Room to Grow
Name: American Auto Body Location: Akron, Ohio Owner: Joe and Rocky Piscazzi Established: 1976 Square Footage: 20,000 Number of Employees: 10 Repair Volume: 60 cars per month Rocky Piscazzi recently learned that relocating to a new body shop can trigger Murphy’s Law of moving – everything costs more than expected. “Even though I’ve learned that
Working Smarter Not Harder
Name: Jerry’s Body Shop Location: DeLand, Fla. Owner: Jerry Doyle Established: 1976 Square Footage: 10,000 Number of Employees: 11 Repair Volume: 60 cars per month Average Repair Cost: $1,500 After 40 years in the collision-repair industry, you’d think a bright guy like Jerry Doyle would’ve learned not to help his competitors. Yet, several evenings a
Conquering New Heights
Successful people – whether they be plumbers, presidents, pediatricians or you – have certain traits that allow them to conquer new heights.
Working Magic: Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)
PDR is only as good as the operator on the other end of the pry tool.
Loading Up the Truck: Changing Your Location
Have you ever thought of moving your shop? Are you contemplating a move now?
Seeds of Success: Redfield Collision Center
Name: Redfield Collision Center Location: Festus, Mo. Owner: Greg Redfield Established: 1976 Square Footage: 18,200 Number of Employees: 27 Repair Volume: 116 cars per month Average Repair Cost: $1,640 The first Harley-Davidson motorcycle was made entirely by hand by four men in a backyard shed. Although it started out simple, the now-mass-produced Iron Horse ended
Selecting a MIG Welder
Before purchasing a MIG welder – or any welder – you must first determine which machine has the right capabilities for your shop. The Q & A that follows will help you determine whether a Gas Metal Arc welder (or MIG welder) is the right machine for you, and it will also aid in your selecting the proper MIG equipment.
Explaining the Choices
It would be hard to name another product category in our industry that has more vendors than compounds, polishes and waxes.
The Vote is Cast: National Rule Regarding the VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)
In currently regulated areas, many shops had a learning curve with new low-VOC products that will be shortened considerably for the rest of us. What they discovered when they began using high-solids products was that their main problems were getting the finish to lie down smoothly and getting the paint work to dry in the
The CPA Search
One of the greatest challenges you face in running your body shop is sustaining a workable system of financial management.