Mud in Your Eye?

Our feature article this month has a real hook for a title - one that we debated putting into print here at INSIGHT. Our decision to run with it is explained in the first three paragraphs, so we are hoping you got beyond the headline to the real meat of the story, because the message is important. Fraud must be rooted out of the industry. Also essential to the industry, deliberate manipulation of facts to create the perception of widespread fraud must be challenged.

Both the CIC and the NABC have been working tirelessly to put an end to fraudulent business practices and to improve the image of the Collision Repair Industry. We all must work with these national groups for maximum effect.

A great way to work together is to attend NACE this year. I certainly look forward to meeting many of INSIGHT’s readers in Orlando in December.

A wise politician (Yes, some people in politics are wise!) once told me, in the midst of an especially messy election campaign, that if an opponent does some mud-slinging, you can throw it back or you can shape the mud into bricks and build something of value. Let’s build.

The recent dedication of Camp Mak-a-Dream’s new medical center (on page 14) in honor of our industry demonstrates what we can achieve together.

Economic indicators are cautiously positive this month. Our TrendLine survey results, while still showing average repair order count down seven percent (based on collision repair facility INSIGHT subscribers who responded in October), show an increase in facilities planning to expand their businesses within the next year, not by acquisition, but by enlarging and improving their current buildings. This will be an interesting trend to track into 2004.

Body shop owners who are working on expansion plans are invited to let INSIGHT hear about what you are doing.