#1 Intro
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Gene Fetty: [00:00:00] Hey, what's up everybody. It is Gene Fetty with the Automotive Appearance Institute here on our new podcast, the Auto Appearance Institute. All access podcast. This is episode one. I am super excited to be behind the mic again. I did, Oh, I think 150 episodes of the PDR marketing minute back in the day. Uh, and I've been a guest on plenty of podcasts.
Uh, I've been kicking around the idea of coming back to the podcasting format. For a couple of years and now is the right time and this is episode one. So just in case you've never heard of me or you just found the show, who is Gene? Uh, well, my name is Gene Fetty. Uh, I've been a, uh, an automotive appearance technician my entire life.
adult life, started detailing cars. Uh, when I was 18, uh, moved from there, uh, into beginning to learn PDR. Uh, [00:01:00] I've done wheel repair, windshield repair, uh, paint touch up and spot repair, uh, vinyl graphics, PPF. Uh, I have spent some time for sure, uh, in the automotive appearance space, uh, but by trade a PDR technician, really almost, uh, exclusively since 2002, uh, has been my specialty.
Uh, I also, uh, have done a lot of training, uh, in the glue pole repair space, uh, be that helping PDR technicians be better at glue pulling or, uh, heading to, uh, auto body shops, uh, auto body trade organizations, manufacturers, uh, and helping them to learn how to implement, uh, the latest, uh, technology and practices in glue pole repair.
Uh, really just a lifelong, uh, appearance car guy. It's just what I do. So, [00:02:00] uh, I guess that brings us to what is AAI, what is the auto appearance Institute? Uh, well, AAI was sort of born out of seeing a need, uh, for more scalable training, uh, in the, in the automotive appearance space, uh, when I was a trainer for Kiko, uh, I started that in 2019, uh, and man, we were on like this rocket ship trajectory of growth, uh, into 2020.
COVID happens, the world shuts down. I'm canceling all my flights and trips around the country. And, uh, right now we're stuck and everybody, not just Kiko, not just automotive, but like the world was scrambling, uh, To continue putting content out, uh, continue to teach, continue to try to connect. Uh, and I saw, uh, not just me personally, but I saw across the board, uh, [00:03:00] struggles with, uh, trying to take things virtual, uh, and how.
Difficult that is and how impersonal that can be. Uh, and, and sort of started putting my thinking hat on about how we can do, uh, training better and do, uh, virtual trainings, uh, or online trainings, uh, even better. Uh, and that was sort of the, the lifeblood. Uh, and then back and forth over the years, uh, parted ways with a Kiko full time in early, uh, 23, uh, and AAI has become my, my passion project, uh, to get rolling, uh, and we've created some online courses, we've done some in person events.
We'll talk a little bit more about those, uh, later in the show. Uh, but I'm. Super proud of the, the product and the training we've put out. We've got, uh, some great people behind the scenes that helped make that happen technically. Uh, that's Dylan sitting back [00:04:00] here, waving me and the microphones watching us record this and catching some behind the scenes.
Uh, but she's a little bit of the magic behind the technical side of how we, uh, put that out there. Um, and, and we're trying to grow a AI and bring better education to. The automotive appearance, uh, world, um, our, our motto is to learn, teach, and promote. So learning, right? Create better learning for, uh, students and technicians in the automotive space.
Uh, teach is we are open to help other subject matter experts, uh, bring their knowledge to the world, right? So if you are a subject matter expert, and you would like to produce, uh, online training. We have the whole backend built for that. We will essentially partner up and, uh, produce this and, uh, go to town, uh, promoting your trainings through our system, [00:05:00] through auto appearance institute.
com and, uh, I mean, we're excited to do that and then promote, uh, as our, as our third word in our, our catchphrase or whatever you'd like to call it. Uh, and that is, uh, it was really cool to work with Kiko, right? Great company, uh, great organization, great leadership behind it. Uh, a great budget for production, right?
They actually have people on staff that help produce content and that is great. Uh, and we. Have, uh, acquired a lot of equipment to be able to produce great content. Uh, the promote side of things is to help, uh, smaller companies that may or may not have the budget, uh, to have that whole or budget or talent to have the, the production to help promote their tools or products or services.
Uh, we essentially are a small production studio to work with small businesses, smaller brands to help you turn into that bigger brand, uh, and, and bring [00:06:00] tools and products, uh, to market. Uh, so that is what AAI does. Uh, that's sort of why we started it. And here we are today. Uh, so why the podcast? Uh, well, maybe first let's talk about why not the podcast?
Why did I not podcast, uh, for a handful of years? First, I guess foremost, I was busy, man, traveling all over the country, um, teaching at body shops took a lot of time, uh, away from being able to create anything, uh, regularly. And, and what I don't want to do is like put out a show and then no show for three weeks and then put out a show and then nothing for two months where we wanted to be in a position to be able to take the podcast seriously to create great content to bring to you.
Uh, another. Reason was like, what do I want to talk about? Or do I want to just jam myself down into, uh, a hole where all I can [00:07:00] talk about is in this, like maybe glue pulling is, does glue pulling warrant a podcast? Maybe is the only thing I ever want to talk about glue pull. Definitely not. Uh, so, um, right.
Like bringing the podcast. To, uh, have a voice in the industry, but really to help bring, uh, new trends to you guys right to the audience, uh, to help, uh, show new techniques, talk about new techniques as they come in, like over the last year or so, tension has been really big, uh, in the glue pulling space, um, be it for, uh, PDR for collision, right?
There's going to be episodes talking about techniques like that. And then of course, tools, right? And you're not going to be a technician in the automotive industry and not have a little bit of tool junkie or full on tool addiction, uh, in your system, right? You just have to, [00:08:00] you're going to have it. You just love tools.
It's part of what we like about working on cars is we get to get new. Tools, air quotes, also new toys, uh, and then bringing in industry news, uh, and really talking about industry events. Um, we won't be at SEMA this year, but I've certainly been to SEMA in the past. Uh, we're heading to the PDR expo next week.
Actually this week, because you're listening to this on Monday, the same week as the expo, but we're heading to the expo, uh, as the podcast grows, uh, certainly leading up to mobile tech expo in January, right? We're going to do some mobile tech expo episodes, uh, leading up talking about that. Uh, we're also going to help teach a little bit.
Right. We're going to help to improve your technical skills. Uh, we're also going to be bringing in experts, other industry leaders, uh, industry experts, tool designers, tool company owners, uh, bringing in to talk about what they're working on, why they're there, uh, and really maybe even get the history of some of the [00:09:00] companies and how we've led to, uh, getting here today.
So super excited. Uh, and then of course, to network and build, right? Like that's what business and life is all about is relationships. Uh, I loved, uh, my old PDR marketing minute podcast and the connections it helped make and build, and I honestly have lifelong friends, uh, that that podcast led to, I'm hoping that this podcast will do the same thing, right?
Let me connect with, uh, people from all over the world. Uh, and again, Um, I'm sure I'm certain of it make some lifelong, uh, friends. So, uh, with that being said, speaking of community, uh, we have our, uh, on the glue pole side, our Facebook group is find your inner hashtag glue, GPR, PDR, and collision group. So go search that up, join that, join that community.
Uh, we will certainly be dropping, [00:10:00] um, some podcast notes, some podcast snippets and clips in there. Get in there and let's get the conversation going and, uh, right. It'll be there. So you should be listening. Uh, we want to help, again, we're going to teach you to learn, improve your skills, advance your career, learn about new tools and techniques, right?
That's what this show is for. This show is by a technician for technicians. That is what this is all about. Now, I was talking a minute ago about, uh, not getting jammed down inside of a rabbit hole, uh, and only being able to talk about one subject. I also. I don't know that, that my, uh, ADD would let me, uh, do a show just in one style, just interview style or just this, or just that it's just not how my brain works.
I might get a little bit bored. Uh, so we're going to have a [00:11:00] few different episode styles or episode formats, types, whatever, whatever you want to call it. Um, so of course we are going to have your typical. interview style podcasts, right? One on one, uh, talking about whatever that subject is. In fact, I'm heading to the PDR expo this week.
Uh, and I was, uh, texting with, uh, Hudson Tansey , uh, of Dent Gents, uh, a little bit earlier today and his new tornado tabs dropped. I got my email from Kiko today that they are live in the store. Uh, his new tornado tabs dropped. Uh, we are going to do a 20 or 30 minute interview with Hudson live at the, uh, PDR expo.
And that should be as long as there's no big technical hiccups, that should be episode two of the all access podcast. Uh, so of course, right. Your typical interviews, [00:12:00] uh, special guests. And whatnot, we're also going to do a virtual pit stop right where this, this whole podcast is like your pit pass to the, the, the back end of the automotive period space.
Right. So along with that, we're going to do a virtual pit stop. That is going to be, uh, where with, uh, video also. Uh, we are going to hop online and potentially visit some websites. Uh, maybe screw some Facebook or TOK. Uh, we might go look at some repairs and talk about how that repair was attacked. Uh, thoughts about the repair and listen, these could be good, bad, or good.
Or ugly, right? You might make the hall of fame or you might make the hall of shame on these, but we're going to go out and cruise the, uh, cruise the webs, cruise the social medias, uh, and have a virtual pit stop and, uh, talk, talk about that. So you can also right along those lines, if [00:13:00] there's something you want us to check out and see, uh, send it to us, uh, send it to admin.
at autoappearanceinstitute. com and, uh, and, or DM us through any of our social channels. We are at autoappearanceinstitute across the board, everywhere that we have an account, that is who we are. Uh, so send your submissions in of things that you would like to see us go out and take a look at and talk about, discuss, critique, uh, anything like that.
We are also going to have Tech tip shows, right? Again, I am a, an adult lifelong, uh, technician in the automotive space, just like all the other old guys, I've got a lot of tips and tricks. I'm also always open to learning new tips and tricks, right? So we're going to have some shows that are all about passing these tips along to help all of us get better at.
repairing or making [00:14:00] vehicles look better, right? So look for those tech tips. I am also reserving the right to have some special rant episodes. Gene is me. I am normally a pretty chill guy, but when I get fired up, I get really fired up and I get pretty passionate about some things. There are going to be some.
Episodes that are special rants. I cannot promise that those will be PG 13. These may be R rated, uh, shows, but you're going to know how I feel about whatever subject I happen to be ranting about that day. So, anyways, uh, and, and certainly last but not least, uh, we're going to have some shows that are a product pit stop.
right? New products rolling in, uh, to roll out. In fact, just before we came up here to record, I got a text from my good buddy. about a new product [00:15:00] that he sent to me to test out. We'll give you a little hint here.
Do you know what that sound is? That's a little bit of lock line on the brand new Carl Stucky cordless 18 inch light. He has, uh, taken his, his 18 inch size, you know, about 18 by. Five or six standard size that's been around forever. Uh, and he has updated this thing, uh, to match the build of his 12 inch lights, the ones that sort of look like an iPad, uh, man, this thing is great.
It's got the all aluminum stucky suction cup, tough body, no more dropping these things and having them break. Uh, the built in small, nice lightweight batteries. You get great, uh, battery life out of those. He's got one of his stucky rings on it. So it's a nice tight fit. [00:16:00] The body of the light is, uh, it looks like a, a formed abs.
Uh, it's got dual, um, inputs in the back. So you can have, uh, I always work with my lock line at the end of the light to let it hang lower. A lot of guys like it to go in the middle. He's got it set up so you can switch. Uh, whether you like a middle mount or a top mount with your, uh, lock line, spectacular and no more rocker switches.
He has switched to, uh, call it more of like a digital button. Um, my particular light is warm, cool, and I'm sorry, cool, warm, cool, cool, cool, cool. Warm, cool. And for you PDR guys, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Uh, they're all going to be five strips and it's either going to be that setup of cool, warm, cool, warm, cool.
Uh, essentially putting your favorite color in the middle of the light or warm, [00:17:00] cool, warm, cool, warm. a warm in the middle of the light, right? Totally preference, but it is right there. Uh, this, uh, is a really nice light. I love, I have loved the Stucky Fade since my first 12 inch cordless light, Lord, probably 10 or 12 years ago.
I, a long time ago, whenever that, whenever that little 12 inch light, originally came out, the aluminum body. That was my first stuckey light. Um, I had the 18 inch light. I've got a couple of 12 inch lights. My hail light is a stuckey light. I just love the fade. I love how sharp the fade is on these things.
Uh, also a built in dimmer with the digital switches and probably my favorite addition. And this started on the 12 inch lights is the silicone, uh, wrapper slash cover that goes around the outside. Uh, no more. Lightly scuffing the clear coat that you have to buff out cause you're light slid on an edge, [00:18:00] right?
The silicone gives you that protection. Uh, you're, you don't have to worry about that anymore. Speaking of that silicone cover, uh, it is going to be available in red. So it's like a marbly color, a red, a green and a blue. The particular one I got here, uh, is a blue, call it blue marble. So a little bit of blue, black and white slash gray, really a great, uh, light and man, super bright.
It even feels brighter than my 12 inch Stucky Lights. He said it's the exact same LED. Uh, maybe it's the fact that it's longer, right? I've got, you know, 50 percent more bulb. Uh, out there. But anyways, that new, the new 18 inch Carl's doculet is awesome. Carl said these are going to be available to order, uh, by the end of the month on his website.
So that's, uh, we're taping this in September, uh, [00:19:00] 24. Uh, this is Friday, September 13th. You were listening to this, uh, hopefully. Monday, 14, 15, 16, Monday, September 16th. You're listening to this. So within about two weeks of this episode going live, these lights should be available on stucky tools. com. Make sure you head on over there and check it out.
Retail price on these is 534 99. So that is it. Carl, thanks for sending the light out as always. It's another spectacular light. Um, You might want to stop building these so good because these things last me forever. So I'm just kidding. Awesome lights. Uh, I cannot recommend Carl's stuff highly enough. And really the support that the Stucky family Puts behind their products is just unreal.
Carl and Alma are spectacular people. I wasn't paid for this review, but I would [00:20:00] give him this review either way. Anyways, this light is awesome. Go check it out. Stucky tools. com. They're going to be available by the end of the month. Red, green, and blue silicone trims. You pick it up and just decide what organization of stripe or organization of color strips that you want in there.
So that's it again. Thank you so much, Carl. Let's wrap this thing up. So we have a great in person glue pull training event coming up at the Anson PDR showroom in Burleson, Texas. Uh, there's just about 20 minutes South of Fort worth. If you're not familiar with Texas geography, uh, that's going to be October 4th, 9 AM.
Uh, start time. So five, uh, that comes with lunch, a 100 Anson gift card access to our online, uh, tension pulling class. Uh, you can find the link to that training to buy your seat at glue pull training. com, uh, and we only have a handful [00:21:00] of seats left. So if you're thinking about it. Pull the trigger, get it done today and get signed up.
Uh, we want to see you there. If you want to learn Glupal and you can't make a trip to our in person training, head over to gprmasterclass. com. We have our entire Glupal training course online. It is huge. It's basically what I could teach you. If we spent a week. Together working one on one at your shop.
So GPR masterclass. com and of course our website for all things, auto appearance Institute is auto appearance Institute. com. If you would like to add the podcast to your favorite podcast host service, whatever Apple podcasts, Spotify, et cetera, auto appearance Institute. com forward slash all dash GPR masterclass.
Access. We'll get you to those links. You can put that right into your podcast app, [00:22:00] feed program, whatever you want to call it. So you get updated every time we drop a new episode and there's new episodes are every single Monday, a new show, keep an eye out. Hopefully. As long as there's no technical hiccups, episode two is going to be Hudson Tansy with Dent Gents talking about his brand new tornado tabs.
They're pretty awesome. I've been testing them since prototype, uh, just the one size, all five sizes are now available. Uh, you can get those at Kiko tabs. com for sure. Uh, I'm not sure if Hudson has a store or not. We'll ask him and find out on the podcast. We'll see you guys next week. Go follow us on all social media at auto appearance institute guys.
Thanks for listening. I am happy to be behind the mic again. I will see you or hear you or no, you'll hear me anyways. See you guys next show.
