Ideas for Improving Garage Business

tonto24

Its all in the title!

We are a fairly big garage with 15 employees, 3 sales men, 2 in stores, 1 service manager, 3 mechanics, 5 in body shop and a receptionist. We are struggling at the moment, and have tried advertising etc. but has not improved much. Anybody got ideas on how to encourage business?

smcgiff

tonto24 wrote: »

Its all in the title!

We are a fairly big garage with 15 employees, 3 sales men, 2 in stores, 1 service manager, 3 mechanics, 5 in body shop and a receptionist. We are struggling at the moment, and have tried advertising etc. but has not improved much. Anybody got ideas on how to encourage business?

What particular skills have you got? Do you specialise in particular makes?

Advertising is more effective if you have a call to action, such as mention this ad and we'll give a 10% discount.

Do you have a system where a 5th service is free?

Have you approached any companies with fleets to see if you can get their exclusive business?

slinky2000

If you target the car forums in Ireland and give advice and build up a reputation as a knowledgable garage you'll definitely gain some business.

Most people would rather travel and give their car to someone who knows their make and model rather than the nearest mainstream auto garage.

I've lost count of the garages I went to once, they knew little about my cars and their issues and traits and never went back.

Bigus

You've a fairly big beast to feed there every week, what are your objectives , to make money or employ loads of people?

If you had a clean sheet would you be doing business the way you are now ?

Body shop seems disproportionally big is this historical ?

Is anybody concentrating on potential Internet aspects of business or are you still doing things the traditional way ?

thesteve

Also think of small extras offered that could be advertised but make a big difference to people. E.g.
- collect and drop off of car (from home/work) or off hours collection via parking somewhere like a petrol station and leaving the keys there.
- Quotations to fix via email and within the same day.
- Small touches like cleaning the car without saying you would.
- Giving exact specifics on time estimates and prices (e.g. drop it in by 10 and we're guaranteed to be done by 12).
- pay for a pre nct and get a free service

smcgiff

No follow up.

Op, you wouldn't have FOCUS issues by any chance?

pedroeibar1

smcgiff wrote: »

No follow up.

Op, you wouldn't have FOCUS issues by any chance?

The issues are more serious than that!
The OP has 3 posts in motors that show his Q is waffle.
(Apart from the fact that anyone with a motor business with that staff count and surviving needs to change nothing, in an era when most garages that size have already failed.)

jhegarty

Anyone who works 9-5 has a problem with garage opening hours.

Have someone there to accept and return cars for service/repairs from 6am to 7pm.