parking space should be treated in a similar way to a guestroom or an airline seat. Do hotels like to give free guestrooms away? How often do drivers self-park or even use valet parking, without even walking into the hotel? 

Some hotels may be reluctant to change due to brand standards or the fact that the competition doesn’t charge for parking, but they should approach the issue differently: the most meaningful way to beat the competition is to make your business the absolute best it can be. So operators must provide a well-trained/professional valet service at the entrance – ‘first impressions count’. When a hotel has a professional parking system in place, the customer experience is automatically enhanced, even though they have to pay a small fee for parking. When there are changes, even the best-run business will lose some customers to the competition, but these losses are rarely as many as feared. Further, these losses are usually those guests whose expectations are simply too high or they are “low cost” customers. Providing an enhanced service like professional parking service will also help maintain a high perceived value of the product.

Even if the operator decides not to charge hotel guests for parking; additional capacity can still generate revenue. The hotel owner or the asset manager should encourage the operator to speak with businesses and residences around the hotel in order to identify their potential needs and initiate a rental scheme for them. Similar to corporate room rates, incentive tariff proposals can be created to maximize revenue.

Parking at the airport is always expensive and often frustrating. For example, parking tariff at MMA2 in Lagos is currently ($1.2) N200 per hour but if the hotel provides shuttle services to the airport, the operator can offer ‘Park & Fly’ services to non residents at a cheaper rate. The hotel can offer similar options during major conventions, concerts and other events. 


The opinions of local residents are a factor that cannot be ignored. The hotel will have to deal with reluctant customers who will complain about the new parking policies. Like any other changes, the operation needs to be prepared to respond appropriately. The key to the success of a smooth transition is appointing experienced and knowledgeable operator to manage hotel paid parking, set clear policies, implements staff training and presenting the new system in a way which highlights its benefits. At the early stage of this transition, for instances you can offer to validate their ticket for free parking when the customer pays his/her bill. Again, staff training and clear policies are required.
Pricing is a critical factor and will ultimately end up being the most important determinant in profitability. Hotel parking is generally considerably under-priced, but price alone is rarely/never the single most important deciding factor in choosing a hotel. Hotel owners should invest in parking technology. There are currently few specialized companies in the Nigerian market which provide suitable options for both self-parking/mobile parking and valet parking. An independent professional or consultant for the hotel should ensure that the management company (i.e. the operator) appointed is experienced and has the local knowledge of the area in choosing the most appropriate system for the property. 


If the operator wants to take this income stream seriously, they have to appoint a reliable parking manager. The potential income revenue is so great that they cannot give the responsibility to the room or security department. The manager must have a specific job description and the right training.

The operator should create Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) and train their employees to manage the parking. Failure to capture revenue is often the result of non-compliance with systems in place designed to track and collect fees. The operator has to protect this revenue like in an F&B outlet, with a cashier for instance. The operator can install an incentive program for the valets to make sure that the fees are paid. Training all the hotel staff is important as they must understand the parking policies to give a consistent message to customers. Regular monitoring of results should also be undertaken.

In-conclusion, here are a few suggestions: 

• Engage the working of a parking consultant for surveys and drawing up a cost-benefit analysis projections fully discussed and agreed prior to introducing paid parking.

• Seek stakeholders and customers opinion prior to paid parking implementation.

• Engage only the use of a professional and recognized local parking company as your operator.
• Be sure to know what your real parking costs are prior to start.

• Be sure to factor in continuous staff training, depreciation and, maybe marketing.
• Analyse your parking revenue per square foot per annum.

I strongly believe that there is nothing morally wrong with making a profit with your parking facility. You might not realize it but a goldmine may be sitting in your backyard. 

Author: Mr. W.A Seriki is the Managing Director (V-Park Management Solution Limited) and he is also a Parking Consultant based in Nigeria. The company V-Park provides expertise and professional services in total parking management solutions which also covers the hospitality industry. For more information please contact info@v-parkms.com or visit http://www.v-parkms.com. 

Credit: African News Online

10/01/2012

79 Customer Testimonials & Counting!

Jamie ‎ - Jan 8, 2012

Honest, compassionate, fair, and kind. Norm and Heidi talk to you like a person, not a checkbook. Norm is incredibly skilled and well worth every cent. He has resurrected my car **twice**, each time he was readily willing and available to explain my options and what had gone wrong. The second sudden death of my car came from a faulty component. No fault of mine or the shops. The maker of the part wanted me to pay upfront to fix the vehicle and then file an assurance claim with them. Norm stood by his work and took the claim to the manufacturer himself! No, really. He took the claim to the manufacturers. I can't recommend them enough. 

Thank you very much for your kind words, Jamie! It's good friends and customers like you that help make our work enjoyable!

Read more auto repair customer testimonials for Mastermind Enterprises.

Happy New Year from the Mastermind Enterprises Family

Happy New Year! Mastermind Enterprises extends warm wishes to our customers, our blog readers, and your families for a prosperous and pleasurable 2012! We would like to thank all of our customers for a successful 2011 at our auto repair shop in Denver! We met many great people and our customer testimonials grew, too.

With 2012 here in full swing, Mastermind Enterprises is getting ready for yet another exciting, action-packed year. 2011 was the best year so far for our company. In 2012, we eagerly anticipate what God will do in this new year for our company.

We look forward to taking care of your vehicle's needs this year!

Happy 2012!

PS: As always, if you like what you read on the Mastermind Enterprises blog, please follow us on facebook and twitter.