Chesser was a boutique shop winner back in 2012 with his shop in Greensborough. Since then he’s developed his own workshop management system, Autoshop Pro and branched out into another suburb.
There’s been a bodyshop on the current location for 50 years on Eltham’s main thorougfare. Chesser had to gut this tired, run down shop and utitlise his excellent workflow skills for the new layout. Chesser is a huge fan of Sikken’s A-Coat program and also sought input and help from the team there.
While the Greensborough branch is in the Allianz network, Eltham attracts the commuters that drive by and benefits from a community that likes to support local business. Chesser has also picked up some fleet work too.
While, like most repairers in the country, he could do with another panel beater, the one he has and the two painters and a detailer are repairing a healthy number of cars a week.
Graham Bodyworks is an I-CAR Gold accredited business and Chesser lists ‘satisfaction of repairs completed in the correct manner and reinstated as per OEM’ as one of the positives of working in this industry.
It’s a lot easier to be organised if you have plenty of space. We’ve seen many shops in this long, thin, configuration and because they don’t have anywhere near the excellent workflow and planning of Graham Bodyworks they can look cramped. The driveway that runs the length of the shop leads to a spacious car park at the back. This is also where the wash bay is located.
Chesser was awaiting some lit signage to help make the shop stand out more to passersby. The muted gray is smart and the logo professional but it does need a bit more pizzazz.
Reception again maximises space without seeming to. For a boutique shop there’s a spacious and welcoming area with excellent customer facilities. The Graham Bodyworks screen that divides reception and the office works on many levels. It hides the office – sometimes when customers can see staff working at desks they can feel as if they are intruding – without cutting it off. Plus it’s a great piece of company branding.
Chesser was looking to expand his first shop back in 2012 but, like so many repairers with plans, has had them thwarted by local council time and time again. While he hasn’t given up hope for the Greensborough rebuild, he wasn’t going to sit on his hands and has created a new, smart, efficient, community-backed business. Two shops close to each other mean that it’s easy to swap staff if needs be and for one to help the other out in exceptionally busy times.
Looking to the future, Chesser would like to pursue a manufacturer badge. Judging by his dedication to training, great customer focus and efficient process, we say they’d be lucky to have him.