Chi-cago, Chi-cago!
How does the song go? “Chi-cago, Chi-cago, that toddlin’ town…” Judging from the response so far to the 2011 BodyShop Business Conference & Trade Show – Strategies for Success, it seems that people are just as excited as I am that this year’s event is in Chicago – St. Charles, Ill., to be specific. One
Capturing the Job by Closing the Sale
Reader’s Choice question: “With the current economy, how would you address the importance of capturing the job during the repair estimate? With volume down and shop efficiency increasing, what are the main issues we need to focus on to increase sales?” – Mark Levell, marketing director, Precision Collision Auto Body, Seattle, Wash.
Back to Basics: Customer Service
Is there anyone more important in a collision repair facility than a customer? No – which is why you have to do a better job of focusing on managing the customer’s experience, not just the repair.
Buying Welding Equipment for Your Body Shop
With all of the advanced metals being introduced into modern vehicles, repairers need the proper welders to perform repairs to OEM specifications. We take a look at some of the great technology available.
Waterborne Paint FAQs
We asked the paint manufacturers six questions about low-VOC/waterborne paint with the goal of dispelling the myths and fears about this new technology. Their answers may surprise you.
AASP-MN Issues ‘Last Call’ for Convention Registration
With the 2011 Annual Meeting and Convention just around the corner, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) is reminding industry members to register before it’s too late. The event will take place next Thursday, March 31, and Friday, April 1, at the Holiday Inn St. Paul East, and several programs are approaching
California Shop Auto Collision Solutions Becomes Fix Auto Franchise
Riverside, Calif.-based Auto Collision Solutions is one of 34 collision repair businesses to join the Fix Auto franchise network in January 2011. Auto Collision Solutions was founded in 2005 when Maureen Holmes and her son, Aaron purchased the assets of five defunct collision repair centers. Since purchasing the Riverside location, the pair has implemented a
3M Automotive Aftermarket Launches New Website at 3MCollision.com
3M Automotive Aftermarket has launched a new website – 3MCollision.com – designed to enable users to more easily find products, solution guides, how-to videos, related projects and more. “Automotive professionals are becoming more tech-savvy and demand this information from their shops, home computers and mobile devices. So we created a new site that will help
AkzoNobel Pre-Treatment Systems Receive Chrysler Approval
AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings (A&AC) Americas has been informed that following an extensive review process, Chrysler Group LLC has approved two exclusive Sikkens pre-treatment systems for regulated and non-regulated markets. The two systems are: Non–Regulated Markets: AutoPrep (Pre-treatment Wipes)/Colorbuild Plus (undercoat)/Autobase Plus (basecoat) and Autoclear III (clearcoat) Regulated Markets: AutoPrep Pre-Treatment Wipes/Colorbuild Plus
ABPA Goes Over Results of Crash Test at CIC
The Automotive Body Parts Association went over the results of its December 2010 laboratory crash test at the Collision Industry Conference in Secaucus, New Jersey on March 17, stating that the test proves that aftermarket crash parts are safe. The CIC presentation was called, "The Truth About Aftermarket Parts: A Scientific Assessment," and was given