Page 14 - Australasian Paint & Panel March-April 2022

14
News • In Focus
PAINT&PANEL MARCH / APRIL 2022
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
CAR CRAFT
NETWORK GROWTH
NEW MEMBERS, NEW SHOPS AND EXTRA SITES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE NETWORK RECENTLY.
T
HERE ARE THREE NEW CAR
Craft sites in Victoria. Auto- motive Panel Service in Rich- mond has come on board. This business which opened in the early ‘80s is now owned by Bruce Peatling and is well positioned to service metropolitan
Melbourne and the inner East.
Existing Car Craft members, Gisborne
Smash Repairs, have built a new shop. Bryce Marks and Niall Cardillo have demonstrated their commitment to the industry and the area they service. With more and more people working from home and therefore looking at semi-ru- ral areas, Gisborne – being only 45mins from the Melbourne CBD – is thriving.
Amex Autobody and the Chesser name are synonymous with the collision repair industry in Victoria. John Chesser has been in the prestige repair business for over 52 years. John had a great exit
strategy — his son Glenn, who success- fully operates two shops under the Gra- ham Body Works banner, is taking on this business and has also joined it to the Car Craft Group.
In Queensland Car Craft recently cel- ebrated its 10th anniversary and has seen more growth in recent months with the addition of two shops joining from the New South Wales Northern Rivers region. This takes the number of shops for Car Craft in Queensland to 34.
Jeremy Donald, owner of a long-estab- lished business in the Tweed Heads area, Southern Autos Repaint and Panel recently bought another business, com- bined it with his existing business and has rebranded. Renovations including a new office and administration building are nearing completion.
Donald said that small business is of- ten overlooked, and by being a part of a
larger network he will be able to achieve more as part of the Car Craft team.
North Ballina Smash Repairs has also joined the group. This well presented and established shop has been bought by a young couple full of optimism for the future.
Joel McElroy and Tara Strudwick re- searched the group before joining. They felt positive about keeping their identity while enjoying all the benefits a large network has to offer.
In NSW, Car Craft member Zelko Strizic who has only owned Campbelltown Smash for three years has bought another busi- ness – Bluett Bodyworks in Gregory Hills and is undertaking renovations and equip- ment upgrades.
For more information on joining the group visit: carcraftgroup.com.au or stand AA23 at the Collision Repair
FARLEFT:
Zelko Strizic, Bluett Bodyworks.
LEFT:
Joel McElroy and Tara Strudwick.
BELOW:
new additions.