Over the last month I have been to visit a few repairers to write case studies on behalf of clients (you would have seen one on Auto Super Shoppe Mayne in the September issue.)
The businesses were quite different in that they were in different cities and had their own takes on what was needed to be successful in today’s market. They had also shown their ability to adapt based on their growth and the length of time they had been in business.
Some common themes come through: look after clients well, present your business well, build relationships with local businesses, use quality products and suppliers.
What was more interesting was how they had adapted to the specifics of their areas and client bases. Auto Super Shoppe Mayne had put on some tradesman vans as loan vehicles, as they identified a particular niche in their area for tradespeople who need their vans 24/7 to get to jobs. They had also looked to diversify to provide effectively a one-stop shop, covering pretty much anything a client needed fixing on their vehicle. Another workshop had looked more to focus on the regular day-to-day servicing and repair work and looking after some of the larger businesses in their area, who had significant fleets.
Businesses in more residential-focused areas might have other specifics. Auto Super Shoppe Mayne’s six days a week operation, with Saturdays focused on WoF and servicing, would work well in a residential area where people need their cars during the week to get to work/drop off the kids, etc., and struggle to find a time to get the car serviced.
Have a think about what you might be able to do to better serve your core clientele and how you can differentiate yourself from your local competitors.