Coaching the Shop Team
The manager of an Indianapolis collision repair facility benefits from a positive outlook and a customized management system.
Lobby to Win
Here’s some advice from a seasoned lobbyist on how to get your legislators’ attention and increase your chance of getting hard-hitting laws passed.
DOIs: The Fox Guarding the Henhouse?
For the most part, collision repairers believe state departments of insurance turn a deaf ear to their concerns. Here’s an in-depth look at the role they play in regulating the insurance industry.
A Lean Transformation
The New Year brought us another opportunity to transform an existing body shop from the traditional way to a better, process-centered way. So we ripped off the Band-Aid and got started.
For Good Measure
You must make sure your techs are taking measurements to accurately diagnose the condition of a collision-damaged vehicle. If you don’t, you’ll cheat yourself, them and your customers.
Shame on the No-Shows
As publishers of this industry’s leading trade magazine, we’re often used as a sounding board for various opinions, thoughts and editorials on a variety of subjects by industry participants at every level. We’re always respectful to keep these commentaries in confidence when that is the intent of the sender, and we’re careful never to compromise
“What Am I to Do?”
It’s a familiar plea to me now. Whether it comes by fax, e-mail, telephone or the good ol’ United States Postal Service, the message is basically the same: “I’m a small, independent shop and I’m at my wit’s end. There are two or three shops in my area that get all the work, and I can’t get on a direct-repair program to save my life. What am I supposed to do?”
Gary Collins, Collins Collision Center
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. Established: 2000 Gross Revenue: $1 million Square Footage: 15,000 No. of Employees: 11 Services: Full-service collision repair, mechanical repair and towing What’s it like being married to Joe Frazier’s daughter? The buildup to meeting him was kind of difficult, but once I met him I realized he was the sweetest guy in
Are Aftermarket Parts Good or Bad for the Collision Repair Industry?
Point Counterpoint with Ronald Baker, Jr., and Tim O’Day
Power Steering
Insurers steering vehicles to their preferred shops has gotten out of control. But there are some action steps shops can take to counter its effect.
Troubled Times
Insurer profits are at record highs, and body shop profits are at record lows. Steering is rampant and labor rates are being suppressed. And repairers are supposed to get along with insurers?
Be Prepared to Paint
I call them ‘Boy Scouts’ – painters who are prepared and do the job right the first time. Here are some tips to make sure you don’t have to do the job over for free.
