Given the cost and stress of renovation, relocation or build it’s not surprising that there aren’t swathes of new shops entering every year. To those who take the plunge, we salute you.
Point Cook Collision Repairs VIC
Point Cook Collision Repairs took the bold step of moving to a new premises and swapped an overcrowded 900sq workshop to a spacious 4000sq facility. Samantha and Darren Xuereb established the business in 2009. Samantha says: “The most impressive marketing tool we pride ourselves on is the word of our loyal customers. Their first-hand experience with the quality of our repairs has given us a leading position in the area.”
It’s good to note that the Xuerebs opted for sustainable workshop features, installing solar panels and a well-organised waste management system, and has a keen eye on cybersecurity to protect customer data and WHS to protect team members. The business sponsors a number of local sports clubs.
“We are humbled to report that our satisfaction rate is 100 per cent in the month of April 2024 and that is a fantastic reflection of our work culture as the satisfaction not only goes over quality of our repairs but the courtesy our staff exhibit.”
Point Cook Collision Repair has great curb appeal and a welcoming modern customer area. The workshop is well-equipped but judges Powell and Street thought that the team have brought some of the habits from the old shop – the floor space could be less cluttered. Some investment in updating skills in the panel shop could be beneficial.
Premier Panel Services, SA
Premier Panels always had an awkward workshop layout. There wasn’t much Paul Whelan could do about the disproportionately large office but judge Powell and I’s jaws dropped when we saw how he had totally transformed the workshop.
Whelan is no stranger to these awards and was manager at Carisbrook Collision and set up the impressive dealer owned Peter Kittle. I don’t think he’d mind me calling him uncompromising when it comes to quality and culture.
“The company’s vision is simple – we provide exceptional customer service and a first-class quality repair first time around. The strength of the business is our current size and staffing numbers. Our business is growing through good old-fashioned word of mouth,” Whelan says.
He has invested in the best workshop equipment and the place is eat-your-dinner-off-the-floor clean. There are standard operating procedures for everything, iBodyshop is fully utilised and Whelan has created a structure where the business operates efficiently if he’s not there.
Whelan is in a comfortable position with the shop’s size where he can pick and choose the customers and insurers he works with and afford what they consider the appropriate amount of time to giving their customers a good experience, while effecting timely and expert repairs. Staff training to keep skills updated is a given.