It’s Showtime, Baby
You can ‘bet’ that the 25th annual NACE show will offer plenty of business opportunities, not
to mention a little fun.
Analyzing “McDonald” izing
The concepts that made McDonald’s arguably the most successful small business in the world can help propel your collision business to the next level of success.
The Power of Video: Pre-exisiting Damage?
After the repairs to the left door and left quarter panel of Lisa Harrington’s 1997 Honda Accord were completed, the vehicle was detailed and parked near the front of the office for delivery. When the customer arrived that afternoon, she seemed quite pleased with the repairs, until she noticed a rather sizable dent in the
The Government to the Rescue? SBA’s 504 Program
Donnie Jones had always dreamed of building a state-of-the-art body shop. But he faced major obstacles. Every banker he tried to get a business loan from wanted 25 to 30 percent in cash equity, with rates and terms that would have been a major stretch for his cash flow.
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme: Better, Cheaper & Faster
Years ago, the belief in business was that you could provide a product better, cheaper or faster — pick two. But to achieve success today, you must offer all three. Customers expect more, for less money and want it yesterday.
Paint Department Smarts: The Right Tools and Knowledge
It’s not easy for painters to get the training they need. But that doesn’t mean you should settle for “average” techs. Nurture the Einstein in them by equipping them with the right tools and enlightening them with knowledge.
Guilty! State Farm to Pay $1.19 Billion
When the jury for the aftermarket parts trial against State Farm awarded the plaintiffs $456 million and the judge ruled the insurance giant committed fraud and awarded the plaintiffs an additional $730 million, some people cheered, some people jeered and others shed tears. But how will all this ultimately affect consumers — and repairers?
Salvaging the Salvage-Parts Market
Collision repairers agree: Used parts are a viable alternative to new OE crash parts. They also agree that the lack of compensation they’re given for making used parts usable isn’t doable. Their solution? Insurers need to scrap their current way of thinking and recognize what repairers have to do to save them money.
In September’s article, "Repairing the Crash-Parts Market" (pg. 44), we took a closer look at the manufacturing of aftermarket crash parts, the problems repairers have with their use and the solutions raised by industry leaders. This month, we’ll examine the salvage-parts market in much the same way.
In Court with State Farm
The trial against State Farm for its usage of aftermarket crash parts is underway. Since you can’t be there in the courtroom, we’re doing the next best thing: bringing the courtroom to you.
Court is Now in Session: State Farm Aftermarket trial in Illinois
r what verdict the jury turns in, their decision is bound to somehow — whether negatively or positively — affect the collision repair industry.