What will you change in 2008?

[SGT]

Since hind sight is 20/20... Lets all look back on 2007 to better ourselves in 2008. Should be interesting to see if there is a common area we all need to improve on.

What area of your business needs the most improvement?

Our area to improve is fleet work.


Why are you focusing on that area?

Since my primary focus has been dealership work, I would like to build my fleet account area more to help minimize the cyclic nature of car sales.


What will you do to achieve those improvemnts?

More concentrated sales effort and join a local organiztion that might cater to companies with a fleet of vehicles if there is one. If not, the Chamber will be good choice for all kinds of business prospects.

[SGT]

Wow, I thought this post might generate some responses.

[jayjacque]

Well, your business goals are pretty similiar to mine, move beyond just car lot work to fleets, and also wanted to join a chamber of commerce at some point. I've never gone the insurance companies route, but gonna connect with them this year. I've only been in this area not quite a year, so we had a good start. Probably going to hire a son-in-law too in the summer, so need to keep expanding and selling.

[screenman]

In answer to your original question, socks.

Joking aside my aim for 2008 is not to do more repairs or make more money, but to educate as many people as possible as to what a good repair should look like. This means working with insurers, fleets etc. Try and awaken them to how they are being ripped off by very many so called repair and replacement companies.

This means I will spend less time on my day to day business and more time working for nothing. Sounds mad I know but I am passionate about this trade and would like nothing better than to see standards rise. Quality I feel is generaly low due to very poor quality of training. Most of the firms over here have no dry out or UV cover included in their kits.

So I am offering my services free of charge to insurance companies and major fleet owners as a consultant. I am also looking into mystery shopping to gain evidence of the level of service offered. So any UK guys doing dodgy insurance work might meet me.

I have just got to the point where I am totaly fed up with being called to look at poor repairs caried out by untrained or unwilling people. I will not call them techs as they are not.

Happy New Year everbody.