Page 106 - Australasian Paint & Panel Magazine Sep-Oct 2018

SHOPS TO LOOK OUT FOR
There can only be one winner in each category but often it's close call and it seems a shame not highlight some of the other great business we encountered.
WE WERE INCREDIBLY impressed with Drive Accident Solution's awesome new facility in Eagle Farm, Brisbane. Incredibly stylish and sharp it includes a coffee shop which caters for customers and surrounding business. The workshop is huge with massive bays. The team are still refining their business strategy for the new premises which will no doubt be a magnet for manufacturer badges. We probably visited a couple of months too early and reckon this shop will be hard to beat next year in Queensland.
EAST COAST COLLISION
Also in Queensland we were delighted to meet Mark Debono and Cara Lea Lewis at East Coast Collision in Cairns. This hardworking young couple have transformed a tired, old shop with elbow grease, fresh paint and a reception revamp. It's also relatively early days for these two but in terms of the right attitude, enthusiasm, work ethic and customer focus these guys are motoring in the right direction.
BELL COLLISION
Bell Collision in Melbourne were another business that impressed us. They are in the process of setting up another unit which will ease the congestion they are experiencing because of an increase in volume. These guys have all the right processes in place are
organised, driven and excited about their future in the industry. We'll definitely be back next year to see what improvements they have made.
AUTO TRANSFORMERS One of most fun visits this year was to Auto Transformers in Adelaide. Andrew Mitchell has grown this business from a one man shed to a huge facility with 18 staff over the last 10 years.
While many bodyshops dabble in the odd bit of restoration, this business specialises in restoration and custom work for both cars and motorbikes but
also carries out repairs on less exotic vehicles. Adding 'mum and dad' repairs to the mix is a smart businesses move. Restorations are long term projects with uncertain cash flows and time frames given the difficulty of finding parts. Mitchell capitalised on his relationship with insurers like Shannons to grow this side of the business. After being dazzled by all the jaw-dropping cars, motoring memorabilia and odd ball jobs like the carnival clown ball game, you see that this is a serious set up. The workshop is composed of sections for mechanical, restoration, repair, bikes etc. We'd like to see these formalised a bit more and look forward to visiting again to see how the growth plans are progressing.
38 PAINT&PANEL September / October 2018
www.paintandpanel.com.au
TOP: Stunning Brisbane facility; ABOVE: Andrew Mitchell: LEFT: Mark Debono and Cara Lea Lewis at East Coast Collision
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