Shop Owner

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2019 ABRN Collision Industry Roundtable
Each year, ABRN hosts a Collision Industry Roundtable, bringing together a panel of collision repairers (see sidebar, “Who Was At The Table?”) to discuss what’s happening at their shop, the challenges they are facing, and what they see for their business...
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Online procurement systems could be helping your shop today
An interesting thing happened a decade ago when a number of online parts procurement systems hit the market. Even though these products were designed to make ordering more efficient and parts less costly, a large portion of repairers pushed back.
With shops, insurers, MSOs...
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Position yourself for sustainability
Sustainability is the word I like to use when describing to shop owners what they must do to continue doing business in the collision industry. In my explanation, I try to illustrate how a shop owner must adapt to their environment to keep their business operating through...
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Taking a hard look at the true cost of scanning
Over the years, our industry has experienced a number of significant changes — actually events — which have triggered major differences in how we repair collision-damaged vehicles. Some that come to mind include GM embracing uni-body construction, new substrates...
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Do you need an information resource department for your collision centers?
I am fortunate to work for LaMettry’s Collison, a respected regional MSO with many vehicle manufacturers’ certifications and dealership relationships. As a result, we work on many newer and high-end vehicles.
Our company policy is that we repair vehicles...
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The importance of business health
In the beginning of June, I started a new journey of better health. I want to be blunt and honest with all of you. Ever since my wife and I moved back to Mississippi in 2004, life and career has taken its toll; I have found myself fat and lazy. Saying this is not meant to...
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Pinpoint small fixes for your business, rather than one silver bullet
In previous columns, I shared some of how John Gagliano used key performance indicators (KPIs) to build a business that included more than a dozen Collex Collision Experts shops that he was able to sell in 2014 for about $45 million. Here are a final few key takeaways from...
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Do your damage appraisals communicate?
People tend to look at me like a deer in the headlights when I tell them that their damage appraisals are not communicating effectively. As I explain why, I tell them that the damage appraisal should not only list the items damaged on a vehicle but also the reasons why the...
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Proper watering of growing employees makes all the difference
Picture two fields that are separated slightly by a thin forest. Both fields are about the same size and both can be seen while standing in the other field. However, one field is lush and green and fragrant, while the other is pale, dusty and sparse. When the wind blows,...
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Private equity in collision repair in 2019
This year is shaping up to be a record year of private equity in collision repair. Beginning late last year with the Caliber ABRA merger and recapitalization, the industry has renewed interest by private equity investors. These are the trends that are increasing private...
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8 top trends for collision center facility layout and design
As a collision shop owner, you may want to consider many operational factors when building or renovating a facility for maximum layout effectiveness. Facility layout and design is such an important component of your business's overall operations, both in terms of...
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Creating a process to ensure OEM repair procedures are followed
The first time I walk into many shops these days, the phrase that comes to mind is, “It’s time to get back to basics.” Everyone is talking so much about scanning and ADAS and calibrations, but they’re overlooking some of the fundamentals.
It’s...
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Four rules that can help your shop get a better grasp on KPIs
Imagine if repairers suddenly were asked to return to school to take an advanced calculus class. Those with a particular penchant for math would thrive. Most would struggle and need to return first to algebra and trigonometry before taking on the far more sophisticated...
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The unseen concerns surrounding late repairs
Some of the concerns surrounding late repairs are very visible while others are only noticed by a few. We can see the grimaced face of the customer service representative as they are discussing a late repair with a customer. We can hear the reasons for the delayed repair...
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Scale the KPI concept up for larger success
In some previous columns, I shared how a shop owner in Idaho is using a basic set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to improve his two-location collision repair business.
Now I’d like to scale the concept up by introducing (or re-introducing) you to John Gagliano....