Building Trust Is Non Negotiable with Jason Wenig from The Creative Workshop | S2 E10 Artwork

Gearheads n' Gasoline

The Gearheads n’ Gasoline Podcast will be bringing you engaging, lighthearted yet informative conversations with market-leading Shop Owners, Shop Employees, and Automotive Enthusiasts from the Aftermarket, Restoration, Performance, and Racing Industries.

Our hosts are Barry Alt with Motorhead Digital and Annette Bauer with Annette Bauer Creative.

We’ll be exploring the journey of our guests, uncovering their achievements, challenges, and even failures, that were the driving forces behind their success!

Whether you’re joining us as a shop owner, an aspiring shop owner, racer, professional, creative or hardcore enthusiast - this podcast will be your pit stop for insightful discussions with influential figures from the automotive industry.

Our goal is to entertain and educate listeners with real-life stories, lessons learned, and practical advice you can use.

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Gearheads n' Gasoline

Building Trust Is Non Negotiable with Jason Wenig from The Creative Workshop | S2 E10

September 08, 2025 • Barry Alt & Annette Bauer with Jason Wineg • Season 2 • Episode 10

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In this episode of Gearheads n’ Gasoline, hosts Barry Alt and Annette Bauer welcome Jason Wenig, owner of The Creative Workshop, to discuss his journey from a corporate executive to a leader in concourse-level automotive restoration. Jason shares insights into his early experiences with cars, the challenges of building a successful restoration business, and the importance of client relationships. He also delves into marketing strategies, the significance of word-of-mouth referrals, and the evolving landscape of the automotive restoration industry. In this conversation, Jason Wenig discusses the importance of building trust with clients in the automotive restoration industry, emphasizing that character and integrity are paramount. He stresses the importance of referrals and repeat business, illustrating how strong relationships contribute to long-term success.

Takeaways:

Bootstrapped from Scratch: He transformed a rat-infested, failing shop into a world-class restoration facility
Team Took Time: It took over a decade to build the right skilled team to match his high standards
Repeat Business is Gold – Many clients return with new projects, often reserving shop time in advance
Word-of-Mouth Wins: Referrals and relationships remain the most effective growth engine
Strategic Visibility: He uses print ads, social posts, and events to maintain presence
Professional Presence Matters: A clean website, proper email, and branding are must-haves
Hands-On Mentorship: Always has apprentices in the shop to pass on restoration skills
Industry Advocacy: Serves on the RPM Foundation board to support youth training and education
Inspire the Next Gen: He believes early exposure helps steer young talent into creative automotive careers

Guest Bio:
Jason Wenig is the owner of The Creative Workshop, a concours restoration shop. He is the co-executive director of Motorcar Cavalcade and serves on the Board of Directors of the America's Automotive Trust. A lifelong automobile aficionado, Wenig began his professional career in an executive position at a car-focused internet startup before beginning his Pebble Beach award-winning restoration business in 2002. Wenig and his shop were most recently awarded the RPM Foundation Restorer’s award in 2022.

Guest:

Hosts:
Barry Alt, Motorhead Digital