This issue we look at 4WD servicing. We regularly feature different areas where a business could specialise in a different vehicle type such as 4WD, EV or European. Outside of this there are the performance areas such as drifting, rallying and racing which require special expertise for servicing. This could even be specialising in one brand, or it could be having extra expertise in a specific area such as diagnostics.

This does not stop you taking on general repair work but adds an extra string to your bow and something you can use to promote your business to a group of clients outside your immediate geographic catchment.

Let’s take 4WDs (seeing as how Adrenalin also publishes NZ4WD magazine) and here we mainly mean those actually used for going off-road rather than the “Remuera Tractors” used for school drop-offs. These vehicles get more regular wear and tear than the average vehicle (which generates more maintenance and repair work for you!). Being constantly exposed to mud, sand and water takes its toll on vehicle systems, especially underbody, whilst the constant bumps and vibrations from off-road driving also increase wear and tear. Another happy thing for workshops is that 4WD owners like uprating their vehicles by fitting a range of aftermarket accessories which can add an extra profit centre.

EVs need less maintenance but do require specialist knowledge to repair, and as they age there will be some major repairs required as batteries need replacing and motors and electronics need servicing where owners will seek out experts with experience.

Owners of older European vehicles such as BMW’s, Audis etc tend to look for repairers with some expertise in servicing those brands outside of the franchise dealers, who focus more on newer vehicles, so if you gain a good reputation people will seek you out and a lot of the advertising is word of mouth.

So maybe it is a good time to think is there an area I have some additional knowledge in which I could specialise and look to promote my business to rather than just rely on my current local clients.