23
Service Bay
"The best way to do it is fi nd an old-
school guy who has done the job and
recruit students from automotive body
shops, then have a training program in
house," Putney says. "They will learn the
basics in tech school and your older guy
can train them on your operation."
Scott Witt, vice president of opera-
tions at Virginia Truck Centers' Roa-
noke location, says his dealership uses
a mentoring program to strengthen its
body shop/collision center team. With
a signifi cant veteran presence within its
20-plus member unit, Witt says the com-
pany is constantly preparing its younger
technicians for the future.
Though it isn't working with tech
schools yet, Witt says Virginia Truck
Centers has identifi ed trade programs
as its best option for fi nding future
employees.
Future customers, however, can be
found throughout the industry.
"If you spend $200,000 on a piece of
equipment, you're going to want to keep
it for a while," says Richard Perry, global
region product manager at Chief Auto-
motive. "A single truck owner these days
can't afford to get rid of a truck because
it's been damaged."
But just because customers require
body work doesn't mean they're actively
searching for options. Because of the
market's underdevelopment, new en-
trants must be energetic in promoting
their business.
Virginia Truck Center promotes its
body shop as an all-makes operation, and
the Witts are active in getting that mes-
sage out in their market areas.
"Some customers might think of us
as a Freightliner and Mack dealer and
think that's all we work on," Greg Witt
says. "That's not true. We are truly an all-
makes operation in our body shop and
we tell customers that every day."
Chandler Services' best marketing
tool has always been its quality work, and
Dave Chandler hopes to build a similar
reputation with his body shop.
"I'm happy with the way things are
going," Chandler says. "There is defi nitely
an opportunity for us within our area
and I think the [body shop] has a lot of
potential."
Adds Perry: "There is a lot of money
in the collision repair business. Now is a
good time to get into it."
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