Registration is now officially open for the 2010 BodyShop Business Conference to be held Sept. 17-18 in Indianapolis at the Hilton Hotel & Suites downtown.
The theme of the conference is “Succeeding Through Change.” There will be two panel discussions, one on lean manufacturing processes and the other on protecting your shop’s private data. There will also be a variety of breakout sessions, including:
Social networking – Are you maximizing the free marketing opportunities that exist on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites? An expert explains how to best utilize this medium to promote your brand.
Getting on a DRP – The industry is contracting and making business more competitive. This session will provide tips on how to make yourself attractive to an insurance company if your goal is to boost your insurance work.
EPA 6H Rule – Attorney Andrew Rodenhouse answers body shop owners’ questions about the EPA’s 6H Rule, which all body shops are required to be in compliance with by Jan. 10, 2011.
Search engine optimization (SEO) – When people want to find a body shop today, they look online. Does your shop come up first in their search, or are you buried under mounds of other shops? Mark Claypool, owner of Optima Worldwide – which provides website design, development, SEO services and social media marketing management – will show you how to make sure your shop’s name is front and center in Internet searches and that you’re getting the most out of your website.
Exotic metals – Many different types of metals are now being used in the construction of vehicles to reduce vehicle mass and improve crash performance. Experts discuss how to identify them and the repair methods they require.
Marketing to women – Women are increasingly becoming the decision-makers when it comes to fixing the family car. Jeanne Silver of CARSTAR Mundelein will discuss how to maximize your appeal to the female customer.
Hybrid repair – More and more hybrid vehicles are being introduced into the market. Repairers need to become intimately familiar with them in order to properly repair them, not to mention keep themselves safe. This session will ensure you can handle these vehicles at your shop.
Succession planning – Is it time for you to exit the industry? Perhaps you’re still a few years off, but it’s never too early to plan. This talk focuses on how to ready yourself and your employees for the sale of your shop.
Waterborne/low-VOC basecoats – Converting to waterborne basecoats will one day be mandatory for every shop in the country. This session will tell you what you need to know about these new paints and how you can use them as a marketing advantage.
Profit centers – Sprayed-on bedliners, detailing, glass repair, rental vehicles – are these add-on businesses worth looking at to shore up your bottom line? This session offers the keys to making these profit centers successful.
Understanding your financials – Breakeven point. Gross profit. Close ratio. Net sales. Do you know your “numbers”? Consultant Hank Nunn helps you understand the digits on your dashboard that will drive your business to profitability.
There will also be a trade show with the latest innovative and profit-making equipment in the market today.
As rapidly as the collision repair industry is changing, repairers need the tools and education to surge ahead or else get left behind. The BodyShop Business Conference is the event repairers must attend this year to define themselves as leaders dedicated to evolving into sophisticated profit machines that produce quality repairs and happy customers.
To sign up for the 2010 BodyShop Business Conference, visit our CONFERENCE REGISTRATION PAGE.
