The NOLN Podcast

Earlier this summer, Stephen Spinelli, president of Babson College and the co-founder of Jiffy Lube International, spoke with NOLN for its “NOLN at 40” series about the journey he and his colleagues took from launching Jiffy Lube International in 1979 and building it into the nation’s first quick lube chain, growing to more than 1,000 locations. In this episode, Spinelli discusses how the industry has continued to grow after he transitioned to the academic world, and he also shares some advice for today’s quick lube operators.
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As quick lube marketing has become a sophisticated, technology-driven discipline, its core principles have endured.
This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on June 29, 2026.Read by Brittany Duncan 
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David Lawes, CEO of the Lubricants Packaging Management Association powered by Interchange 360, returns to the NOLN Podcast to provide listeners with an update on the state of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws and how they will impact the quick lube industry.
With lubricant packaging recycling being largely overlooked historically, Lawes discusses the launch of Colorado’s first automotive and lubricant packaging collection programs. He also explains the importance of proper collection system design for recycling, keeping packaging separate from curbside recycling, and how quick lube operators can leverage existing collection infrastructure to improve efficiency, increase recycling rates, and help control compliance costs.
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As more auto service businesses are met with AI tools in the market, NOLN chats with the companies behind two leading platforms about what they seek to offer quick lube shops. One of the firms uses existing shop cameras to monitor vehicle entry, service times, and technician activity to boost efficiency. The other handles customer calls, texts, and emails, allowing technicians to focus on service while maintaining high customer engagement during and after hours.
 
This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on June 26, 2026.Read by Brittany Duncan 
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Congress recently advanced legislation addressing Right to Repair, but the final language looks much different than what independent repair advocates originally sought. Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, recently spoke with Christine Schaffran, editor-in-chief of NOLN’s sister publication Ratchet+Wrench, to explain what made it into the bill, what was left out, what happens next, and how shop owners can help shape the future of vehicle data access and consumer choice.
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Dave Schedin, an auto repair shop success coach from CompuTrek Systems, recently spoke with NOLN about the potentially fatal flaw in OEM maintenance schedules, what shops should analyze in their data to set more accurate maintenance intervals, and how this information should be presented to customers to build trust and keep their vehicles on the road.
This story originally appeared on NOLN.net on May 27, 2026.
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Scott Hempy, CEO of Oilstop Drive-Thru Oil Change and Happy’s Drive-Thru Car Wash, joins the NOLN Podcast to take a closer look at a topic covered in one of his recent columns for NOLN: how quick lube operators can maintain their margins even as their costs rise. In this conversation, Hempy explains why operators should focus on controllable factors, such as labor efficiency, bay times, and inventory management, and build a culture of cost awareness in their shops. He also offers up best practices for implementing thoughtful prices increases without driving away guests.
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Vendors who work with quick lubes have evolved from suppliers and distributors to sage advisors and full-fledged partners. On this note, earlier this year NOLN caught up with representatives from Mighty Auto Parts and Service Champ, who explained why effective vendor partnerships involve understanding the specific needs and challenges of quick lube shops, including inventory, training, and service offerings.
This story originally appeared on NOLN.net on May 30, 2026.
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Ellie Pentland, partner at Throttle Muscle, joins the NOLN Podcast to offer insights on how quick lube operators can develop effective employee training and goal-setting initiatives. Pentland, who has spent more than 25 years in the industry, explains the value of clearly defining objectives and creating measurable outcomes, and she also discusses the why operators should focus training on individual roles and consistently checking in with employees to track progress, rather than sitting back and relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
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With the United States and Iran reaching a peace agreement that is expected to be signed later this week, RBC Capital Markets analyst Steven Shemesh joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss the ramifications for quick lube operators. In this interview, Shemesh explains why although the reported peace agreement between the United States and Iran is a positive development, operators should expect lingering effects from months of conflict that drove up crude oil prices and created supply chain disruptions.
He also breaks down how operators of different sizes have been impacted by recent events, and what industry leaders from all corners can learn from this experience.
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