Page 78 - Australasian Paint & Panel Magazine Sep-Oct 2018

2018 REGIONAL WINNER NEW SOUTH WALES
Above: Fun Star Wars themed paint shop. Main: Heavy hits and 4x4 repairs a speciality.
POWELL’S COMMENTS
An older workshop but filled with the right equipment and skilled staff, plus plans and procedures in place to cater for the future and maintain the L&M reputation.
BEST MEDIUM NSW
L&M SMASH REPAIRS
A highly skilled team of technicians ready to tackle complex repairs, a business that markets itself well as a family owned, independent company with a unique personality.
SHOP STATS
Size: 3500m2
Staff: 15
Type of repair: All types AVG repairs per week: 30-40
IN A ‘CORPORATISING’ climate L&M Smash Repairs in Seven Hills is fiercely independent and fiercely individual. Walk in and you are greeted by a host of memorabilia collected by founder Bill Maher, from the antique brass till to petrol dispensers and cricket memorabilia. The paint shop has Starwars artwork on the booths and walls. Garry and son Dan Maher have continued in the family collecting tradition although they have leaned towards I-CAR certificates which they are almost out of wall space for. L&M Smash was one of the first repairers to gain I-CAR Gold.
There is a passion among the L&M crew for technical excellence and learning. When we visited the panel technicians were being trained on their latest welding equipment purchase. With this skills set they undertake a lot of complex structural repairs and 4X4 repairs. They were just pipped at the post last year in the awards but since we visited, a number of improvements have taken place including some upgrades in the paint shop and a better flow in the panel shop.
L&M is one of many non-aligned repairers who are beginning to feel a pinch from the IAG ‘choice of repairer’ policy and have adjusted by making efforts to increase its fleet work. They also try to educate customers through social media and in person about the choice of repairer issue. The company markets itself vigorously through social media and is proactive with customers, encouraging them to leave Google reviews which has resulted in a highly visible internet presence.
The Mahers have developed a great culture for staff which includes a snow weekend every year.
10 PAINT&PANEL September / October 2018
“We have six senior staff that have been with us for 10 years and some of our staff say that they can’t imagine working anywhere else ever again.”
Staff are constantly consulted via team meetings and there are flexible start and finish times, along with Saturdays and overtime available to those who want it.
L&M is a sustainable business on many levels apart from its Level 3 Greenstamp certificate. Its highly trained technicians are ready for anything that comes through the doors. There’s always a couple of apprentices in training and they reach out to the local community to encourage youngsters to consider a career in this industry.
The level of customer service is high and includes offering a free ‘spanner check service’ to check on the car six weeks after the repair for total peace of mind. As well as standard repairs the company carries out light mechanical work and suspension replacement in-house, alloy rim repairs, custom painting, restorations, plant and machinery painting, aluminium tray sectional repairs, light trailer repairs and truck repairs. The shop is also approved for Subaru.
www.paintandpanel.com.au