Despite a poor weather forecast Perth was pretty sunny for the most part. Our first port of call was Neerabup a rapidly developing area in Perth. Now, I know it’s supposedly the most remote capital city in the world and all, but what really impressed us is how friendly repairers of there are with each other. The guys from Neerabup cycle with the guys from Universal down the road and on whole repairers speak very warmly of each other. East coast take note!
Neerabup is clean, tidy, well organised family owned shop with two generations working side by side. A new sign for outside of the business wouldn’t go amiss but aesthetics aside, the shop runs iBodyshop, has all the right equipment and regularly brings on apprentices. Chris has some lovely restoration projects on the go too, including a VW Camper Van he has to decide if he can part with now its nearly finished.
I’d never visited Sal Martino’s shop Nova Smash Repairs but clearly a former editor had as the Paint & Panel and awards logo were painted loud and proud on the outside of the building. I thoroughly approve – no point in winning an award and not telling everyone about it.
Another well-equipped large workspace, extremely clean and well organised. Martino is in the middle of rethinking his business plan and has downsized for now. As well as a large panel and paint shop, Martino also has a number of other buildings across the road for detailing and he rents one out to a mechanical workshop who also does work on the cars his business repairs.
Paull & Warner is a well established name in WA that started out building ambulances back in 1956. The company still builds for the ambulance service and has three bodyshops in WA. The Belmont site we visited is the newest. Nick Farago and Heath Barber have got their heads screwed on with a well run, very tidy, professionally run lean operation.
The Caratti family have invested in upgrading and expanding their prestige shop Mirage Spraypainters and Panel beaters. The business has fantastic kerb appeal, ample parking, a modern, comfortable reception and a kickass new paintshop that could double as a Spanesi showroom.
Anthony Arnold has taken a deep breath and moved himself to a purpose-build facility in Forrestdale. Damage Control Paint & Panel had only been open for a week in the new location when we visited and it is truly stunning both inside and out. He really did his homework before making the move and we think he'll continue to grow in this new location.
Young Nathan Callaghan has made a lot of improvements since we visited his business last year including a new and radically improved reception area and a number of improvements to his workshop set up and flow. The facade is next for an update.
J&M Smash Repairs in Malaga has never entered the awards before and more's the pity. A fabulous reception area, a large, well organised workshop with happy staff and while we won't be influenced by the delicious espresso and biscotti I think if I lived near there I'd be pranging my car often.
Adelaide
Hopping over to Adelaide we started out at Glynde Garage. The owner young Amer Sibai and his infection enthusiasm for the industry were absent. The judges though a bit of rejigging of the workshop would improve flow.
Plaza Crash Repairs was another first for this year's judges and it is always surreal to hear the sweet chirping of suburban birdies outside a repair facility in a residential street - that's Adelaide for you. Plaza is an impressive set up with separate workshop for fastrack repairs and heavy structural repairs. The company boasts off the scale customer satisfaction scores with its insurer partners too.
Allan Doyle Crash Repairs is owned by Marcello Herrera. He recently moved the business to its current site which has a super-plush reception area that can also double as a training room for the team. He also invested in a new paintshop. As well as insurance work there's a spot of resto work going on too - some lovely motors in there.
Peter Kittle Collision Repair Centre - er wow. When manager Paul Whelan said "we do things differently here" my cynical side said 'yeah, yeah'. Shame on me - they really do. From the temperature controlled paint room to keep the paint at perfect viscocity, to the air conditioned spray booths to the laser car wash and... well we don't have room to list all their other clever ways of working.
John Verdnik has been busy since we last visited and now has five shops, along with a business partner, some of them staffed by family members. Thanks for the emergency internet – I just managed to get my report on Queensland online in time for last week's newsletter. It's an exciting time for business all the benefits and complexities of being and MSO to consider.
Tony Bava and Alistair Ross have also been very busy of late at Hanson Road Crash. They have been fortunate to secure property either side of the business and have made an intelligent expansion to the panel shop and enjoy plenty of space for storing cars and for staff facilities too. A rebrand and reception update has also taken place.
Another new to the judging panel shop was Autocraft Collision Repair Centre in Lonsdale. This husband and wife team Denis (just one n, I checked) and Karen Munden run a boutique business dedicated to giving great customer service. The couple have recently reorganised the paintshop. The panel area could be better arranged and we look forward to seeing what progress they have made next year.
Last but not least a visit to John Zulian at RPM Edwardstown which was opened last November. It's not a purpose-built facility, hence the reception area which is virtually big enough to host the Paint & Panel Awards night. They are pumping out some numbers there aided by the Junair spraybooth set up.
Judging will be completed in NSW this Friday and we'll be announcing the state winners in the September issue of Paint & Panel. The awards presentation night is on October 20 in Sydney's CBD and tickets will be on sale soon. We'd love you to join us and cheer on the winners if you can, last year was a great night and this year will be even better.