Independent garage owners ‘too busy’ to attend industry events are being urged to rethink their approach to business in the latest episode of The Blend Podcast, featuring Barry Lawson of Lawson Autotech.
Speaking to host Mike Ruff, Barry reflects on the early years of running his garage in near-total isolation and explains why connecting with the wider industry proved to be a turning point.
“We were just speaking to garages within a two, three, four-mile radius, and they were all doing the same thing,” said Barry. “The biggest thing was listening to everybody struggling on the same things and we thought if everybody else is struggling, well it must be normal”.
Related: Garage Hive drives 186% gross profit growth at Lawson Autotech
The ultimate wake-up call came when his accountant revealed the garage had netted just £16,000 for a full year of work, split between two partners. That realisation forced Barry to step away from the tools and start attending national events to see how profitable garages were actually operating.
During the episode, Barry challenges the common excuses owners make for missing events, from working weekends to family commitments. He stresses that sacrificing just one weekend to attend a conference can yield invaluable “golden nuggets” of advice from peers who have already overcome the exact problems causing workshop bottlenecks.
The reward for that time, Barry explains, is getting your life back. By learning from other owners, he was able to implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for everything from servicing to emptying the bins, creating a self-sufficient business that no longer relies on him.
“If you’re sitting in your workshop thinking you can’t afford the time away, this is the episode you need to hear,” said Mike. “Barry’s story shows how easy it is for garage owners to stay isolated, and how powerful it can be when they start connecting with the wider community.”
The Blend will return to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026.
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The UK and Ireland’s leading conference and networking event for independent garage owners brings together workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of talks, networking, and business insights. It will feature multiple speakers, a trade exhibition, and an evening awards dinner hosted by behavioural science and marketing expert Rory Sutherland.
The Blend Podcast, sponsored by Garage Hive, is available on all major podcast platforms. Further information about The Blend can be found online here: https://www.theblend.events/.
