Actions Speak Louder than Words

Sometimes it seems that the shortage of entry-level technicians in the Collision Repair Industry is a perennial topic like the weather - Everyone talks about it but nobody does anything about it. Our feature article this month and I-CAR’s recent annual meeting (See page 9) both show that some of us ARE doing something to invite young people to embark on careers in our industry and to offer them excellent training.

I-CAR marked its 25th anniversary with a great year of growth and development. The seventy people who were each honored for putting in over twenty years of volunteer service should inspire all of us to action. INSIGHT urges collision repair facility owners and managers to get involved at local high schools and vo-tech facilities. Some of the students there will be our future. Actions we take now will, by getting involved, by offering training opportunities, and by simply opening the door to our shops, make that future bright.

Not so bright is another topic we have been hearing quite often lately - a shrinking market size. Our TrendLine (See page 18) indicates that, according to shops responding to our survey, all regions across the U.S. reported lower repair order numbers in July of this year compared to July of 2003. Almost two-thirds of our shop respondents said that business was down, with shops in the country’s midsection especially hard-hit.

What actions can be taken in a shrinking market to grow your business? More than ever you must think ahead and work smart! Aim high to provide the whole package: excellent customer service and quality repairs efficiently performed by top-notch technicians. Be a positive presence in your community and let people know about what you do. Finally, be an informed and active participant in the industry. You have to know what is going on to keep up and get ahead.