Strongest positive driver of customer retention (r = +0.10).
Critical driver for Brake sales (r = +0.40), but has zero impact on Tires.
Conversion to Brakes drops from r=0.58 (Same Month) to r=0.08 (12 Months).
Insight: Brakes drive loyalty. Tires are a lagging indicator (negative correlation).
Insight: Inspections feed Brakes (safety failures) and Oil (convenience), but do NOT drive Tire sales.
The strong correlation at "Same Month" (0.58) proves technicians are good at selling brakes while the car is on the lift.
The rapid drop to 0.08 by Month 12 shows we fail to bring Oil customers back for Brakes later. If we don't sell it today, we lose the sale.
Critical Insight: In 2016 (r=0.63), stores could survive a dip in new customers. In 2025 (r=0.80), new customer acquisition is the sole determinant of growth. The buffer of the "loyal existing base" is gone.
Treat Inspections as your primary lead gen for Brakes. A decline in inspections is a leading indicator for a Brake revenue crash.
Since the "nurture" pipeline is broken, you must convert brake sales during the oil change. Training should focus on immediate inspection and conversion.
Tires don't flow from inspections. They need a dedicated acquisition strategy independent of the "maintenance halo."
With r=0.80 dependency, you cannot rely on the existing base. Marketing must pivot aggressively to top-of-funnel new customer acquisition.