Sean Buckley answers: What are the cutting-edge franchise services/solutions offered by Ultra Tune?

I often like to tell people; “Ultra Tune is an IT company that just happens to service cars.” Obviously, our car servicing is our stock in trade, but where Ultra Tune has managed to stay ahead of the competition over the years is by reading market trends and staying ahead of the curve.

In the early days we did this by introducing “dyno-tuning” before anyone else, today we aim to stay ahead of the competition by building a state-of-the-art priority IT platform which handles each and every aspect of the business – from booking a service, to reviewing service records, to sending out reminders to clients that their next booking is due, to invoicing. Our system is world leading and provides both franchisees and clients with a seamless and complete service.

What is the operating philosophy that the business has been built on?

Always try to look to the future. Employ good, trustworthy hard-working people in key positions, give them some autonomy and only provide guidance rather than micro-managing. A number of my staff have been with me for 15 years plus, some of the key innovations we’ve had within the various enterprises I’m involved in can be attributed my key staff members.

Sean Buckley answers: What people, books and life factors have influenced and impacted you?

I appreciate the drive and focus of Donald Trump – his non-political correct, business type approach to politics is refreshing and long over-due. Books – loved the Art of War and from a “life factors” perspective; my father had a huge influence on helping to establish my persona and long-term goals and objectives.

It saddens me daily that he passed away before having the opportunity to see what has developed with Ultra Tune and various other companies I’ve founded over the years. I am buoyed by the fact that I know he’d be pleased with those career/professional achievements I’ve managed to achieve. Also and equally influential for me has been the birth of my three beautiful daughters and I wait with bated to see how their lives unfold going forward.

Sean Buckley answers: As a CEO and leader, describe a challenge you overcame

Ultra Tune has faced various challenges over the years, not the least of which being an adverse legal finding after a court case with the ACCC. I was overseas at the time for an extended period of time and unfortunately (my own fault), didn’t take an active enough role in the pending case.

As a consequence the company was issued with a hefty fine. This was an operational issue, that, once I returned to Australia was immediately rectified and, thankfully our clientele has seen it for what it was – a glitch in an otherwise stellar 40 years of operation. What it did show me was the need to keep my finger on the pulse of the organization at all time. The implications could have been catastrophic, however, being such a well established and credible company allowed us to ride this setback out and thereafter the company has comeback stronger and more effective than ever before.

What are some of the vital attributes, in your opinion, that every leader should possess?

Focus, goal-setting, follow the data, build relationships, employ expertise – listen to them, don’t micro-manage them and remember; the best predictor of the future is the past – learn from your mistakes and don’t make them again in the future.

Sean Buckley answers: How do you maintain balance between your professional & personal life?

This can be difficult there’s absolutely no doubt about it, however to me it comes down to priorities. As I get older – and probably a little less “hungry” from a professional perspective, I am taking more and more joy in becoming more involved with my kids. It is a big contrast for me.

My older daughters are now in their late teens and looking to establish their own careers – something I hope I’ll be able to help/influence them in so they (hopefully) don’t make the same mistakes as I did as a younger man. Inversely my youngest daughter is only two – watching her explore and learn about the world is a joy – seeing someone so young and unspoiled by society is wonderful. Being loved unconditionally by a little person like this fills my heart with happiness.

What is your greatest life achievement?

Behind my daughters? Taking a Ultra Tune which was on the verge of collapse and turning into Australia’s leading,
independently owned after-sales automotive service network brings me joy on a daily basis professionally. I also own “Ultra Thoroughbreds” – a horse racing enterprise where we breed and race quality horses all over the world. Having bought and breed some of the most sort after horses in the world (e.g. Ms Andretti, Shamus Award and
Nature Strip) has been an exciting and fulfilling experience.

Sean Buckley answers: What is Ultra Tune’s difference in the automotive franchise marketplace?

Sean Buckley states:

You either move with the times and evolve or you perish – just ask the dinosaurs!

What are the key benefits of buying the Ultra Tune Franchise?

We see Ultra Tune expanding rapidly over the next few years. There are some key changes occurring to legislation here in Australia in 2020 which will ultimately make for a far fairer playing field in the auto-servicing market. These legislative changes will likely see the involvement of dealerships in servicing contracting which will open up more opportunities for Ultra Tune across the country.

The recent closure of Holden here in Australia for example means independent service providers such as Ultra Tune will be filling the void for the servicing of Holden cars in the future.

When you consider

(a) the cost of acquiring an Ultra Tune franchise is very competitive

(b) Ultra Tune provides an end to end support to franchisees

(c) the cost of servicing a vehicle at an Ultra Tune store is, on average, 30% lower than the charge incurred at a dealership

(d) dealership numbers are decreasing – Ultra Tune’s future looks very appealing.

Follow Sean Buckley at https://twitter.com/SeanBuckleyAU

Charlie Sheen films new ad with Ultra Tune in Melbourne

Hollywood superstar Charlie Sheen has been filming the new Ultra Tune ad in Williamstown, Melbourne, for the next installment of the Unexpected Situations series! It has been fantastic working with Charlie to make this advert the best yet!

He is in Australia to film the ad as well as go on tour for ‘An Evening with Charlie Sheen’ in Melbourne on the 3rd of November and in Sydney on the 4th of November. Tickets for the evening are available at https://www.charliesheenlive.com.au/

Charlie Sheen stars alongside our rubbergirls Parnia Porsche, Laura Lydall, Tyana Hansen and Imogen Lovell.

Ultra Tune launches Ad with Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson stars in new Ultra Tune ad

Ultra Tune are proud to launch our new advert with Mike Tyson during the Australian Open 2018 today!

The ad is part of the Unexpected Situations series and stars the legend Mike Tyson as well as rubber girls Parnia Porsche, Tyana Hansen and Jasmin Rainbow. We filmed in 2017 in Las Vegas with the fantastic director Mark Richie who really brought our ideas to life! It was a great time on set and a wonderful experience working with Mike Tyson who was a total professional and a lot of fun!

Mike Tyson Ultra Tune 4 — Sean Buckley (Executive Chairman Ultra Group of Companies) onset in Las Vegas with Rubber Girls – Jasmin Rainbow, Tyana Hansen, Parnia Porsche, Mike Tyson and Roadside Assistance Driver – Rod Cedaro

We look forward to hearing feedback from our customers and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates and more behind the scenes info!

Randy Petalcorin returns on the 10 November 2017 at Malvern Town Hall

Another exciting night of boxing is heading to Melbourne on the 10th November 2017 at Malvern Town Hall!

Brought to you by Peter Maniatis Events and Ultra Tune, there are a huge number of stellar match ups including our very own Randy Ultratune Petalcorin taking on the ‘assassin’ Oscar Raknafa!

This fight card is one to remember with the undefeated prospect Danny Hookz vs Indonasian Mijuyong!
And also:
Brandon-Lee Rocco vs Daniel Dwyer
Emmet Brown vs Hunter Ione

Sean Buckley Ultra Tune interviewed by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association

Sean Buckley of Ultra Tune was recently interviewed by the AAAA (Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association) regarding the inquiry into the behaviour of vehicle manufacturers attempting to monopolize the after-sales car service market and drive up the cost of car servicing.

Australia and New Zealand remain the only countries worldwide where manufacturers have been able to quarantine vehicle servicing data making it near impossible for independent service providers to properly service more recently manufactured vehicles.

After months of effort and preparation, Sean Buckley and Ultra Tune, with other independent operators, managed to address the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) regarding the anti-competitive nature of the manufacturer’s behaviour.

The ACCC weren’t impressed and legislation will be enacted in 2018 creating a level playing field upon which independent service providers, such as Ultra Tune, will be able to favourably compete on price and workmanship with vehicle manufacturers in the after sales service market.

The ACCC found that many car manufacturers have not factored consumer guarantee rights into their complaints handling systems and new car buyers are losing out as a result. These rights provide remedies for consumers if their new car experiences a failure, including a right to a repair (without charge) for a minor failure, or a replacement of the car or a full refund for a major failure.

The ACCC has identified five key issues contributing to the difficulties consumers are having enforcing their consumer guarantee rights:

car manufacturers’ focus on warranty obligations to the exclusion of their consumer guarantee obligations
there is a dominant ‘culture of repair’ underpinning car manufacturers’ systems and policies for dealing with car defects and failures
the widespread use of non-disclosure agreements by car manufacturers when resolving complaints
the lack of effective independent dispute resolution options for consumers
particular features of the commercial arrangements between car manufacturers and dealers.

Read in more detail at https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/new-car-industry-put-on-notice

Rod Cedaro attends the Mumbrella Marketing Summit 2017

Ultra Tune Business Development Manager Rod Cedaro told an audience at Mumbrella’s Automotive Summit, “The empowerment there was they [the women] actually were forward-thinking enough to actually exit the car”.

“We don’t see a problem with the ad, we get very very good cut through with the ads,” Rod Cedaro noted, drawing attention to the fact only one complaint to the Ad Standards Board was upheld and contending it was only “banned on a technicality”.

The “technicality” was the implication the women died once being hit by the train.

The ad was then re-cut to show the women walking away from the accident.

“Servicing a car isn’t the most engaging thing you could do and the fact that I am sitting here, talking to you about the ads and Kmart’s not, probably shows that we are getting a bit more cut through,” the national marketing manager noted.

“I don’t want to berate Kmart, but who remembers a Kmart ad versus Jean Claude Van Damme?

“All of our ads are designed to get cut through, are they controversial? Yes and no,” he continued.

“You have got a choice and year-on-year 19% growth would suggest we are getting the cut through from the ads.

“I look at Ultra Tune these days as really a marketing company that happens to service cars.”

Read more on this discussion at the Mumbrella Automotive Summit here
https://mumbrella.com.au/dont-see-problem-ads-women-empowered-ultra-tune-marketer-466870