Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa Siembab on October 26, 2009 at 1:24pm

Current Position and Segment: Director-Business Strategies - CARSTAR Automotive, Executive Director-Connecticut Collision Repair Specialists Association

I have been in this wonderful industry for 15 years. My primary responsibility is marketing and insurance relations for CARSTAR, Connecticut. I represent six CARSTAR facilities. Additionally, I founded the Connecticut Collision Repair Specialists Association about 18 months ago and currently serve as the Executive Director. I am involved with all aspects of marketing - both external and internal. My husband and I also own a shop, although we are not involved in day to day business. I work with insurance companies and am responsible for acquisition of DRP's and the maintenance of existing DRP accounts for all six locations. In addition, the association is growing and I am very busy making sure that CCRS provides value to our membership thru continuing education, community awareness, legislative representation and other member benefits. It's an ever-changing industry that I have fallen in love with! I have met many wonderful people and have been given the opportunity to learn...practically every day!

Permalink Reply by Brandi Gobel on October 26, 2009 at 3:05pm

Current Position: Co-owner of a collision repair shop

My husband opened our shop in 2000. I then worked a full time job and would go over after hours and put in several hours a night to do invoicing or pay bills, etc. That led to me taking over the payroll and paying bills. We managed to keep up with the business this way for a few years. I then became full time in 2004.
I am now doing the accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, and billing and any thing else that is thrown at me. We are currently on a few DRP's and I am always looking for new DRP's to get on. I struggle with the marketing end, on what to do to help bring in more work and make customers more aware of our shop. We do some radio advertising and advertise in a few other places, but still seem to struggle to get the attention of new customers.

Permalink Reply by Carol Fletcher Carlson on October 28, 2009 at 7:51am

I started in the auto business 30++ years ago. First I worked for an auto trimmer (seat covers, convertible tops, sunroofs, you name it) then I had my own business for twenty years. Lots of heavy work but learned alot about vehicles. I now help my brother out at his auto body shop. By far the easiest job I ever had! I do estimates, sell the business, schedule jobs, order parts, basically run the office. I ran my own business for all those years myself so the transition to his business was fairly smooth. I think it was worse for my brother! We have an accountant so the only book keeping I do is the work orders - customer stuff. I think the hardest part of this business is two fold - hiring techs who have good work ethics and dealing with customers who are already in a bad mood because they wrecked their vehicles and their insurance company left their brains scrambled.

Permalink Reply by Jeanne Silver on October 29, 2009 at 9:44am

Thnaks for sharing Carol. Your take on the business is dead on and hopefully we will have some good discussion here about dealing with the issues you have outlined in your last sentence.

Permalink Reply by Angie Traster on October 29, 2009 at 1:40pm

Market Area Representative for Identifix an online diagnostic website:
I am not doing the sales aspect of Identifix anymore but I have not had a title change yet. I had this grand idea to start using social networking sites for business and decided to act on that idea. I did a little test on Twitter first as fixcarsfaster and then showed the result to the VP of sales along with my proposal on what I thought I could do for Identifix by utilizing all of the social networking sites available on the web. So for now I am just on a "special project" and I love it!! The results speak for themselves and I am sure I will have an officia title that goes along with what I do soon enough. So what does Identifix have to do with Collision shops, our service has factory wiring diagrams, TSB's and specifications along with other helpful information. For the most part I think we work well in collision shops that also do diagnostic repair as well, but we are in Collision shops that don't do anything but collision repair, it is really up to the individual to decide if we will work for their shop. Identifix is always looking for ways to improve, I have seen a lot of growth in the last 4yrs, so I would not be suprised if they added a whole section for Collision shops someday. If you want to see more of what I do check us out on facebook, myspace & twitter!

Permalink Reply by Francine Alfano on November 1, 2009 at 11:38pm

I have owned my shop for more than 15 years. I started doing outside sales, learned to write estimates and just kept going. I began to volunteer for I-CAR and was State Chairperson for several years. I instructed I-CAR classes for more than 5 years. My business also provides full service mechanical repairs and at times that seems almost like a seperate entity. I still do almost all of my marketing, which includes lots of networking. I was awarded Entrepreneurial Mother of the Year last month. I am a member of Impact for Enterprising Women, which is also the NAFE (National Association of Female Executives) affiliate. I recieved the 2004 Woman of the Year from Imact. I serve on the boards for both of these non-profit groups, including the EVIT (East Valley Institute of Technology). This year I had the pleasure of mentoring a young lady who was in the automotive program. She was quite good.

I am enjoying seeing so many women involved in this industry. We make the difference!

Permalink Reply by brandi m kiple on November 3, 2009 at 6:54pm

I fell in love with cars,trucks,and motorcycles at a very young age.
I remember a shiny black '64 Catalina with the liscense plate, "Catzilla".Thought it was one of the coolest cars ever!
My mom always had beat up cars that were always breaking down and causing her grief.
I always wanted to fix them for her.I grew up never knowing my father, so he wasnt there to help.
When I was 15 my then boyfriend introduced me to one of his older friends, Matty.
Me and Matty quickly became friends and still are till this day.I was fascinated with Matty!He was a nomad mechanic, the guy in the neighboorhood everyone went to.
He threw gas in the fire that drove me to love cars.He became more of a father figure to me than just a friend.
I lost my mom back in Febuary of '02.That summer I sent myself to Pennco tech.That winter I got a job a local bodyshop as the clean up kid...hey...gotta start somewhere!
I then got a job as a paint prepper/detailer at a shop in P.A.
Then went back to NJ to do prep work at another shop.Then I ended up at Lakeside Collision Carstar in Mt.Laurel NJ.
I started out as a detailer, did some minor bodywork, then ended up in the paint shop!Woohooo!!!Finally!!!
I am now a full time painter.I hope that my mom would be proud.I know Matty is very proud of me!
I have posted a few pics of my paintjobs if anyone wants to check them out.
I hope to someday do custom paint work.Right now I just practice a lot!LOL!

Permalink Reply by Jeanne Silver on November 9, 2009 at 5:09pm

I am very proud of you brandi, thank you for sharing your wonderful story with us.

Permalink Reply by brandi m kiple on November 12, 2009 at 6:31pm

Thank you Jeanne!!!:)

Permalink Reply by Sheila on November 9, 2009 at 9:11pm

I do everything from crawling under a vehicle torching off a rusty bumper to writing estimates and everything in the office.
You name it, I do it.

I painted for a while but never cared for the stretching over hoods and such because I am under 5 foot tall!! lol I always thought I was going to fall in.

Permalink Reply by Jeanne Silver on November 10, 2009 at 11:48am

Thanks for the valuable information you have shared with us. Hopefully you are getting lots of help from others in the shop at Collision Hub.

Permalink Reply by brandi m kiple on November 12, 2009 at 6:32pm

Oh I know how you feel! I am only 5'3 and it is difficult to stand on a milk crate to paint the hood on a Silverado!LOL!:)
You are awesome for crawling under a vehicle!!!

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