Want a real playbook for running a sharper, more profitable recycling operation? We sit down with industry leader and past ARA president Marty Hollingshead to unpack the exact moves that cut returns, speed delivery, and keep body shops coming back. Marty traces his journey from parts puller to owner, then breaks down how consolidation, technology, and shifting buyer behavior reshaped the business—and why the winners pair modern tools with seasoned judgment. We get tactical fast. Marty explains why sales are a byproduct of three upstream drivers: buying the right vehicles, doing thorough and accurate inventory, and running a repeatable process that gets parts shelf‑ready. He lays out how full dismantle, clean presentation, and clear, plain‑English descriptions reduce friction in e‑commerce while competitive pricing and high‑quality images turn “Do you have?” calls into “I see you have” orders. We dig into the number one cause of returns—sloppy selling—and how a culture of proactive disclosure builds trust and slashes costly do‑overs. Fulfillment takes center stage. Using Amazon as the benchmark, Marty shows how operational discipline—location audits, pre‑verified condition, and on‑time delivery—wins the day with collision shops that value reliability as much as price. He shares leadership lessons from hockey about coaching, standards, and choosing respect over popularity, then highlights ARA’s peer‑to‑peer mentoring as a force multiplier for owners who want to level up. The message is clear: evolve, participate, and think two shots ahead. Use technology as a tool, train your people well, and make quality the default, not the exception. Subscribe, share with a fellow recycler, and leave a review to help others find the show. Have questions or want us to cover a specific challenge next time? Send them our way and join the conversation. Amanda and Marty both show their appreciation for DJ Harrington as he announces this will be his last Podcast, he does however promise to jump in from time to time to see how things are going

<description>&lt;p&gt;Want a real playbook for running a sharper, more profitable recycling operation? We sit down with industry leader and past ARA president Marty Hollingshead to unpack the exact moves that cut returns, speed delivery, and keep body shops coming back. Marty traces his journey from parts puller to owner, then breaks down how consolidation, technology, and shifting buyer behavior reshaped the business—and why the winners pair modern tools with seasoned judgment.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We get tactical fast. Marty explains why sales are a byproduct of three upstream drivers: buying the right vehicles, doing thorough and accurate inventory, and running a repeatable process that gets parts shelf‑ready. He lays out how full dismantle, clean presentation, and clear, plain‑English descriptions reduce friction in e‑commerce while competitive pricing and high‑quality images turn “Do you have?” calls into “I see you have” orders. We dig into the number one cause of returns—sloppy selling—and how a culture of proactive disclosure builds trust and slashes costly do‑overs.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Fulfillment takes center stage. Using Amazon as the benchmark, Marty shows how operational discipline—location audits, pre‑verified condition, and on‑time delivery—wins the day with collision shops that value reliability as much as price. He shares leadership lessons from hockey about coaching, standards, and choosing respect over popularity, then highlights ARA’s peer‑to‑peer mentoring as a force multiplier for owners who want to level up. The message is clear: evolve, participate, and think two shots ahead. Use technology as a tool, train your people well, and make quality the default, not the exception.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Subscribe, share with a fellow recycler, and leave a review to help others find the show. Have questions or want us to cover a specific challenge next time? Send them our way and join the conversation. Amanda and Marty both show their appreciation for DJ Harrington as he announces this will be his last Podcast, he does however promise to jump in from time to time to see how things are going&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Want a real playbook for running a sharper, more profitable recycling operation? We sit down with industry leader and past ARA president Marty Hollingshead to unpack the exact moves that cut returns, speed delivery, and keep body shops coming back. Marty traces his journey from parts puller to owner, then breaks down how consolidation, technology, and shifting buyer behavior reshaped the business—and why the winners pair modern tools with seasoned judgment.  We get tactical fast. Marty explai...

How Auto Recyclers Win With Quality, Data, And Fulfillment

A blown engine, a rodeo barn, and a dirt lot aren’t the usual ingredients for a thriving auto recycling business—unless you’re David Markham. We sit down with the founder of EAT Partz to unpack how grit, mentorship, and the right tech stack turned a side hustle into a disciplined, growing yard in Middletown, Ohio. We trace the path from that first teardown to buying property, laying gravel, installing racking, and transforming chaos into a location-based, barcode-driven system. David shares how mentors like JC Cahill, Eric Pearson, and Rob Rainwater fast-tracked his learning, why yard tours matter, and how a collaborative industry culture lets the “big dogs” help new operators avoid costly mistakes. Along the way, we dig into the tools moving the needle: PowerLink for operations, URG’s core program for added revenue, and WHI’s eBay integration for stronger listings and cleaner order flow—now streamlined with URG Sales Support to cut tabs and clicks for busy teams. We also get personal about leadership, capital discipline, and balance. David’s week blends yard work, rodeo responsibilities, and family life, all anchored by a simple playbook: invest profits back into capacity, build process before scale, and keep learning every day. Looking forward, we explore where recycling tech needs to go—faster photos, flexible cloud workflows, and changes that respect how different yards operate. The takeaway is clear: automotive recycling is resilient, community-driven, and full of opportunity for operators willing to share, systemize, and evolve. If you enjoyed this story and want more practical insights from the people shaping modern recycling, follow the show, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Got a takeaway or question we should cover next time? Drop us a note—we’d love to hear from you.

<description>&lt;p&gt;A blown engine, a rodeo barn, and a dirt lot aren’t the usual ingredients for a thriving auto recycling business—unless you’re David Markham. We sit down with the founder of EAT Partz to unpack how grit, mentorship, and the right tech stack turned a side hustle into a disciplined, growing yard in Middletown, Ohio.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We trace the path from that first teardown to buying property, laying gravel, installing racking, and transforming chaos into a location-based, barcode-driven system. David shares how mentors like JC Cahill, Eric Pearson, and Rob Rainwater fast-tracked his learning, why yard tours matter, and how a collaborative industry culture lets the “big dogs” help new operators avoid costly mistakes. Along the way, we dig into the tools moving the needle: PowerLink for operations, URG’s core program for added revenue, and WHI’s eBay integration for stronger listings and cleaner order flow—now streamlined with URG Sales Support to cut tabs and clicks for busy teams.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We also get personal about leadership, capital discipline, and balance. David’s week blends yard work, rodeo responsibilities, and family life, all anchored by a simple playbook: invest profits back into capacity, build process before scale, and keep learning every day. Looking forward, we explore where recycling tech needs to go—faster photos, flexible cloud workflows, and changes that respect how different yards operate. The takeaway is clear: automotive recycling is resilient, community-driven, and full of opportunity for operators willing to share, systemize, and evolve.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you enjoyed this story and want more practical insights from the people shaping modern recycling, follow the show, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Got a takeaway or question we should cover next time? Drop us a note—we’d love to hear from you.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

A blown engine, a rodeo barn, and a dirt lot aren’t the usual ingredients for a thriving auto recycling business—unless you’re David Markham. We sit down with the founder of EAT Partz to unpack how grit, mentorship, and the right tech stack turned a side hustle into a disciplined, growing yard in Middletown, Ohio.  We trace the path from that first teardown to buying property, laying gravel, installing racking, and transforming chaos into a location-based, barcode-driven system. David shares ...

How A Blown Engine Became A Business

Shops are buying parts online every day through the TraxCollision platform. We invited Bryan Holzinger from OEConnection to walk through how the new URG and TraxCollision direct integration gets recycled parts in front of 15,000 buyers daily, right at the decision point: online. If you have ever lost a sale due to a slow quoting process, missed emails, or uncertain vehicle fitment, this integration offers a clear path forward with live inventory, parts quoting based on OEM part numbers, and integrated reporting inside your URG portal. We break down the real problems recyclers face: visibility gaps, manual workflows, and margin pressure, and show how to overcome them with a system shops already trust.   The data tells a compelling story: $4B annually in parts orders flow through TraxCollision. In the first three weeks of October alone, the URG direct integration resulted in $1.7M in sales with members maintaining a 100% quote response rate.  In this episode, you will hear how integrated orders, trim and color details, photos, and reliable delivery ETAs help make shops more confident buying recycled parts and make the order fulfilling process for suppliers faster, without adding busy work. Small yards get a big lift from URG’s tiering system. When your stock is out, the integration automatically sources from your trusted network using your rules for pricing, markups, and delivery days, so you keep the customer relationship and the revenue while offering a much larger virtual inventory.   We also share practical steps for how to get connected: provide your customer list for bulk matching, adjust your tier settings quarterly, and use the URG dashboard to track quotes, orders, and trends. Plus, look for upcoming webinars and meet us at the URG Conference in Denver to see the integration workflow live and learn from peers already winning on the platform.  Ready to turn demand into dependable revenue? Visit <a href='https://url.emailprotection.link/?bcoJRp0kEbOp7_YJh3EyJivvhKD4y2BFt2Chgt3ZvvPEB6xPvPLPedUc3GL5gL4sQeTNgB56H9Pbps73YLPBaUz2aw1VplDPnbpUU1kOmFBLhuBHEXIk_iVMw-hUuYyW2'>https://go.oeconnection.com/trax-urg-integration</a> to get started. Subscribe, share this episode with your team, and leave a review with the one question you want us to cover next.

<description>&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Shops are buying parts online every day through the TraxCollision platform. We invited Bryan Holzinger from OEConnection to walk through how the new URG and TraxCollision direct integration gets recycled parts in front of 15,000 buyers daily, right at the decision point: online. If you have ever lost a sale due to a slow quoting process, missed emails, or uncertain vehicle fitment, this integration offers a clear path forward with live inventory, parts quoting based on OEM part numbers, and integrated reporting inside your URG portal. We break down the real problems recyclers face: visibility gaps, manual workflows, and margin pressure, and show how to overcome them with a system shops already trust.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; The data tells a compelling story: $4B annually in parts orders flow through TraxCollision. In the first three weeks of October alone, the URG direct integration resulted in $1.7M in sales with members maintaining a 100% quote response rate.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, you will hear how integrated orders, trim and color details, photos, and reliable delivery ETAs help make shops more confident buying recycled parts and make the order fulfilling process for suppliers faster, without adding busy work. Small yards get a big lift from URG’s tiering system. When your stock is out, the integration automatically sources from your trusted network using your rules for pricing, markups, and delivery days, so you keep the customer relationship and the revenue while offering a much larger virtual inventory.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; We also share practical steps for how to get connected: provide your customer list for bulk matching, adjust your tier settings quarterly, and use the URG dashboard to track quotes, orders, and trends. Plus, look for upcoming webinars and meet us at the URG Conference in Denver to see the integration workflow live and learn from peers already winning on the platform. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Ready to turn demand into dependable revenue? Visit &lt;a href='https://url.emailprotection.link/?bcoJRp0kEbOp7_YJh3EyJivvhKD4y2BFt2Chgt3ZvvPEB6xPvPLPedUc3GL5gL4sQeTNgB56H9Pbps73YLPBaUz2aw1VplDPnbpUU1kOmFBLhuBHEXIk_iVMw-hUuYyW2'&gt;https://go.oeconnection.com/trax-urg-integration&lt;/a&gt; to get started. Subscribe, share this episode with your team, and leave a review with the one question you want us to cover next. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

  Shops are buying parts online every day through the TraxCollision platform. We invited Bryan Holzinger from OEConnection to walk through how the new URG and TraxCollision direct integration gets recycled parts in front of 15,000 buyers daily, right at the decision point: online. If you have ever lost a sale due to a slow quoting process, missed emails, or uncertain vehicle fitment, this integration offers a clear path forward with live inventory, parts quoting based on OEM part numbers...

How URG and OEC Connect Recyclers To 15,000+ Daily Buyers

Warranties aren’t the enemy of profit—bad accounting and fuzzy reporting are. We sit down with Bret Buike of National Reinsurance to unpack a simple shift that helps automotive recyclers stop bleeding cash on claims and start building a durable revenue stream: move the warranty risk into a reinsurance company you own and pair it with clean, actionable reporting. We walk through the nuts and bolts without the jargon. What does it mean to reserve for 90-day warranties and extended terms? How do you net claims, keep access to cash, and still gain the tax advantages of a specialized entity? Brett breaks down a million-dollar monthly example, shows how to right-size reserves for your cash cycle, and explains why pooled programs and trust-heavy structures held recyclers back. The punchline: you can achieve better tax outcomes at year-end without panic-buying equipment, then start Q1 with cash in hand. Data is the second engine. Together, we outline a practical way to fix credits and codes so refunds, exchanges, defective returns, partial credits, brokered vs in-stock parts, and second-ship freight are accurately captured. With URG’s warranty program and enhanced Pinnacle/Easy Suite reporting, ASE-certified techs triage claims, sales teams get back to selling, and owners finally see true loss ratios by 90-day, 1-year, and 3-year terms. We also dig into upstream insights—auction source, buyer, dismantler, QC—that reveal why certain parts or customers drive outsized failures and how to correct course fast. If you’ve wondered whether your warranty program could be a profit center, this conversation gives you the roadmap: reserve, measure, price, and review every 90 days. Own the risk, keep the cash, and use the surplus to buy cars, reduce debt, or fund growth. If this resonates, tap follow, share with a fellow recycler, and leave a quick review—what’s the one change you’ll make to your warranty process this quarter?

<description>&lt;p&gt;Warranties aren’t the enemy of profit—bad accounting and fuzzy reporting are. We sit down with Bret Buike of National Reinsurance to unpack a simple shift that helps automotive recyclers stop bleeding cash on claims and start building a durable revenue stream: move the warranty risk into a reinsurance company you own and pair it with clean, actionable reporting.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We walk through the nuts and bolts without the jargon. What does it mean to reserve for 90-day warranties and extended terms? How do you net claims, keep access to cash, and still gain the tax advantages of a specialized entity? Brett breaks down a million-dollar monthly example, shows how to right-size reserves for your cash cycle, and explains why pooled programs and trust-heavy structures held recyclers back. The punchline: you can achieve better tax outcomes at year-end without panic-buying equipment, then start Q1 with cash in hand.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Data is the second engine. Together, we outline a practical way to fix credits and codes so refunds, exchanges, defective returns, partial credits, brokered vs in-stock parts, and second-ship freight are accurately captured. With URG’s warranty program and enhanced Pinnacle/Easy Suite reporting, ASE-certified techs triage claims, sales teams get back to selling, and owners finally see true loss ratios by 90-day, 1-year, and 3-year terms. We also dig into upstream insights—auction source, buyer, dismantler, QC—that reveal why certain parts or customers drive outsized failures and how to correct course fast.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you’ve wondered whether your warranty program could be a profit center, this conversation gives you the roadmap: reserve, measure, price, and review every 90 days. Own the risk, keep the cash, and use the surplus to buy cars, reduce debt, or fund growth. If this resonates, tap follow, share with a fellow recycler, and leave a quick review—what’s the one change you’ll make to your warranty process this quarter?&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Warranties aren’t the enemy of profit—bad accounting and fuzzy reporting are. We sit down with Bret Buike of National Reinsurance to unpack a simple shift that helps automotive recyclers stop bleeding cash on claims and start building a durable revenue stream: move the warranty risk into a reinsurance company you own and pair it with clean, actionable reporting.  We walk through the nuts and bolts without the jargon. What does it mean to reserve for 90-day warranties and extended terms? How d...

Own the Risk, Keep the Cash: How Recyclers Build Wealth With Reinsurance

Dave Young of WHI Solutions shares a compelling story about transforming automotive recycling through e-commerce innovation. Having celebrated 31 years with the company, Young&apos;s journey parallels the evolution of digital parts sales, particularly since WHI&apos;s acquisition by eBay in 2012. What started as a technology gap has blossomed into a game-changing partnership. While WHI excelled at helping sellers list new aftermarket parts on eBay, they lacked specialized tools for the unique challenges of salvage yards. Enter URG (United Recyclers Group), whose industry expertise perfectly complemented WHI&apos;s technological capabilities. Together, they&apos;ve developed solutions that address the specific needs of auto recyclers - from handling fitment data to incorporating mileage, condition, and other crucial details that differentiate recycled parts. The results speak volumes: nearly 60 yards now collectively sell millions in parts monthly through the platform. URG members using WHI Solutions average a 25% revenue increase, with standout performers like Bessler Auto Parts achieving an astonishing 440% growth in just months. This success stems from the dramatic efficiency gains of bulk listing - what once required 30+ minutes of manual work per part now happens automatically at scale. Beyond impressive numbers, Young emphasizes the mutually beneficial relationship that makes this partnership special. &quot;It&apos;s good for everybody,&quot; he notes, describing the synergy that creates value for WHI, URG members, and parts buyers alike. He particularly values the community atmosphere at URG events, which feel more like &quot;family reunions&quot; than typical industry conferences. For recyclers curious about boosting their digital sales channels, the process starts with a simple 30-minute conversation. WHI representatives work closely with each yard to understand their current operations, management system, and goals before crafting a personalized implementation plan. Experience this partnership firsthand by connecting through URG or meeting the WHI team at upcoming industry events like the ARA conference in Birmingham this October.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Dave Young of WHI Solutions shares a compelling story about transforming automotive recycling through e-commerce innovation. Having celebrated 31 years with the company, Young&amp;apos;s journey parallels the evolution of digital parts sales, particularly since WHI&amp;apos;s acquisition by eBay in 2012.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;What started as a technology gap has blossomed into a game-changing partnership. While WHI excelled at helping sellers list new aftermarket parts on eBay, they lacked specialized tools for the unique challenges of salvage yards. Enter URG (United Recyclers Group), whose industry expertise perfectly complemented WHI&amp;apos;s technological capabilities. Together, they&amp;apos;ve developed solutions that address the specific needs of auto recyclers - from handling fitment data to incorporating mileage, condition, and other crucial details that differentiate recycled parts.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The results speak volumes: nearly 60 yards now collectively sell millions in parts monthly through the platform. URG members using WHI Solutions average a 25% revenue increase, with standout performers like Bessler Auto Parts achieving an astonishing 440% growth in just months. This success stems from the dramatic efficiency gains of bulk listing - what once required 30+ minutes of manual work per part now happens automatically at scale.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Beyond impressive numbers, Young emphasizes the mutually beneficial relationship that makes this partnership special. &amp;quot;It&amp;apos;s good for everybody,&amp;quot; he notes, describing the synergy that creates value for WHI, URG members, and parts buyers alike. He particularly values the community atmosphere at URG events, which feel more like &amp;quot;family reunions&amp;quot; than typical industry conferences.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;For recyclers curious about boosting their digital sales channels, the process starts with a simple 30-minute conversation. WHI representatives work closely with each yard to understand their current operations, management system, and goals before crafting a personalized implementation plan. Experience this partnership firsthand by connecting through URG or meeting the WHI team at upcoming industry events like the ARA conference in Birmingham this October.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Dave Young of WHI Solutions shares a compelling story about transforming automotive recycling through e-commerce innovation. Having celebrated 31 years with the company, Young's journey parallels the evolution of digital parts sales, particularly since WHI's acquisition by eBay in 2012.  What started as a technology gap has blossomed into a game-changing partnership. While WHI excelled at helping sellers list new aftermarket parts on eBay, they lacked specialized tools for the unique challeng...

Boost Your Ebay Sales with WHI

An informative podcast for the United Recyclers Group. Each week we will feature an entertaining guest that will share their knowledge and information with you, providing you with tips and tools to help you become a more profitable business.

U-R-G On the Go

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