Windshield Repair Forum

I just want to give an update on whats up with Glass Starz

I started a little ove 4 yrs ago in the WR buisness after 20+ years in the Auto Sales buisness I see guys who are asking things about how to make it in a small or crowded marketplace and I thought I would share how I do it.
At first I did fleets for low prices to get the experience and get my foot in the door I mainly did places who were not being servced by anyone ( IE school buss lines) then discovered ACT and with the easy billing started doing some cold call insurance work I made a decent living but spent alot of time spinning my wheels and drove huge miles this is a rural area with only 500k people in the whole state I figure I was puttin 400 miles a week on the car.
Last year I decided to add some other services to my buisness and after much research added paint repair to my offering I went with the Premier paint 2000 system(premierpaint2000.net) but would have probably done as well with interior repair or wheel reconditioning I now spend most of my day at the same place and do at least $400 per stop I dont work many 6hr days and have more time for freinds and family My advice is to make yourself different from the competition and dont be just another WR guy I have gotten into dealerships that were not interested in changing WR people because I have something others dont offer and since im already there they can mainstream the amount of vendors they have to deal with by giving me the WR work as well. My advice would be research your area and figure out what is missing and add it I went with something that was easy and it worked

Glasstarz,
Well put. I have a couple of other venues as well as WSR that has helped me also. I am also learning PDR and have set aside a 2 year learning curve for myself before pursueing this one. Myself being involved with car clubs etc. throughout the past years has also helped me in this business.

GlassStarz-
The start of your glass career sounds like where i am right now, putting miles and miles on my car for insurance jobs, and always on the look out for more fleet jobs. I am from Salem, OR. where population is not small, there just seems to be a lot of competition for the bigger lots. I have done school busses, and all sorts of other jobs like that, but its hard to keep getting the jobs over and over to make a living. I guess my question is how do you go about doing the research for somthing to add your business? Is that where your business started jump?
Thanks,
Perry

Thanks for sharing the info Glasstarz!

I think over here in the UK, its a little different. Most of the competition comes from smart repairers. I for one started in this industry but quickly realised that its an uphill struggle since everyones doing it and driving the prices down.

So I've complimented my business with windscreen repair and now I'm actually doing more windscreen work than paint work. Thats not to say I'm well established in this side of the business yet, I've only been doing it since May, but I'm trying extremely hard to achieve my goals as quick as I can. And with a mentor and trainer like 'screenman', I'm getting good support from him to help me in my quest.

The competition is not as much for windscreen repairs in my area. Its just a matter of convincing people that I am an assett to their company not a liablility.

Regards

Sikandar

Good post, keep in mind I'm not being negative about this. I started in the paint repair business and then went to WSR because of the saturated market where I live. After busting my butt gaining accounts (dealers and fleets) it came to light that repairing windshields in my area would never turn into a full time business. The best weeks gained around 300$. Realized the simple fact, just not enough breaks on windshields around here and couple that with free replacement policies, I'm done. There are so many factors that will play into what works in the area you are in, just have to get out and meet all the people involvedin the recon biz and make an educated decision. I now do hurricane shutters for a living and never looked back, that is something that works for me. Gotta do what works with watcha got.

CPR,

Congrats on your new venture. You say you never looked backed. Why are you still posting then? Is there a slight desire to keep trying? If there is stick with it.

Glassstarz...I gave the premier paint2000 system a serious look as well as an outfit called paintbull systems out of saginaw michigan for mobile paint repairs but was soon scared away when somebody told me that jealous body shops might rat me out to the ministry of the environment for shooting v.o.c.s(paint mist) into the air.So I am going with p.d.r. as well as w.r. and headlight lens reconditioning for the mobile side of the bussiness.

Since you dont spay anything with premier your person gave you bad info no more enviro risk than WR thats the problem with asking people without any real knowledge about a subject.
Personaly I chose the system I did because its as simple as wiping the paint on the chips with a squegee and wiping it off with a paper towel chip is gone cant tell any paint work was done and it permanent