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Fix Auto Enters Northwest with Signing of 12 Oregon Shops

Numbering just 36 stores in 2001, Fix Auto has now grown to 105 locations, with a goal of 500 stores in the network by the end of 2006, according to President and Chief Operating Officer Doug Kelly.

The shop owners who have signed agreements to join the network are: Terry Mostul of Artistic Auto Body Inc. (three locations); Gil Messenger of Autobody Beautiful Inc. (two locations); J. R. Carlson of Lukas Auto Painting & Repair (one location); Larry Mackin of Mackin's Auto Body Inc. (four locations), and Shon Kim of Obrist & Cunningham (two locations).

Terry Mostul was instrumental in urging the other shop owners to join the Fix organization. "There are no consolidators currently in our area," said Mostul, "but they are coming. By joining Fix, we will be better prepared to compete in an uncertain future."

He emphasized that the Portland shops had joined Fix as a group. "This is different from other parts of the country, where shops joined individually," he said. "We approached them as a group and joined as a group. We see tremendous potential in what Fix has to offer our group. We are very impressed with the quality of people involved and their long-term commitment to the success of the network."

He said that Fix offers "several tools that are too expensive to for an individual shop to implement." Among those tools, he said, are a central claims processing service and a 24/7 call center. "I feel we have a small window of opportunity, and that is why we made the decision to join Fix now," Mostul explained.

Kelly echoed those comments. "We can offer everything that a consolidator can offer," he said, "as well as everything that an independent can offer. We recognize that there are tremendous advantages to having a car repaired in a facility where the business owner is present to ensure that the customer is taken care of properly."

He said the Oregon group is the first outside of California that intends to brand itself as Fix Auto and use the brand to combine its local marketing efforts.

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