SEMA will host its annual Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser on Friday, July 26, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, CA. The annual event is well attended by automotive professionals and serves as a swearing-in ceremony for the incoming Board of Directors, while honoring the newest SEMA Hall of Fame inductees.
To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.
The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) kicked off its three-day Education Conference at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Phoenix, AZ, with a Cinco de Mayo welcome reception that included teambuilding games and events.
The theme of the 2013 WIN Education Conference held on May 5-7 was “Empower the Leader Within.” The focus of the conference centered on leadership development, technology, industry trends, hiring and career progression.
According to Margaret Knell, 2013 WIN Incoming Chair, the event was well attended by over 160 women in the collision industry, including shop owners and employees, manufacturers and service providers to the industry.
Teen’s Classic ‘65 Mustang Gets a Makeover from Make-A-Wish
Written by staffTo view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.
A teen from Sacramento, CA, saw his wish come true when the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Golden State Collision Repair Centers presented him with his fully repaired and renovated 1965 Mustang Fastback.
The 1965 Mustang Fastback had been the teen’s father’s car and it was his wish to restore it to its original condition.
The wish was coordinated through Golden State Collision Repair Centers and Make-A-Wish Northeastern California and Northern Nevada chapter.
To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.
One rule you’ll find in many sales and marketing books is that the average sale is made after the sixth visit or call, but the average sales person gives up after the third visit or call. This information provides a reliable way to increase sales power. The usual sale in a collision repair shop is just getting the owner of a vehicle who brings it into the shop is leave the keys and let the shop do the repairs. But generally a shop also works to sell dealerships, fleet management companies, insurance companies and more on referring business to the shop. While these sales efforts involve direct calls and visits, perhaps the most common violation of this rule is the sale to the vehicle owner who comes in for an estimate.
Google+ Is an Emerging Star for Media-Savvy Body Shops
Written by Ed AttanasioTo view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.
“What’s this Google+ thing I’m hearing about?” or “Should my business have a Google+ page?” and “We just figured out this Facebook thing and now we have to worry about doing Google+?” are among the comments I’ve heard recently at CAA meetings.
I’ve been paying close attention to Google+ for more than a year now, watching it to see how it evolves and grows and reading blogs about it. The consensus is that Google+ is quickly becoming a go-to site for companies of all sizes. People and businesses like it because it offers exposure and interactivity without sacrificing security and privacy.
Nu-Look Collision of West Henrietta, NY, recently received the “2012 Bicycle Transportation Community Recognition Award” from the Rochester Bicycling Club. The award was presented to the company on May 16.
This award is given to a Rochester community organization that promotes bicycling for transportation or bicycle safety in the community. The Rochester Bicycling Club chose Nu-Look Collision because of their response to the tragic injury to their employee, Kevin Royston.
In June of 2012, Kevin Royston was riding his bicycle in Rushville and was the victim of a hit and run. He lost part of his leg as a result. He was employed as a body technician at Nu-Look Collision’s Monroe Avenue location. His passion is riding his bike, and now, with his prosthetic leg, he is learning to ride again.
A man working at a car repair shop in Elizabeth, NJ, was killed when an automobile fell off a lift and crushed him, authorities said.
Otto Benke, a shop employee, was pronounced dead at 7:48 p.m. at the J&L Auto Body Parts shop on South Front Street, police Capt. Todd Mooney said. Benke was working alone in the shop at the time, Mooney said.
Louis Sakol, the son of the shop owner, told police he went to the auto shop to give Benke a ride home, but found the worker pinned under the automobile on which he had been working. Sakol used a jack to lift the vehicle and pulled Benke out, Mooney said.
Mooney said it appears the vehicle fell off the lift, but police are still investigating.
Collision Care Auto Body Centers has opened its sixth location. A former BMW dealership, Collision Care of Marlton is located at 120 Route 73 in Marlton, NJ. The 35,000-square-foot shop will employ 15 people.
Mayor Randy Brown served as master of ceremonies for the shop’s grand opening on March 7.
“When Val Fichera first contacted me indicating his desire to move into the former BMW location, my first response was, ‘Why?’” said Brown. “At the time, the intersection of 70 and 73… was just tons of construction.
Credit to Val and his vision, the intersection and Collision Care of Marlton is now an upscale and welcome addition to the booming Marlton area, and his company’s history has proven that it will serve our community well.”
ASCCA/CAA Lobbies California Capitol in Sacramento during Joint Legislative Day
Written by Ed AttanasioIt was a beautiful day to change the industry, one meeting at a time. On April 16, the Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA) partnered again with the California Autobody Association (CAA) to convene in Sacramento and meet with their California legislators to have their concerns heard.
More than 80 shop owners, both mechanical and collision, were on hand to represent both organizations and push legislation that benefits both groups.
Prior to meeting with their local senators, congress people and assembly members, the ASCCA/CAA met for a continental breakfast and to devise a strategic approach to the day’s list of deliverables.
First, the two groups listened to a presentation made by Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Patrick Dore. Dore outlined all of the newest developments concerning the California Smog Program and how the changes will affect primarily the mechanical repair industry. ASCCA President Jack Crawley also spoke and CAA Executive Director David McClune welcomed everyone to Legislative Day 2013.
As a follow-up to our interview of April 2012, Autobody News sat down with John Wallauch, Chief of the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) recently, to find out about what he has learned and achieved during his first 15 months on the job.
Q: Legitimate collision repairers are very concerned about sketchy shops that are getting away with sub-par work and committing outright fraud. How can you respond to that?
JW: We have several body shops that are going through the courts all the time, but you rarely hear about the settlements once these cases are settled. It’s difficult to respond to this question, because most of these violators work under the radar, late at night and early in the morning. If we don’t know about them or see them in action, I don’t know how anyone can expect us to do something about them. We like to work with the organizations, such as the California Autobody Association (CAA) and the Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA). When they see something that they believe is not proper, they call us and let us know, and then we can investigate those cases.
