Your Source for Up-To-Date News and Research on the Collision Repair Industry

click here to subscribe to the FREE INSIGHT Editor's Desk News Alert Email

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY
Today's News
INSIGHT This Month
INSIGHT Archives
Survey Center
Letter to the Editor

Business Tools
Subscription Information
CSI Reporting
Financial Analysis
IRS Audit Guide

Management/
Technical Info
Market Watch Rates
INSIGHT Inside this month's issue...

Feedback
Letter to the Editor

This article originally appeared in the December 2004 Issue of INSIGHT

TrendLine:

Shop Business Conditions

2004 2003 2001 1997

Average dollar amount of a repair order this year $1,779 $1,584 $1,742 $1,484

Average backlog of work this year (days) 4 7 11 9

Business conditions this year, compared to last year

Higher 30% 47% 61% 39%

Lower 48% 42% 27% 40%

No Change 22% 11% 12% 21%

Expected sales volume next year, compared to this year

Increase 63% 68% 76% 82%

Decrease 5% 2% 6% 5%

No Change 32% 30% 18% 13%

Main source of customers

Insurance referrals 20% 24% 32% N/A

Repeat customers 40% 54% 50% N/A

Customer referrals 30% 39% 26% N/A

Dealer/franchise relationships 10% 13% 12% N/A

DRP participation 33% 35% 36% N/A

Media advertising 8% 2% 6% N/A

Most effective cost-cutting idea for this year

Cutting back on advertising 19% 204% N/A N/A

Reducing staff and/or staff hours 22% 36% N/A N/A

Changing health insurance plans 5% 9% N/A N/A

Being more conscious of waste
(recyling, reusing, limiting) 41% 38% N/A N/A

Other 16% 16% N/A N/A

Feedback

Have a comment about this article? Send Email to Charles Baker, INSIGHT's Publisher

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY Today's News INSIGHT This Month INSIGHT Archives Survey Center Letter to the Editor

Business Tools Subscription Information CSI Reporting Financial Analysis IRS Audit Guide

Management/ Technical Info Market Watch Rates INSIGHT Inside this month's issue...