I spent eight years studying writing in college, collecting a bachelor and master's degree and even completing my Ph.D. coursework in English. I spent four years teaching writing courses and another 18 working as a technical writer. I've also been a car nut since I purchased my first vehicle, a '75 Mustang, in 1985. For more than 20 years, I've chased down every bit of information I could on the auto industry and followed changing vehicle styles, nameplates, models and technology like my life depended on it.
Still, when I began writing for ABRN in 1999, I didn't think I'd stay in the collision industry for long. It wasn't that I disliked the market. I just found it to be a mystery. Collision repair shops weren't anything like the mechanical shops I already was familiar with. Collision shops worked with and frequently battled insurers. Collision shop owners appeared to work in a market where they had little control, where they had to battle over every last dime and where they seemed to lose many of these battles. "Why would anyone work in this environment?" I asked myself.
That all changed when I was asked to do a shop profile and interview a repairer named Chris Sachs. For those of you who don't know Chris, he worked in the industry for more than 30 years, performing repairs, turning around business at failing shops and opening several shops of his own. When I spoke with him, he'd been out of the business for several years following his wife's death. He decided to re-enter the industry after son Dalton expressed an interest in opening his own shop.
I spoke with Chris for about an hour and came away more impressed than I'd ever been after first meeting a person. Chris was more than just a shop owner. Chris, like many of you, also was a craftsman, an artisan, a teacher, a mentor and a sharp businessperson. He understood finances, accounting, time management and the political and market forces that impacted his industry. On top of all that, he was a dedicated family man and father who had a genuine passion for his work.
Finally, I began to get a grip on this industry. More than that, I was hooked. Collision repair was about far more than body panels, estimates and constant price negotiations. It's about the people. This industry is comprised of and driven by a number of very special people whose talents cross the business and job spectrum. Repairers and those who service their businesses know their stuff. They demand much from themselves and expect just as much from those they work with and depend upon — including the news media.
That's the challenge I was handed almost 10 years ago as a freelancer. Today, as editor in chief, it's my job to see we meet that challenge with each issue of ABRN. That means keeping you updated on the forces affecting this industry and providing solid technical and business information to help you run your shops better.
We also have a goal for the New Year. Going beyond being the "voice" of the collision industry, we want to be its eyes and ears as well. That means listening to you and seeking out new ideas. We're interested in your feedback.
Tim Sramcik
