What Keeps shop owners up at night.
- This topic has 7 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 6 months ago by .
- Posts
I’m a Business Development Manager for a large company that sells paint & supplies to shops and I’d like to know what it is that keeps shop managers and owners up at night in this economy? I’ve been in the busniess for over 30 years now. I’ve owned my own shop and I’ve worked with shops run ning over $1MM in monthly sales so I have an idea but I’d like to hear from YOU. Please respond.
I also been in this bizz for 30+ and have never seen this $1MM you speek of. My people make a good living , me and my missie make a good living , my suppliers do well , many other local business’s do well , My customer always come’s out ahead , and in the end , maybe just maybe there will be enough for catfood. So I suggest you keep doin what your doin. :pcorn: I’m not here for the money I’m here cause I love it. :cheers :cheers
As a consultant for the autobody industry focused on business management and process efficiencies – what I see keeping my clients up at night is a declining cars to their doors count. Economic as well as engineering factors are contributing to this – read my ABRN blog “[url=http://bit.ly/8M150]What Got You HERE, Won’t Get You THERE[/url]” for my whole perspective.
Other than this, managing cycle time better and increasing production efficiencies come next, followed by creating effective low-cost [u]local [/u]advertising & marketing plans.
Like Chasem, my client base revenue averages $1.1M
Thanks! I’ve written a couple of articles for ABRN and Body Shop Business as well. Right now I’m doing some training to salesmen who sell paint & supplies to body shops. Consulting is rather slow right now. Again, thanks for the reply!
Welcome to the forum fellas!
I’m a small 2 man hole-in-the-wall shop. I’ve been in this business since 2004; certainly
not as experienced as most of the guys here. What keeps me up at nights? Where do I begin?!
Last year was a disaster and it will haunt me for some time. But this year – all things
considered – has been good (so far). Too much to say, really.I’m tired of talking about this terrible economy. Nothing but bad news everywhere.
And the story is the same with all the other small business owners I know. It’s survival
mode for most of us.Like Stone and all the other members of this forum, I enjoy the work. It’s more than
just a business. We are also enthusiasts. This is good for ourselves and our customers.Rather than talking about what keeps us up at nights, let’s discuss what’s positive;
the things that work for us. And whatever that’s working in these tough economic times,
would be a lot more insightful and interesting.And so I’ll start a new thread. 🙂
good ta see ya here hope ya hang out for awhile :welc this is probably one of the best paint an body sites on the net just good people without all the bull well cept from from me hey i made 2000 posts with this one wheres my booby prize :lol1
I am a restoration shop a Lil diffrent from these guys.
At least I am trying too be, I am just starting up.
I would like to say I do it for my love of the cars :wak but nope! its for the Money! :exciBig time problem for me is the cost of Basic supplies!
Consumables like 2″ Sanding/Grinding disks $.50-$1.00 each 3″ cutting wheels $1.00-$1.50
Sandpaper and Tape two more that cost too much.
Acetone up to $20 a gal. locallyThese are Basic supplies were the costs are hard to pass on too the customer and cut into the bottom line and take away from the profits.
The Big corporations that make these supplies such as 3M dont care much about small shops, Because we cant buy these consumables in huge quantities like other major corporations do like an airline or a Major MFG.
The small shop owner operator has the middle man that we have to contend with.
It would be more cost effective to buy direct from the Mfg without the middle man mark up, even when buying larger quantities is required to get the discounts.
*********************************
Other Major problems would be the costs of insurance, workers comp, and other state required fee’s and Taxes Permits etc..
I dont think they want anyone starting a body shop let alone a restoration shop. :blink: :huh: :S Talk about cost prohibitive. :blink:yup dorights right …. no room for profit …. not a big enough margin.
Mcdonnys …. prepaired food has (ive heard) a 500% mark up, … this trade/art is no where close. :pcorn:
wanna make money , open a restaurant … wanna paint cars … eat KD. :whistle:
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.