Caring for Your Refinishing Gear
Today’s consumer is savvier than ever, so you’ve got to deliver the perfect color match and a flawless finish. To do that, it’s critical that your spray gun and spraybooth perform as they were designed to.
Maintenance Musts: The Greatest Tools and Equipment in the World Won’t Help You Profits if You Don’t Properly Maintain Them
When you were little, Mom always said to take care of your toys. Now that you’re grown up, the same rules apply to your equipment. All the best tools in the world won’t help you increase workflow or profits if you don’t properly maintain them.
The ABCs on DRPs
Ever wonder just how many shops are on direct-repair programs (DRPs)? Based on BodyShop Business’ 2000 Industry Profile, 44.8 percent of respondents are. And of that 44.8 percent, 91.3 percent say they’re better off because of their DRP arrangements.
Don’t Shoot the Messenger! Ohio’s Jack Lundberg
Faced with the challenge of registering Ohio’s collision repair facilties, Jack Lundberg has been called a savior by some, the devil by others. Throw in a few death threats, and you know how Lundberg feels by 10 a.m.
Target Practice
Picture this: It’s late one evening when you finally finish the last of the day’s repair work. Realizing you skipped lunch to get some extra work done, you get the hankering for a big sandwich – loaded with corned beef and condiments. As you’re about to return the now empty jar of mustard to the lunchroom refrigerator, you hear a noise. A loud noise. A really, really loud noise.
The Florida Notice on A/M Parts: Bad or Good
When analyzing the whole aftermarket (A/M) crash parts issue, it reminds me of a story I tell in business seminars that goes like this: Two hikers are walking through the woods when they come across a baby bear cub. Both become intrigued because they’ve never been able to get so close to a bear before.
Don’t Assume. It Really Does Make an A** Out of U
I figured Mr. and Mrs. Gray knew the check was being sent to them, not me. Now they were mad because if I wouldn’t release their car, they’d have to cancel their vacation. This was when I realized I needed to change the way I communicated with customers.
Those Are the Brakes: In House or Out of House?
Since no two brakes jobs are the same, some shops choose to send brake repairs out of house to avoid an extra possible headache. Others choose to tackle the repairs themselves. What’s right for you depends on how much control you want to have over what often becomes a complicated repair.
Whoa, Slugger! Use Your Head Instead
An estimator recently discussed online a young adjuster who came in to inspect a vehicle and insisted the shop use an aftermarket hood on a car that was less than a year old. The estimator said “No problem,” provided the adjuster sign a “Hold Harmless” form. The adjuster replied, “You’ll have to take that up with the owner.”
Not So Random Acts of Kindness
You can’t sit back and wait for people to beat a path to your door – you have to get their attention any way you can. (This doesn’t mean light yourself on fire and dance around your parking lot!) Thank-you notes, kind words and doing little things that other shop owners don’t will attract customers, improve business relationships and keep you out of the burn unit.
Associations: Time to Join or a Waste of Time?
Opinions vary regarding the repair industry’s national associations, but one thing is certain: The industry has a wide range of national associations, each with differing beliefs, views and goals. Our examination of the industry’s national groups may help you decide if one coincides with your own convictions
Suck It Up: Dust Extraction Systems
A dirty shop may discourage customers from giving you their business and techs from wanting to work at your business. One way to keep your shop cleaner is to use a dust extraction system – which sucks away sanding dust and helps create a working environment that doesn’t suck. Got that?