When Ryan Baum, Service Director at Hopkins Ford in Illinois, saw an opportunity to win back lost customers, he didn’t reach for the typical oil change coupon or a mass-blasted discount campaign. Instead, he partnered with FixedOPS Marketing to launch a bold, focused service special, one that would not only rescue customers but generate over $200,000 in revenue from a single campaign.
This is the story of the Transmission Rescue Campaign, and how creativity, smart marketing tools, and a customer-first mindset led to a massive win.
The Challenge: Lost Customers, Missed Revenue
Hopkins Ford, like many dealerships, faced a common problem: customers with major repair needs were going elsewhere. Whether it was independent shops or even rival dealers, high-dollar ROs were slipping away, especially when those customers had already left the lot.
Instead of writing them off, Ryan saw a unique opportunity: what if he could literally bring them back?
The Strategy: “Transmission Rescue” with a Twist
Ryan partnered with FixedOPS Marketing to build a targeted campaign that offered to tow customer vehicles – already at other shops or dealership service departments – back to Hopkins Ford, at no cost. It was bold. It was specific. And it wasn’t just about price, it was about trust, confidence, and positioning the dealership as the hero.
The campaign was branded as the “Transmission Rescue” Special, and instead of getting buried in general service ads, it stood out with:
- Dealership-branded video content that explained the offer clearly and professionally
- Mobile-optimized landing pages with local SEO targeting for transmission repair
- Conversion tools including call, text, and scheduler options so customers could act immediately
No gimmicks. No generalities. Just a clear offer that made a big promise and followed through.
The Results: $200,000+ in Revenue from One Campaign
The results were staggering.
“That campaign alone brought in over $200,000 in revenue, just from those major repair ROs,” Ryan said.
The vehicles brought back weren’t in for oil changes, they needed transmissions. Big-ticket repairs, completed at the dealership, with OEM parts, by factory-trained technicians. The kind of service work that drives serious gross profit.
This wasn’t luck. This was the result of targeted messaging, a standout value proposition, and the FixedOPS Marketing platform doing what it’s built to do: fill bays, win back customers, and boost profitability.
Why It Worked
What set this campaign apart? Three key reasons:
1. It Solved a Real Pain Point
Customers stranded at shops unsure who to trust, Hopkins Ford made the decision easy.
2. It Used Storytelling and Visuals
The branded campaign helped communicate urgency and trust. Customers didn’t just read an offer, they needed it.
3. It Activated Multiple Conversion Paths
Text, call, schedule, however the customer preferred to respond, the tools were built in.
What It Says About FixedOPS Marketing
This is what we do. We don’t just push coupon codes and discounts. We create campaigns that move people, and move vehicles into your service drive.
With our platform, dealerships gain:
- Consistent, dealer-branded video content that builds trust
- SEO-focused service landing pages that drive organic traffic
- Conversion tools that make it easy for customers to say yes
- Strategy and creativity that sets your store apart from every other “$49.95” oil change offer in town
Whether it’s rescuing a customer from a competitor or reviving your shop’s revenue flow, we’re here to prove marketing can drive fixed ops growth and we have the case studies to back it up.
Ready to Create Your Own Rescue Story?
If you want to be the dealership that gets the call, reach out today. Let’s talk about what bold, smart, and profitable service marketing can look like.
