Letters to the Editors
The Need for Speed Dear Mr. Bailey: I liked your article in the August issue of BodyShop Business [Supervising Smarts, pg. 20]. I’ve watched the industry turn in the unfortunate direction of the almighty dollar for quite awhile now, and I wish there were more techs out there like you who cared about the quality
Pick Me! Pick Me!
If you want to close the sale, you need more than a well-written estimate and a “Give us a call if you decide to schedule it.” You need to develop a system tailored to customer needs and train your estimators and front desk personnel to sell.
Hey! Didn’t You Used to Work for Me?
Too bad someone out there doesn’t have a collision industry crystal ball – filled with answers about where future technicians are going to come from and the secrets of hiring and retaining them.
A View of the Industry
A snapshot of the “Collision Industry” survey.
Getting Savvy With E-Commerce
E-commerce. A lot of people talk about it, but what does it mean to your business?
All In a State Over Allstate
Dear Georgina, After reading your Editor’s Notes in the current issue (June 2001, “All in a State Over Allstate”), I felt compelled to share what we’ve done concerning Allstate. On Feb. 14, 2001, we had a meeting with our Allstate DRP representative. Her boss was also invited but didn’t come to the meeting. Our agenda
If You Build It: New Century Collision Center, Winchester, Va.
Name: New Century Collision Center Location: Winchester, Va. President: Bud Harlow Established: 2001 Shop Size: 32,000 square feet Number of Employees: 13 Average Repair Ticket: $1,457 In the collision repair industry since 1955, Bud Harlow has learned every aspect of the trade – from working as a line tech and a shop manager to being
Keep the Cash Flowing
Profitability and cash flow aren’t the same thing: You may have a backlog of profitable jobs scheduled, but no money to pay the bills. How do you overcome this? Learn to manage three things: owner’s extras, accounts receivable and accounts payable.
Why Must We Fight for Every Dollar: Paying the Prevailing Labor Rate
It’s happened again! Some insurance companies still think they don’t need collision repair shops to fix vehicles. After years of progress toward common ground, Allstate Insurance has taken a reverse tactic: not paying the prevailing labor rate as they see fit. Sounds like selective p-page operations, doesn’t it?
Getting Their Hands Dirty
Getting Their Hands Dirty, Charlie Barone, BodyShop Business, July 2001
