CARSTAR Message to Franchisees: ‘There Is Work to Be Done’
In past years, the message conveyed to CARSTAR franchisees at the annual CARSTAR conference was business-focused but fun and lighthearted. This year’s message, however, was delivered with a bit more urgency and seriousness. With 4,000 to 5,000 collision repair facilities closing within the last year, including some CARSTAR shops, CARSTAR CEO Dick Cross felt the
Service King Names New President, Plans National Expansion
Dallas-based Service King Collision Repair Centers says it plans to take on a national expansion effort led by new president Cathy Bonner. The company told the Dallas Morning News that the expansion could double revenue over the next five years. The collision repair chain, founded in 1976 by company chairman Eddie Lennox as a three-bay
Celette and Elektron Donate $20,000 Welder for I-CAR Education Foundation School Makeover
Celette Inc. and Elektron Inc. have come to the aid of Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School, the I-CAR Education Foundation’s 2009 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant winner, by donating an Elektron MI-100 welder with accessories. The donated equipment, valued at $20,000, was requested by Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School through its Ultimate
DuPont Performance Coatings Partners with Marshall Auto Body for Future Lean Curriculum Development
DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC) has partnered with Marshall Auto Body, headquartered in Waukesha, Wis. The agreement between the parties covers supplying Spies Hecker brand refinish products and related supplies and extends to the sharing of Marshall Auto Body’s pull-based lean production operating model that the shop put in place nearly five years ago. Marshall Auto
Long-Standing Commitment Continues Between DuPont and NACE
Through a combination of a presence on the show floor, sponsorship activities and educational sessions, DuPont Performance Coatings has committed to NACE 2010. NACE, the flagship event of Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) is co-located with CARS and scheduled for Oct. 11-13, 2010 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. "Our participation
Nominations Now Open for NABC Board
The National Auto Body council (NABC) is accepting nominations for positions on its board of directors in preparation for an election that will take place at the NABC annual meeting. The meeting will be held in conjunction with SEMA in Las Vegas at the Hilton Hotel convention area on Nov. 2. To be eligible for
New Venue, Record Participation Forecasted for 2010 SCRS Affiliate Leadership Conference
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has announced the approach of its fifth annual Affiliate Leadership Conference on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 22 and 23 at the Gulf States Toyota (GST) Training Center in Lewisville, Texas. The modern, state-of-the-art facility will provide a stimulating backdrop for the open discussion of activities, successes and challenges
AASP/NJ Addressing Member Appraisal Clause Dispute with Progressive
Disputes over the cost of proper automotive repairs between repairers and certain insurance companies are becoming a common occurrence, according to Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) Executive Director Charles Bryant, with several AASP/NJ member shops reporting difficulties in working with Progressive Insurance. "Over the past few years, and especially since recent
Web Presence Management: Optimize Your Website
Consumers who need collision repair services are now almost exclusively searching for body shops online. So does your shop rank high in their search results? If not, you need search engine optimization (SEO).
Advertising War: Insurers Vs. Body Shops
Some repairers are trying to counter insurers’ advertising with advertising of their own. It might seem like a futile effort, but the goal is not to outspend insurers. Instead, it’s to educate consumers on the accident claim process.
