Small is beautiful, this pint sized shop in Sunshine is schmick with his bright red corporate colours and fully panelled workshop.
Spot On Panels has three locations around Melbourne including a huge shop in Deer Park. Owner Vesco Jolevski is in the process of building what he reckons will be the biggest shop in Australia which we look forward to visiting next year. However it's this boutique gem that has snabbed the award this year.
Jolesvski bought the Sunshine business in 1996 and recently expanded the workshop, renovated and replaced all the equipment including a new Masterbooth prep station and spray booth which has vastly improved production. The fit out wasn't without its teething troubles with the layout creating a wind tunnel which could make it hard to open the door into the office and meant keeping the shop roller doors shut, but this has been addressed now. The fully panelled walls and ceiling gives the shop an almost surgical feel and really enhances the lighting as it bounces of the white walls.
The shop also bears out the theory that if you provide an attractive working environment that staff will take car of it. From the small but smart reception to the impressively clean paint mixing room the Spot On crew exhibits pride in their workspace.
The team of seven, two panel beaters and two spray painters, one assembler, manager Malcolm Smith and Tony Stojkovski in front of house, repair between 12-15 cars per week.
The business offers 24-hour towing which, runs out of this Sunshine location for all the Spot On shops, and free loan cars. Jolevski markets his businesses vigorously through advertising in local newspapers as well as sponsoring local footie and soccer teams. In addition to working for RACV and Allianz, this well established shop enjoys a great deal of repeat custom and plenty of drive in third party work.
The shop prides itself on high levels of customer service, ensuring each customer is happy with the work before they leave and receiving positive feedback from insurance company satisfaction research. Spot On Sunshine shows that small shops can still thrive, although it certainly helps to be part of a group.