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Portfolio: Design, Content, Marketing

Lube Tech Showdowns • TPMS Opportunities • TechSpec: 2012 Nissan Versa • Hiring Good Employees

www.noln.net Our 25th Year of Serving the Fast Oil Change Industry

N a 25 Best Looking Lube t i Years s on w al Ne Is a Trip Back in Time Oil & Lube • 18

The DOCTOR Is In!

Distributor09/09 Guide 2011 Max Protect your engine • 34 The ABCs of VIntervals. | HoMonyM Huddle ehicleAgain. Our 23rd Year of Serving the Fast Oil Change Industry • 52 A Driver's Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Car ®

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Oil’s Well? #623 Permit KY

Lebanon Junction, Junction, Lebanon

PAID MD Ensuring the Oil Postage U.S.

Presorted Standard Presorted November 2011 • Five Dollars You Pay For Isn 20 the Oil You Get TAILGATING FUN www.vehiclemd.com Make Your Car the Star of the Tailgate Party

SPECIAL SECTION

A/C Service: n 28 Cold As Ice Survey: What Do Lube Customers Think Really About You?n 54

n Five Dollars Go Long! June 2009 Tips to help you save Ready, Set, Hike Squelch squeaks with the at the fuel pump lubrication formation

Garrett McKinnon Fall 2011 Introduction Design

Mining for Profits • A Trip to the Business Mechanic • TechSpec: 2011 Ford Explorer • Winter Add-Ons As a publishing professional working with print and online media for more than 17 years, I have authored literally hundreds of feature articles, editorial

www.noln.net Our 25th Year of Serving the Fast Oil Change Industry

1986-20 columns, headlines, cutlines, blog posts, social media posts, Web content, 11

and just about every other type of publishable item one could imagine. N a 25 t i Years s on w al Ne Special Issue: Oil & Lube In addition, I have designed hundreds of feature spreads, advertisements, Peer Into the logos, and other types of content. I have also directed seemingly countless Industry’s Future design and content projects, generating ideas and leading teams of talented • 28 writers and designers to finalize projects. As a longtime magazine editor, my primary mission was to harness the creative ideas and content generated by my staff and streamline those often disparate ideas into print and online publications that would appear seamless to readers, a process I liken to a Fast Lube conductor who harnesses the musical talents of dozens of musicians to Programs produce a single harmonious orchestra. Guide • 18 My career began at a small automotive trade magazine, National Oil & Lube News. As I worked my way from staff writer to assistant editor to editor, I learned much about what constitutes a successful publication. Later, I Looking Back, Looking Ahead championed the launch of a pair of complementary consumer magazines, • 56 VehicleMD and go.drive. Eventually, my career path took me to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Printing Center, where I used my January 2011 • Five Dollars design and management talents to oversee the creation of myriad publica- Representative cover design from National Oil & Lube News. Covers were typically tions, as well as a series of effective marketing promotions. a mixture of stock facility pictures and headlines that were interwoven in fun, creative ways. Quite often images required a great deal of editing in Photoshop to help sharpen the photo, reduce artifacts such as power lines, create a vertical image from a horizontal one, etc. In addition to the design of this cover, I also designed Inside the pages of this portfolio, you will find representative examples of the the company logo for NOLN. (Note that all issues printed in 2011 featured a metallic types of work I created and/or managed my teams to create. It is my hope gold ink on the cover for the logo and headlines, a feature denoting the magazine’s 25th anniversary; unfortunately, the color does not accurately reproduce digitally that this digital portfolio will provide you with an understanding of the and appears faded.) professionalism, creativity and energy I bring to my work. Published quarterly like its VehicleMD brethren, go.drive. was similar in concept, but Max Protect your engine HoMonyM Huddle | sponsored by a particular company and distributed with an eye toward automotive ® dealership service facilities that used the company’s products. In addition to creating the overall concept for the publication, I oversaw the collaborative logo effort, created to instill a sense of motion and speed, as well as the overall design of the publication, which focused on the use of bright colors and the relationship between VehicleMD drivers and their vehicles. A Driver's Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Car www.vehiclemd.com ... ™ TAILGATING FUN Make Your Car the Star go.Get thedrive. Most from Your Dealer Service Experience of the Tailgate Party Special Issue: Show your car Some love Stay SaFe & thIS wInter! have Fun .Driving on Slippery roads .Find your Inner Snow angel

Go Long! Tips to help you save at the fuel pump Protect your rIDe Ready, Set, Hike .why all motor Squelch squeaks with the oils are not equal lubrication formation .Seven winter Fall 2011 Services a. vISIt to the Dealer Representative cover design from VehicleMD, an automotive consumer magazine new-car Features you want whose aim was to educate readers regarding the maintenance needs of their ve- .Service writers Spill the Beans hicles. Images were selected to convey a sense of communion between pleasant, happy people and their automobiles. This image was heavily modified in Photoshop, as the original photograph had the photographer’s shadow clearly outlined on the vehicle’s rear fender. In addition to designing this cover, I was also responsible for Winter 2011 the design of the magazine’s logo, tag line, and the creation of all headlines. A featurette “game” I authored and designed for VehicleMD. Representative full-page advertisement designed for National Oil & Lube News.

of Signs the Times

Can you identify these road signs from the part shown? Answers below. 2 3 1 4 5 7

6 8 10 12

9 11

____ A. Men at Work ____ G. Interstate ____ B. Children Present ____ H. Railroad Crossing ____ C. Signal Light Ahead ____ I. Right Turn Ahead ____ D. Side Road Ahead ____ J. Two-Way Traﬃc ____ E. Wrong Way ____ K. Yield Ahead

____ F. Truck Crossing ____ L. Stop Sign

Traﬃc; 7. F: Truck Crossing; 8. K: Yield Ahead; 9. E: Wrong Way; 10. L: Stop Sign; 11. I: Right Turn Ahead; 12. A: Men at Work at Men A: 12. Ahead; Turn Right I: 11. Sign; Stop L: 10. Way; Wrong E: 9. Ahead; Yield K: 8. Crossing; Truck F: 7. Traﬃc;

1. C: Signal Light Ahead; 2. H: Railroad Crossing; 3. B: Children Present; 4. G: Interstate; 5. D: Side Road Ahead; 6. J: Two-Way Two-Way J: 6. Ahead; Road Side D: 5. Interstate; G: 4. Present; Children B: 3. Crossing; Railroad H: 2. Ahead; Light Signal C: 1. ANSWERS:

26 VehicleMD Photo spread in National Oil & Lube News, plus cover (inset). In addition to designing this spread, I also created the concept for a “contest” allowing automotive service facilities to compete in a “beauty contest.”

Best Looking LuBe: Liquid Lube & Wash Moneta, Virginia

Postmodern Art Deco. If you had only three words in which to sum the design of Liquid Lube & Wash, you might do well to use those, which do a commendable but hardly sufficient job of describing this sparkling fast oil change shop.

From its sweeping curves to the bright exterior light- ing to the central “skyscraper” element, this beautiful lube facility is at once both commanding and invit- ing. Certainly it’s one of the most unique lube/wash places we’ve ever seen, and our judges were suitably impressed to vote it as this year’s Best Looking Lube.

“A very retro-looking facility,” wrote one judge. “I love the glass bricks used throughout. This place really stands out at night.”

“An outstanding design,” raved another. “Clean, airy look. The colors are very soothing.”

“The building almost looks liquid. I love how the theme and colors tie together inside and out. The waiting room is hip and trendy, and I love the iMac and fresh flowers,” said another judge who dared to still use the term “hip.”

“Reminds me of a 1950’s-era diner on Route 66,” another judge noted, one of several judges who said the facility could pass for one of the Art Deco diners that used to dot the country’s highways and byways.

“This is an office building meets a fast lube. It makes you want to wear a suit and tie to get your oil changed,” opined one judge.

“It’s trendy,” said one young judge. “It looks state of the art.”

Other judges noted the attractive yet subtle landscap- ing, the lighted Quaker State clock atop the facility and the open, clean bay area. Truly a top- notch fast lube facility and more than deserving of this year’s Best Looking Lube honor.

26 NOVEMBER 2007 WWW.NOLN.NET 27 NOVEMBER 2007 NATIONAL OIL &WWW.NOLN.NET LUBE NEWS 27 Content

go. ﬁgure. Under the Hood OBSCURE FACTS ABOUT FAMOUS CARS FROM THE BIG (AND LITTLE) SCREEN I authored and directed the design of this featurette, which won an award You know them when you see them. There are just some movies—and some movie cars—that leave such an indelible mark that from an automotive communications group, for VehicleMD. whenever you see the car while zipping through channels with your remote control late at night, you know instantly which movie it is. Here are some of our favorites:

Named “Ecto-1”, this outrageous car ferried Doctors Peter Venkman and Raymond 1972 BEDFORD CF Stantz (played by Bill Murray and Dan Ak- royd, respectively) through the streets of New York in the 1984 classic, “Ghost Busters.”

But did you know… • A scene deleted from the movie Darren Brode / Shutterstock.com 1959 CADILLAC had a police officer placing a ticket on omonym MILLER-METEOR AMBULANCE “Ecto-1”, only to have it burst into flames. Patrick Hard/ Shutterstock.com (Don’t know why they cut that; would’ve been hysterical!) • The Cadillac Miller-Meteor was also sold, apropos enough, as a hearse. It’s called the “Mystery Machine” in the “Scooby Doo” cartoon and movie series—and for good • Stantz paid $4,800 (in 1984!) for a 25-year-old car that needed “some suspension work and reason. The cartoon version was unidentifiable Huddle shocks. Brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear-end…also new rings, muf- as any specific make or model, but the movie flers, a little wiring.” used at least one of these British vans as the ride that ferried Scooby and pals. Can you match the football team mascot to the car that shares its name? You know it as the “General Lee” from the “Dukes of 1969 DODGE CHARGER But did you know… Hazzard” television series and movie. Perhaps the most • Used as commercial vans in Britain, famous “muscle car” in history, the Charger helped Bo Bedfords were famously used as ice and Luke Duke stay one step ahead of Boss Hogg and cream vans, postal vans and, ironically, Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane. as prisoner transports. But did you know… • The Bedford was built in some form or • To keep the charger from flipping nose-to-tail A Helen Shorey/ Shutterstock.com fashion nonstop from 1969 to 1988. during many of its stunts, the trunk was routinely 1 • The Bedford was also sold in Australia, packed with 1,000 pounds of sandbags and concrete (we’ll spare you the “junk-in-the-trunk” jokes). not coincidentally where the first “Scooby • An estimated 309 Chargers were used during the TV series, with most of those destroyed in stunts. Doo” movie was filmed. E Fewer than 25 genuine Chargers used in the series are known to exist. 5 • The TV show was based on the movie “Moonrunners,” which featured moonshine runners who drove a 1958 Chrysler named “Traveler” after General Robert E. Lee’s horse. What started life as a touring car turned into a colossally overloaded B pickup in the TV series and movie, “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Famed The car made famous in the “Back to the Future” series of movies was actually a car customizer George Barris (who 2 commercial flop. Stylish, yes, with its gleaming stainless-steel body and gullwing also built the first Batmobile and doors. But woefully underpowered for a car that aimed to be taken seriously as a high- the Munster Koach) combined the F performance exotic, as with U.S. emissions equipment installed the DMC-12 only had a Oldsmobile touring car body with the 130-horsepower V6 to try and urge it down the highway. frame of a flatbed truck to make the vehicle. 6 But did you know… • The car was named for its original asking price: $12,000 (though dealers But did you know… were asking $25,000 by the time the cars hit the streets). • In an interview Max Baer Jr. C 1921 OLDSMOBILE (who portrayed Jethro Bodine in 3 • Three of the 1981 DELOREAN DMC-12 MODEL 46 ROADSTER the TV series) said the truck was approximately 9,000 awful to drive and wobbled horribly. DeLoreans built were plated in 24-karat • In one episode, Jethro decides to convert the car to electric gold. power, but abandons the idea when he can’t find a 3,000-mile G extension cord. 7 • The DeLorean was originally • The last surviving car from the TV series is on display at the D manufactured in Ralph Foster Museum at the College of the Ozarks in Point 4 Ireland. Lookout, Missouri. gd

18 H Representative featurette design from go.drive. I authored the article and directed 8 its overall design and layout. As editor of three magazines, I not only authored and assigned most of the editorial content in each publication, I also oversaw compre-

hensive design and redesign projects no fewer than half a dozen times, choosing

1500), 7. G (Southern Utah University Thunderbirds, Ford Thunderbird), 8. B (Southern Methodist University Mustangs, Ford Mustang) Ford Mustangs, University Methodist (Southern B 8. Thunderbird), Ford Thunderbirds, University Utah (Southern G 7. 1500),

ms, Ram Ram ms, Ra Louis (St. F 6. XK), Jaguar Jaguars, (Jacksonville C 5. ),

elements like fonts, photo styles, colors, motifs, etc. I also authored the majority Charger Dodge Chargers, Diego (San E 4. Wildcat), Buick Wildcats, 1. D (Denver Broncos, Ford Bronco), 2. A (Washington State University Cougars, Mercury Cougar), 3. H (University of New Hampshire Hampshire New of (University H 3. Cougar), Mercury Cougars, University State (Washington A 2. Bronco), Ford Broncos, (Denver D 1. ANSWERS: of headlines, photo captions, subheads, etc., and also proofread every item in each 26 VehicleMD publication numerous times before it appeared in print, reducing printed errors to a minimum. Design sample from National Oil & Lube News; advertisements were sold atop pages on well-read features, hence the ad. In addition to designing the layout, I also supervised the collection and analysis of the statistics presented and authored the accompanying Editorial sample from National Oil & Lube News. article, a project that represented the only major study of the industry.

viewpoint EDITORIAL MUSINGS

NATIONAL OIL LUBE NEWS THE BRAND FOR ALL SEASONS. www.mystiklubes.com

STEVE HURT Mystik_NOLN2010_topper.indd 1 8/9/10 11:33 AM R.I.P. 3,000 Miles? Publisher [email protected] by Garrett McKinnon GARRETT MCKINNON EMPLOYEES 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Editor ______x204 [email protected] LT30 LT30 LT30 LT30 LT30 MT30

ELISEO TORRES Length of employment for managers 5.4 yrs 5.5 yrs 6.2 yrs 6.7 yrs 7.0 yrs 5.5 yrs The mainstream media loved it. When Jiffy tion of Hyundai and Mitsubishi) have largely Sales & Marketing Director______x210 Length of employment for technicians 2.3 yrs 2.3 yrs 2.5 yrs 2.9 yrs 3.1 yrs 2.3 yrs Lube launched its Oil Change Schedule pro- abandoned the terms “normal” and “severe.” [email protected] Starting rate paid to lube techs n/a n/a $7.89 $8.15 $8.26 $7.76 gram in June, the media widely portrayed it as Today, most automakers refer to “normal” driv- SHEILA BEAM Advertising Director ______x205 Hourly rate paid to lube techs $8.59 $8.70 $9.22 $9.30 $9.47 $8.76 the company dismissing once and for all the ing as the fairly typical urban-cycle stop-and-go [email protected] Annual salary paid to managers $36,699 $39,020 $39,587 $37,925 $39,456 $41,242 3,000-mile oil change interval. (The truth is a driving most of us do. What automakers have MISTY DOLAN Annual salary paid to owners (if full-time employee) $53,685 $52,976 $55,155 $58,719 $62,676 * little less black and white, as you will see in the done instead is to adopt recommendations for Production Director ______x202 [email protected] article on page 54.) what many refer to as “special operating condi- Average number of employees per store 5.8 6.0 5.9 5.5 6.2 6.4 What is a bit more black and white is just what tions,” a stringent set of criteria that varies by TAMMY NEAL Operators testing employees for drugs 52% 47% 40% 59% 63% 91% Staff Writer/ automakers are doing with oil change intervals. manufacturer, but essentially includes: Production Assistant ______x203 Hours of formal training employees receive per year 28 28 35 30 32 42 Six years ago this month, we published an ar- • Driving in dirty, dusty or off-road conditions. [email protected] Operations that use surveillance cameras 28% 42% 57% 47% 63% 98% ticle discussing current oil change intervals for • Towing, using a car-top carrier or hauling a MAI LEE Owners who work: On site n/a 64% 69% 73% 72% * Circulation Manager ______x208 2005-model vehicles. On a lark, I recently took heavy load. [email protected] From remote location n/a 36% 31% 27% 28% * that article and tossed some numbers into a • Repeated trips of less than five miles in very KARA BISHOP spreadsheet (and for a journalist, working with cold (below 32° F) or very hot (above 100° F) Staff Writer/ Production Assistant ______x206 numbers is a tough day’s work indeed!). weather. [email protected] What I discovered is that back in 2005 the • Extensive idling and/or low-speed driving SALES BETHANY HURT average recommended oil change interval for such as a police, taxi or delivery vehicle. Staff Assistant ______x209 what the majority of automakers were still call- • Extensive use of E85 ethanol. [email protected] Yearly sales per store: $522,792 $551,377 $535,803 $558,395 $575,422 $624,452 1 ing “normal” driving was 6,955-odd miles. The Taking that into account, the current average JESSIKA BAILEY Portion of gross sales used for: Payroll 27.9% 27.0% 28.3% 27.9% 26.5% 28.7% Office Assistant ______x201 Lease/Mortgage 11.5% 11.5% 12.2% 11.5% 11.6% 10.8% more urban, stop-and-go “severe” driving had recommended oil change interval for “normal” [email protected] COGS2 30.0% 29.8% 30.5% 29.4% 28.3% 24.1% a recommended oil change interval of 3,411 driving (which was not the norm five years ago; August 2011 • Volume 26, No. 8 miles. Back then, 3,000-mile severe-service confusing, isn’t it) is 8,048 miles, an increase ISSN 1071-1260 Net Profit 11.5% 13.0% 10.0% 12.5% 13.3% 14.0% Operations3 15.6% 15.6% 15.8% 15.8% 17.2% 18.1% intervals were still recommended by no fewer of nearly 1,100 miles (or 16 percent) versus six Published twelve times a year (along with an additional Industry than eight automotive makes. (For an apples- years ago. The current average recommended Source Book) by SHREC Communications, Inc., 4418 74th St., Ste. Other4 3.5% 3.1% 3.3% 2.9% 3.1% 4.3% 66, Lubbock, TX 79424-2336. Postage Paid at Shepherdsville, KY. to-apples comparison, I omitted brands that are oil change interval for “special operating condi- Postmaster: Send address changes to National Oil & Lube News, 1 Includes all payroll (taxes included), salary of owner (if “hands-on” employee), unemployment taxes, Workers’ Compensation, health insurance, bonuses, etc. 4418 74th St., Ste. 66, Lubbock, TX 79424-2336. Editorial informa- 2 tion: [email protected] Annual subscription rate to U.S. destinations Includes materials and supplies necessary to perform services. no longer being manufactured.) tions” is 4,167 miles, an increase of 756 miles 3 is $39. Subscriptions to Canada and Mexico are $70. All other for- Includes utilities, maintenance, company insurance, advertising, franchise fees, uniforms, freight, postage, administrative costs, office supplies, non-income taxes, training, company vehicle, etc. used to operate business on a The most interesting part of this process was (or 22 percent) since 2005. Plus, the only men- eign destinations are $130 for postage. Prepayment is required day-to-day basis. on all foreign orders, paid in U.S. funds. © Copyright National Oil & 4 considering that these vehicles, now six years tion we could find of a 3,000-mile oil change in- Lube News 2011. Reproduction is allowed only with permission of Dues, subscriptions, warranties, travel/entertainment, etc. the associate publisher. Views expressed by columnists and guest * insufficient data to calculate n/a: question not asked old, represent what the typical lube operator terval was for Mitsubishi (which recommends a writers do not imply National Oil & Lube News endorsement. sees in his or her shop. After all, we know the 3,000-mile oil change for turbocharged motors Every attempt is made to provide accurate and reliable informa- Operations 17.2% tion. NOLN will not assume liability for any products or services Benefits Offered Net Pro t Sales Breakdown typical “fast lube customer” drives a car that’s in severe service) and for Subaru (which rec- described or offered herein, nor can NOLN verify accuracy of ad- (Percentage of LT30 operators who offer the following 13.3% Other 3.1% (Percentage of gross sales dedi- vertising claims made herein. The purpose of NOLN is to open cated to costs for LT30 operators) between three and nine years old, so these six- ommends an initial 3,000-mile “break-in” oil an active line of communication between lube shop owners and 80 managers and to provide a link between shops, manufacturers year-old varieties represent the sweet spot for change for all its vehicles). and suppliers throughout the country. Authors — We welcome editorial proposals and submissions. 70 Payroll 26.5% current oil change recommendations. Clearly, automakers are hell-bent on extend- Contact Garrett McKinnon for more information. 65% That task done, I began looking up recom- ing oil change intervals, and while Jiffy Lube’s Advertisers — Advertising rates are available upon request. 60% Please contact Sheila Beam for display advertising deadlines and 60 mended oil change intervals for 2011 models, well-publicized (and much-lauded) decision to other information. Contact Eliseo Torres for information on Inter- net advertising. Contact Bethany Hurt for classified advertising 49% 50 COGS 28.3% which was a little daunting. For starters, back adopt the Oil Change Schedule doesn’t neces- information. 45% All correspondence and inquiries should be directed to our busi- Lease/Mortgage in 2005 General Motors was the only company sarily mean the lube industry will be abandon- 11.6% ness offices: 40 4418 74th St., Ste. 66 35% that was widely using oil change monitoring ing that old standby any time soon, the “tea Lubbock, TX 79424-2336 systems to recommend oil change intervals. leaves” are showing us that things are changing. Phone: 1.800.796.2577 or 806.762.4464 30 Sales Breakdown Operations 18.1% Fax: 806.762.4023 Net Pro t Other 4.3% Today, GM (and its surviving brands) is joined Here’s betting that somehow, someway the tal- E-mail: [email protected] 21% (Percentage of gross sales dedi- 14.0% 20 cated to costs for MT30 operators) by Ford/Lincoln, Honda/Acura and Chrysler/ ented professionals that comprise this industry 12% 9% Jeep/Dodge as companies/brands that use oil will find a way to survive, and even thrive, in 10 change monitors. (Though in Chrysler’s case spite of those changes. S Payroll 28.7% 0 the monitors have a maximum 8,000-miles/six- GARRETT MCKINNON is editor of National Oil & Lube News month interval recommendation.) and is better at math than he lets on. Questions, comments, Uniforms Retirement concerns? Email him: [email protected] Commission COGS 24.1% Next up, most automakers (with the excep- Paid VacationsPaid HolidaysHealth/LifePaid Sick Ins. Leave Lease/Mortgage Non-Sales Bonuses 10.8% 8 www.noln.net 24 www.noln.net Representative feature article from VehicleMD. I both authored the article and designed the layout.

Driving a Million Miles

It works hard, with metal parts sliding back things will break. Like all machines and mechanical devices, the compo- and forth against each other hundreds of times nents on cars will eventually wear out—though hopefully not all at once! Seven Figures each minute. For vehicles that accumulate the During his frequent travels, Gilbert encountered several wayward deer miles, that means the engine is experiencing and had to pay for collision repairs on several different occasions. And millions, even billions, of revolutions. That while it can seem like a waste to spend money repairing an older vehicle, kind of mechanical pressure takes its toll on the if you do the math you’ll find that even a major repair job (spread out motor oil that lubricates engine parts, making over time) is less expensive than replacing your current vehicle. Like the periodic oil changes a safe bet if you want to wise man once said, the cheapest car you’ll ever own is the one you’re Can a Car Really Last keep your car running. driving now! Gordon, for instance, changes his oil every few thousand miles, and didn’t have to have the Volvo’s engine overhauled for the first time Wash. Rinse. Repeat. a Million Miles until nearly 675,000 miles showed on the 6. Your car’s insides aren’t the only parts that will need atten- odometer. Plus, as motor oil quality has im- tion if you want to drive it for a long time. Road grime, • ? By Garrett McKinnon VehicleMD Staff Writer proved in recent decades, those overhauls have dirt, mud and anti-icing salts and chemicals like those found in north- gotten further and further apart! ern and snow-bound states can play havoc with suspension, exhaust and other components beneath your car. Plus, they’re murder on your million miles. It’s hit the three million-mile (!) mark early next year. Gordon—who put car’s finish. (For more on that subject, see the One like driving 10,000 1,500 miles on the car the first two days he had it—has driven the car Follow the schedule. article on page 24.) miles a year…for an average of 65,000 miles per year, even shipping the car across the 3. Motor oil isn’t the only fluid Gordon notes that he spends as much or a century. It’s like driving around the earth’s Atlantic to tour Europe on occasion. that needs attention in a vehicle. more time cleaning his car on the outside than equator…40 times. It’s like taking a round trip So how have these drivers achieved such extreme lifespans with their That’s why LoCicero credits “religiously” he does maintaining it on the inside. Not only to the moon…twice. (Before the astronomers cars, especially when a typical vehicle’s lifespan is around 145,000 miles? following his car’s recommended fluid main- does running your car through the carwash write in, we know it’s technically only 955,428 By following these seven strategies. tenance schedule for helping his car achieve keep it clean and sparkly, it also removes the miles in two round trips to the moon, but we its incredible lifespan. In fact, the only major dirt/grime/salt that can over time contribute to rounded!) It’s so far, in fact, that it takes light a components LoCicero has ever replaced on his wear and damage. little more than 5.3 seconds to cross one mil- Drive. A lot. car are the fuel pump, cooling fans and the ra- Peter Gilbert donated Not to mention the fact that you’re almost lion miles. It goes without saying that in order to hit seven figures on diator (twice). That none of those repairs were his 1989 Saab 900 to certain to take more pride in a car that you spend time and money keep- 1. a museum once it hit a In other words, one million miles is, in the your odometer (if, in fact, your car’s odometer goes that directly related to fluid maintenance speaks to million miles. ing in good shape. After all, none of the cars we’ve run across that hit the human scale of things, a loooooong way. Yet high) you have to put in some serious seat time. But not all miles are the effectiveness of such a strategy. magical million-mile mark were beaters! more and more vehicles these days are turning created equal. up with that magic number on their odom- As these drivers could attest, though high- eters. And I’m not talking about over-the-road way miles are amassed faster, they are typically Try the synthetic route. Take care. trucks, either, since those big-rigs are built to easier on your car than miles driven in city 4. Gilbert purchased his Saab 7. Okay. You have the motor oil and other fluids changed endure such long distances. I’m talking about traffic. Constantly starting, stopping, accelerat- brand-new and knew he wanted regularly. You pay extra for the very best products. You have the very same passenger vehicles most of us ing, idling, cranking, etc. puts a lot of stress to give it the ultimate in protection. That’s why your baby washed and detailed often. So what’s the final step in driving drive every single day. on your car. In contrast, a vehicle, like any he opted to use synthetic motor oil from the your car for a very long time? For instance, you might have read about Joe machine, operates at peak efficiency when it is very first oil change, a strategy that paid off Well, that involves visiting your neighbor- LoCicero, the insurance adjuster from Maine in a steady-state rhythm like that experienced big time. Even after a million miles, the Saab’s hood auto service center. You see, the tech- who just hit the million-mile mark in his 1990 while driving at a steady speed on the highway. engine had never been overhauled or needed nicians that service your vehicle aren’t just Honda Accord. Bought the car used in 1996 Joe LoCicero and his But don’t worry. Even if you commute (like a repair. In fact, Gilbert bragged that the only changing the motor oil and filter. They’re also when it had 74,000 miles on it and averages million-mile 1990 Gordon did for decades in his Volvo before retiring), there are some major repair he’d ever had to pay for (besides giving your car a thorough once over, looking Honda Accord. about 4,700 miles per month. other strategies you can use to maximize your vehicle’s lifespan. collision repair; more on that later) was a trans- for little problems that you can fix before they Or how about Wisconsin travelling sales- mission rebuild at 200,000 miles. become big—and expensive—ones. man Peter Gilbert, who retired his 1989 Saab Thus our final piece of advice is to partner 900 to a museum in 2006 after wracking up Change is good. Irv Gordon expects to with a trusted technician or mechanic and 1,001,285 miles. All three of these drivers—as well as many others who have Invest in repairs. hit the three million- listen to his (or her) advice when it comes to needed maintenance and 2. mile mark on his 1966 Finally, there’s New York’s Irv Gordon, a racked up very high mileage totals on their vehicles—have If you truly want to keep your car repairs. Because if you really want to drive a million miles, chances are 5. Volvo P1800S some-  you’ll need some help. retired schoolteacher who purchased his 1966 something in common: they are all big believers in regular oil changes. running for an extended period, time during the next Volvo P1800S brand new and is preparing to Think about it. Your car’s engine is like any other industrial machine. you have to come to grips with the fact that few months.

18 VehicleMD www.vehiclemd.com 19 Feature article from National Oil & Lube News.

To date, an additional 43 percent of In fact, Crum cited an internal facturers is evolving, the average age Jiffy Lube Adopts customers have selected an oil change survey that found 81 percent of Jiffy of a vehicle on the road (nine-plus interval of their choosing, according Lube customers in the pilot program years) continues to rise according to to Crum, with the average interval liked being involved in the decision- the Bureau of Transportation Statis- being 4,100 miles. That means nine making process, and 90 percent of tics, and many older vehicles still use Customer-Selected out of 10 Jiffy Lube customers who customers thought understanding those terms,” Crum said. “Regardless, have participated in the Oil Change severe driving conditions was help- the criteria for what constitutes ‘nor- Service Intervals Schedule program have opted for ful. mal’ or ‘severe’ remains consistent. an oil change interval of 4,100 miles “As the leader in the fast lube in- We find that the concept of normal by Garrett McKinnon he headline in USA Today read: provide them with their vehicle man- mendation of 3,000 mile oil changes or less. It might not be 3,000 miles dustry, Jiffy Lube has a commitment or severe is one that customers can NOLN Staff Writer [email protected] T “Jiffy Lube Changes 3,000-Mile ufacturer’s recommendation, walk for severe driving conditions. across the board, but 4,100 miles to giving customers the information easily grasp, especially when talked Rule for Oil Changes.” The subse- them through the oil change sched- Far from killing the 3,000-mile oil between oil changes still ranks as they need to make the best choices through the guidelines provided by quent article explained that, “Jiffy ule options and, ultimately, help edu- change interval, Jiffy Lube’s new Oil less than the industry average mile- for their vehicle’s preventive mainte- their manufacturer in conjunction Lube is ditching the long-held one- cate them on how to decide when to Change Schedule is essentially rein- age that customers drive between oil nance needs,” Crum said. “This new with their individual driving habits size-fits-all mantra that oil should be come back for their next service ap- forcing it, just in a highly educational changes. approach enables Jiffy Lube to help and conditions.” changed every 3,000 miles.” So what pointment.” fashion. consumers navigate the preventive Jiffy Lube does take into consider- was all the hoopla about? While the mainstream media wide- “Changing a vehicle’s oil every As part of its new Oil maintenance process, understand ation the growing number of vehicles Change Schedule Jiffy Lube did, in fact, launch a new ly reported that the move spelled the 3,000 miles has been a widely accept- program, Jiffy Lube their driving habits and take control on the road that implement oil life program in June, the “Oil Change death knell for 3,000-mile oil changed approach among fast lube opera- will print reminder of their oil change schedule. The re- monitoring systems of one fashion or Schedule” that allows customers to es, the truth is a little bit more com- tors for a very long time. As a matter stickers like this sult is a more personal customer ex- another. set their own oil change intervals plicated. of fact, nearly 50 percent of vehicles one. The return perience. “If a vehicle features an oil change based on vehicle manufacturer rec- Jiffy Lube’s website has a section today driven under severe conditions interval will be “Offering customers the choice as sensor and the vehicle manufac- ommendations — with a healthy bit dedicated to this new program, and have a vehicle manufacturer recom- based on customer to when they’ll return to Jiffy Lube turer does not recommend a spe- preference rather one page is titled “Normal vs. Severe mendation of changing the motor oil than on automaker for their next oil change is the right cific interval for oil changes, drivers Driving.” An interactive quiz lets every 3,000 miles,” Crum said. “Oil recommendations, decision for everyone. We don’t ex- should bring their vehicle into a Jiffy drivers choose their driving condi- Change Schedule is about the Jiffy though Jiffy Lube ist without our customers, and our Lube service center when the sen- tion, and responses are: Lube commitment to educate cus- is attempting to pilot program findings showed that sor says it is time for an oil change,” • I drive in stop-and-go traffic. tomers to help them make the best educate customers involving them in the decision-mak- Crum said. “Jiffy Lube is currently • I drive in extremely hot or cold choices for their individual preven- about the difference ing process increases loyalty and our developing technology that will auto- between “severe” temperatures. tive maintenance needs — letting and “normal” driving credibility with them.” matically display the mileage recom- • I drive at prolonged higher engine them choose when to return for their conditions as listed According to Crum, a pilot pro- mendations and the service interval speeds. next oil change based on their vehicle in owners manuals gram was launched in August 2009 indicator maintenance packages for • I take short trips averaging 5-10 manufacturer’s recommendation for in recent years. to test the recommendation system, vehicles with oil change sensors. minutes in length. normal or severe driving conditions, a test that lasted until October of last However, until then, drivers with oil • I have multiple cold start-ups each or based on a schedule of their own Elsewhere on Jiffy Lube’s website year. As of early July, more than 94 change sensors can choose their own day. choosing.” and in sales presentations to custom- percent of all Jiffy Lubes had adopted interval.” • I experience extensive engine Crum said that during the initial ers, the company attempts to explain the system, and Crum said he expects In addition to oodles of free (and idling. rollout, 47 percent of customers at the disparity between manufacturer- implementation at all Jiffy Lube ser- mostly positive) publicity and allow- • I tow and/or haul heavy loads. participating service centers selected recommended oil change intervals vice centers by the end of the year. ing customers to feel like they are part A Jiffy Lube man- of Jiffy Lube’s own advice thrown in. • I drive in dusty or muddy condi- their vehicle manufacturer’s recom- for “normal” driving and for “severe” “Overall, our franchisees have been of the process, Jiffy Lube’s Oil Change ager shows the Stu Crum, president of Jiffy Lube tions. mendation for severe driving condi- driving. For example, they list a 2003 extremely pleased with the results of Schedule program has allowed the company’s new Oil International, shared how the pro- • I drive in mountainous terrain. tions, and that the average severe ser- Honda Accord 2.4L as having a “nor- the new approach. We’re finding that company to differentiate itself from Change Schedule selection process gram works: • None of these apply to me. vice interval for those vehicles was mal” service interval of 12 months or customers are choosing oil change the competition, Crum said. to a customer. “At Jiffy Lube, customers have the Not surprisingly, choosing any of 3,502 miles. 10,000 miles and a “severe” service intervals that indicate they will re- “Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast lube The program at- option of selecting the oil change the answers other than the final one “This does not mean Jiffy Lube has interval of six months or 5,000 miles. turn regularly, and franchisees report category more than 30 years ago, tempts to educate schedule they feel best meets the brings up a quiz result that suggests changed its recommendation from Likewise, a 2005 Ford F-150 5.4L is their customers enjoy being involved changing the way millions of drivers customers about maintenance needs of their vehicle,” the driver is driving in “severe” con- a 3,000-mile oil change interval to listed as having a 5,000-mile “nor- in the decision-making process,” he service their vehicles. We’re continu- driving condition he said. “When customers visit a Jiffy ditions. In fact, Jiffy Lube cites a 2007 a 3,500-mile interval,” Crum said. mal” service interval and a 3,000- said. ally working to innovate and provide definitions, then allows them to Lube service center, they can choose Harris Interactive study that suggests “Rather, it means that for 47 percent mile “severe” service interval. One interesting point is Jiffy Lube’s customers with the best possible ser- select a service to follow their vehicle manufacturer’s more than 92 percent of motorists of customers who have experienced Crum said the program gives Jiffy continued use of the “severe versus vice and information for their pre- interval based on recommendation for either normal drive in what vehicle manufacturers the new program and consider them- Lube an opportunity to discuss driv- normal” nomenclature, especially ventive maintenance needs,” he said. what they believe or severe driving conditions, or select consider “severe conditions,” and a selves as driving under severe con- ing habits and conditions with cus- given that most manufacturers have “Oil Change Schedule is another step their driving con- an oil change schedule of their own 2007 R.L. Polk study that estimates ditions, their vehicle manufacturer tomers, giving customers more of a moved away from such terminology toward innovating the category, help- ditions are. choosing. During the visit, a Jiffy 63 percent of vehicles on the road recommends an average interval of contributing role in their car’s main- during the last few years. ing educate drivers and improving Lube customer service advisor will have a vehicle manufacturer recom- approximately 3,502 miles.” tenance. “While terminology among manu- the customer experience.” S

54 www.noln.net 56 www.noln.net Marketing

Introduce

“Treasure map” scavenger hunt created as a marketing piece for Copy Mail at the SUB. The game encouraged students to look for clues hidden around campus that would help them spell out a hidden message (GO TECH, BEAT UT) they could turn in yourself for a free poster. In addition to creating and designing the piece, I also took the pho- tographs used in the layout.

Order Online and Receive a 10% Discount... 100 Cards for only $20.25 Texas Tech plus tax. 6 Treasure 1. Find the “home” right outside the chancellery. Now Great for resumes Map find the word right above. Write down the second letter on the line at right.

and career fairs! 2. Take an Aggie’s-eye view of the Will Rogers statue. 5 Write down the second letter of the name of Will’s horse. The first 10 Take a tour of SwiftPRINT 3. Go east to find the spirals, then write down the last - people to the heart of 7 letter of the building in front of which they sit. online (Hint: It’s not “hall”!) the Texas Tech - return this campus to 4. Enjoy a pig hunt, then write down the last letter map with the PRINT solve clues and of the word above the owl. Swift win prizes. 5. Head north toward Raiderville, stopping by the statue - hidden message online Details on of the Masked Rider. Write down the first letter of the last 8 name of the Masked Rider from 1956-1957. revealed back. - 6. Pick some cotton at the former Textile Engineering will win a 4 building, then write down the fourteenth letter of the SwiftPRINT building’s current name. - FREE 24x36 online 7. Kiss a rock behind the Electrical Engineering building, Texas Tech and write down the first letter of this stone’s name. - 8. Recite some Shakespeare as you visit the site of the color poster Order a Texas Tech Student Business Card from the former English building, then write down the second Swift Swift letter of the first name of the artist who created the (mounted, official printer of University stationery and show the 3 Lapstrake Gateway. - PRINT 9 laminated and worldPRINT your Red Raider pride. Visit spol.ttuhsc.edu, 9. Statistics show you’re still on course if you’ve reached online this building. Write down the first letter of the last name suitable for onlinecall 743.2016, or scan the QR code below. of the Texas governor at the time of the building’s 2 construction. (Hint: Think “cornerstone”!) - framing). 10 10. You’ve shown great “chemistry” in making it this far. Now write down the third letter of the element hidden The next 100 SUB behind the facade in the photo on the flip side of this map. SwiftPRINT (start (Hint: It’s number three on the periodic table!) - will win a & end online here) 11. Take a moment to visit the first Texas governor to FREE 12x18 Ima Tech Student graduate fromTexas Tech. Now turn around and find the name of the fifth great scholar (from the left) on the Education Major Texas Tech COPY • PRINT • FAST wall behind you. Write down the third letter in his name. - 123 Faux Street Scan to find Lubbock, Texas 79400 1 a division of: out more about 12. Head back to the SUB, but watch out for the weather! full-color print. C 806.555.1234 11 the history of [email protected] 12 Write down the first letter of this sculpture’s name and [email protected] Texas Tech architecture you’re all done. Several styles Copy/Mail at the SUB - 742-3444 to choose from! Copy/Mail at the SUB Your one-stop shop for copying, - printing, mailing, shipping, Marketing flyer I created to publicize the availability of student business cards, a work photo printing and more. that was also printed as a poster for display at the Copy Mail location inside the Stu- 742-3444 dent Union Building. Thanks to this and other marketing pieces, use of the Swift Print Online ordering service has more than doubled since the beginning of the year. I designed this poster to advertise a calendar that the TTUHSC Printing Center created. The calendar was a collaborative effort in which I formulated the idea and most of the content, and worked closely with one of my designers to create the finished product.

2013-2014 Academic Calendars Available Now!

Only Stay in tune with the academic $7.50 year with this exclusive 2013-2014 academic calendar, available for a limited time only at CopyMail!

Texas Tech University

twenty thirteen twenty fourteen

a c a d e m i c Believe In c a l e n d a r Yourself.

s p r i n g

2 0 1 4

Get Your Guns Up!

Tulips in Bloom Memorial Circle f a l l a c a d e m ic c a le n d a r 2 0 1 3 april s m 30 t w Frazier Plaza 31 “Masked Rider” by Grant Speed 1 t f April Fools Day 2 s • 3 p.m., First day for 3 summer/fall advance • Last day for graduate 4 registration for currently degree candidates to 5 enrolled students (continues submit final PDF of thesis/ 6 through Apr. 22). dissertation, 7 Thesis-DissertationOral ApprovalDefense and No Housework Day Tweed Day 8 9 Form . 10 11 International 12 Louie Louie Day 13 14 Big Wind Day novembers 15 16 f National Wear Your 17 t 2 Pajamas to Work Day 18 • Last day to remove grades academic calendar 1 of I, PR, or CR in the 19 w 20 Graduate School. Hanging Out Day Last day for graduate t 31 • Easter • 21 degree candidates to No classes . University employees on duty. 22 submit final PDFOral of Defense thesis/ and • Last day of advance m 30 • Select dining locations dissertation, registration. • Open registration begins.23 Thesis-DissertationForm. Approval open for service: s 29 www.depts.ttu.edu/hospitality April Showers Day • Official reports due to 24 9 Graduate School on master’s 25 28 degree portfolio (non-thesis 26 8 students) and results of final Hug An Australian 27 27 comp exams. 7 28 Day 6 29 • 3 p.m., First day of spring 30 Saxophone Day semester advance registration National Honesty Day 5 for currently enrolled students 1 4 (continues through Nov. 25). 16 2 3 15 Button Day 3 14 Clean Your Sandwich Day 13 Refrigerator Day 12 Sadie Hawkins Day 11 23 22 Eat a Cranberry Day 10 Veterans Day 21 20 World Hello Day 19 30 18 29 17 • Last day to for graduate students to remove grades of I, . University PR, or CR. 28 • Black Friday • Reports due to Graduate 27 . University holiday. Limitedavailable: dining locations School on master’s final • Thanksgiving results . holiday. Limited dining www.depts.ttu.edu/hospitality a division of: degree portfolio and 26 Hanukkah Begins locations available: comprehensive exam • Last day for undergraduate www.depts.ttu.edu/hospitality degree candidates to remove 25 grades of I and PR. • Last day to withdraw from. 24 • Last day of advance the university registration.