“Customers trusted us before our marketing existed” — Jennifer Hazeltine | GGP #072
Thu Feb 05 2026
In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Jennifer Hazeltine of American Import Auto, Inc. talks about how being visible, personable, and present in the community built customer trust long before any formal marketing strategy existed. She explains why showing up — at local events, in neighborhood groups, and online — matters far more than clicks, ads, or banners.Jennifer came into the auto repair world from a retail background and quickly realized that building relationships and being seen personally helped the shop stand apart from competitors. Early on, American Import Auto was known for mechanical expertise, but customers still needed confidence that the people behind the service could be trusted.Facing seasonal clientele shifts, competitive visibility gaps, and digital noise, Jennifer leaned into community engagement — from Facebook neighborhood pages to sponsoring events and showing up at local gatherings. By becoming a recognizable face of the shop and actively participating in community life, she shifted how potential customers perceived the business.Her approach reshaped customer engagement — not just through ads but through relationships, social proof, and consistent human interaction. Independent shop owners can take away practical ideas for building trust, visibility, and meaningful community presence that reinforce your brand and resonate with the people you serve.GuestsJennifer Hazeltine — American Import Auto, Inc. (Venice, FL)What you’ll learnWhy personal visibility builds stronger trustGetting involved in local groups that matterUsing social media as human connection, not just adsLeveraging community events for visibilityBlending online and offline presenceHow marketing complements face-to-face trustPractical ways to be seen and recognizedTimestamps00:00 – Introduction & context01:08 – Jennifer’s background & entry to auto repair02:44 – About American Import Auto and Venice market04:30 – Seasonal clientele & perception challenges07:27 – Reaching new community members09:55 – Facebook groups & neighbor engagement12:08 – Marketing strategy vs geofencing14:06 – Being the face of the business16:15 – Networking & leads groups18:08 – Chamber of Commerce involvement20:11 – Supporting other local businesses23:00 – Translating retail experience to auto repair25:22 – Team collaboration & content creation29:01 – Community sponsorship ideas31:49 – Swag & promotional tactics35:06 – Customer demographics & preferences38:43 – Future ideas & audience engagement42:48 – Reflections on visibility & trust45:03 – Little League & community support49:22 – Baby steps to social participation53:46 – Newsletter & local paper campaigns56:46 – Social media storytelling01:01:02 – CRM & follow-up strategy01:05:42 – Closing thoughts and key insightsCall-to-ActionsGot questions? Comment or post in the FB group—guests will chime in.Subscribe for more Origin & Impact shop owner stories.Want to be a guest? Share your story in the group.LinksStart Here: https://addi.me/2026Next Step Guide: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Grid Request: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Request a Call: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Join the Podcast Panel: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Partnership Info: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Garage Grit Facebook Group: / forautorepairshopowners YouTube: / @aashopmarketing Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof...Keywordsauto repair marketing, shop trust signals, customer communication, community engagement, visibility strategy, reputation management, local shop branding, Facebook neighborhood groups, social media presence for shops, human-first marketing, independent shop growth, customer experience strategy, nonprofit event marketingEpisode MetadataEpisode: GGP #072Guest: Jennifer HazeltineShop: American Import Auto, Inc.Location: Venice, FL
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In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Jennifer Hazeltine of American Import Auto, Inc. talks about how being visible, personable, and present in the community built customer trust long before any formal marketing strategy existed. She explains why showing up — at local events, in neighborhood groups, and online — matters far more than clicks, ads, or banners.Jennifer came into the auto repair world from a retail background and quickly realized that building relationships and being seen personally helped the shop stand apart from competitors. Early on, American Import Auto was known for mechanical expertise, but customers still needed confidence that the people behind the service could be trusted.Facing seasonal clientele shifts, competitive visibility gaps, and digital noise, Jennifer leaned into community engagement — from Facebook neighborhood pages to sponsoring events and showing up at local gatherings. By becoming a recognizable face of the shop and actively participating in community life, she shifted how potential customers perceived the business.Her approach reshaped customer engagement — not just through ads but through relationships, social proof, and consistent human interaction. Independent shop owners can take away practical ideas for building trust, visibility, and meaningful community presence that reinforce your brand and resonate with the people you serve.GuestsJennifer Hazeltine — American Import Auto, Inc. (Venice, FL)What you’ll learnWhy personal visibility builds stronger trustGetting involved in local groups that matterUsing social media as human connection, not just adsLeveraging community events for visibilityBlending online and offline presenceHow marketing complements face-to-face trustPractical ways to be seen and recognizedTimestamps00:00 – Introduction & context01:08 – Jennifer’s background & entry to auto repair02:44 – About American Import Auto and Venice market04:30 – Seasonal clientele & perception challenges07:27 – Reaching new community members09:55 – Facebook groups & neighbor engagement12:08 – Marketing strategy vs geofencing14:06 – Being the face of the business16:15 – Networking & leads groups18:08 – Chamber of Commerce involvement20:11 – Supporting other local businesses23:00 – Translating retail experience to auto repair25:22 – Team collaboration & content creation29:01 – Community sponsorship ideas31:49 – Swag & promotional tactics35:06 – Customer demographics & preferences38:43 – Future ideas & audience engagement42:48 – Reflections on visibility & trust45:03 – Little League & community support49:22 – Baby steps to social participation53:46 – Newsletter & local paper campaigns56:46 – Social media storytelling01:01:02 – CRM & follow-up strategy01:05:42 – Closing thoughts and key insightsCall-to-ActionsGot questions? Comment or post in the FB group—guests will chime in.Subscribe for more Origin & Impact shop owner stories.Want to be a guest? Share your story in the group.LinksStart Here: https://addi.me/2026Next Step Guide: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Grid Request: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Request a Call: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Join the Podcast Panel: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Partnership Info: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aasho...Garage Grit Facebook Group: / forautorepairshopowners YouTube: / @aashopmarketing Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof...Keywordsauto repair marketing, shop trust signals, customer communication, community engagement, visibility strategy, reputation management, local shop branding, Facebook neighborhood groups, social media presence for shops, human-first marketing, independent shop growth, customer experience strategy, nonprofit event marketingEpisode MetadataEpisode: GGP #072Guest: Jennifer HazeltineShop: American Import Auto, Inc.Location: Venice, FL