Wow! It’s hard to believe all that has happened in the last 30 years. Back in 1982, I was deep into my third year with automaker Ford, and things were finally starting to look up. The Escort had arrived on the scene, and dealers were no longer suffering from 20-plus percent floor plan expense. Imports had taken another large jump in the sales arena, but things remained fairly strong in the Motor City. Our old friends at AMC were on the endangered species list, but Jeep would be acquired by Chrysler under Iacocca’s command and the brand would survive.
The year 1982 also brought back a glimmer of hope for the performance cars. GM, with the Z28, and Ford, with the brand-new Mustang GT, reignited the horsepower wars of years past. It was finally time to start having some fun in the car business again. Certainly the winds of change were in the air, but it seemed like we just might go on.
Here in Akron, Ohio, a group of forward-thinking individuals at Babcox Media thought it was time for an advanced publication in the collision repair space. BodyShop Business was launched with one purpose in mind: to provide information for you in the daily operations of your business and assist you in becoming more efficient and profitable. To that end, our mission has never changed. Every issue, we strive to bring you the most innovative products and business practices to improve your operations and bottom line.
I hope as you look through the pages of our July 30th anniversary issue that you’ll take a moment to reflect back on the challenges and opportunities that have taken place in the past 30 years. There are many lessons to be learned from the past and clues on how to adapt to changes required in the future.
We have a great business here in the collision world, and there will continue to be changes that we need to overcome. People will continue to require our industry, and it’s a good thing that we’re here to fulfill those needs. There is a never-ending stream of products and innovations to assist us in our tasks, as well as a young, bright generation to assist us veterans. For that, we should be thankful.
In the words of Denise Lloyd, the editor of BodyShop Business in 1982, “BodyShop Business is exactly what its name implies. It is a magazine about the business of body shops – your business.”
Today, we’re more than just a magazine. We have websites, newsletters, conferences and videos to assist you, but our subject matter remains about the body shop business – which is your business! We appreciate your loyal readership over the years and look forward to another 30 years together.
