Since early 2011 one of the hottest debates in Collision Repair has been industry and OEM repair standards. 

Last summer I-CAR announced a plan during CIC to maintain a centralized database of OEM repair procedures only to announce last month they had changed their mind. It sent our industry back down into a debate on OEM vs. Industry procedures and who will be the guardians of right and wrong. 

As I listen to the debates and read the articles I…

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The good news is you made it through 2012. The bad news is 2013 starts tomorrow. 

Today across the country countless individuals will make a list of resolutions covering their health, family and relationships. What about business resolutions? Our team…

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The best part of the holidays is how it can bring a community together. In towns across the country collision repairers have traditionally played large roles in all the activities of the season. 

What we typically don’t do well is allowing the community to celebrate and engage with us at our business location. Sure we build great parade floats and collect toys, but as a repairer you have so many other options to assist your community and celebrate your…

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You’ve heard the old saying “Fight Fire with Fire”, but the best practitioners of Public Relations will tell you that’s always your worst response. If you want to win the war, fight fire with marshmallows. 

You’ve worked hard to grow your business by putting in so much of yourself in every…

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It’s that time when we sit down with companies across the industry and help shape marketing and communication plans for the coming year.

Over the course of 2012 a growing number of “wolves” began approaching repairers and vendors within the Collision Repair industry with their latest can’t miss, solve all your problems, reap loads of leads and sales marketing pitch. As I sat in meeting after meeting over this last quarter and had these sales pitches repeated to me I was reminded of a…

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It's the day after Christmas and house after house has stacks of cardboard boxes out by the curb. Collision Repairers are typically the best stewards of the enviroment in their communities and a great example is our cardboard recycling. 

Take a moment to encourage your fans and community members to recycle their cardboard by bringing it to your shop. It's a chance for them to visit your location and remind them of your service to the…

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It's become a monthly ritual at my office. The phone rings and the caller introduces themselves and ask for consulting help with Sales and Marketing. I then follow it with; "Which One?", this confuses them for a short time then the response is always, "Well Both".



Here is where I launch into my speech about how an 8 Track will not fit into a DVD player! I've tried and tried, but I can't make it work! I've got some really great Carpenters albums I need to hear!  By now they think I'm… Continue