Page 30 - Australian Paint & Panel March-April 2020

Group Chat • Car Craft
30
PAINT&PANEL
MARCH / APRIL 2020
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
CAR CRAFT
THE WELL ESTABLISHED CAR CRAFT GROUP CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS A NETWORK OF INDEPENDENTLY OWNED REPAIRERS. IT STARTED OUT IN WA OVER 33 YEARS AGO AS A BUYING GROUP AND THE MODEL EVENTUALLY FORMED INTO AN UNLISTED PUBLIC COMPANY WITH ALL THE SHAREHOLDERS BEING THE BODY SHOP OWNERS.
“While Car Craft started out as a buy- ing co-operative it has matured, over 33 years into a repairer network that offers much more than just buying power.
“It is a co-op in the sense that you are associated with like-minded owners and that there is a one-off fee to join which makes members equal, legal shareholders. As a shareholder you also receive a share in the profits. Each area is governed by its own board which
As consolidation matures it becomes
less and less of an even playing field.”
members elect. Profits accrued from the buying network are then available to members to spend however they choose – it could be marketing such as radio advertising, subsidising training or repair methods subscriptions, cash rebates or sponsorships. In WA we have spent funds on all of these and on sup- porting the local community.
“The fact that all our members are in- dependent repairers with high standards gives us a point of difference in the in- dustry. When a customer comes to a shop with an accident damaged car the person who meets you at the door is very often the person who owns the business.
“As a group we are always seeking business opportunities that will assist members’ businesses. In WA we have our Next Gen recycling business for the collection of plastic bars and a mobile ADAS calibration solution. We offer a unique Excess Plus certificate which
IN 2010 THE WA BOARD COMMENCED
their expansion plans into Queensland, creating Car Craft Queensland in 2011 and then in 2015 a similar group in South Australia, Master Collision Repair Specialists joined Car Craft to further build on the vision of a national net- work. The Car Craft Group now has over 105 members spread across every state and territory. I asked general manager Peter McMahon about the sort of busi- nesses who join the group and how the model works.
“Our members are independent busi- ness owners who aren’t interested in selling to a consolidator but want to be part of a national network, while re- taining their identity. We are very se- lective about who we invite to join. We’re interested in business owners that are keen to become part of a net- work that supports our preferred sup-
plier network, and have a focus of qual- ity, service and reputation, but also are a forward looking business with the right equipment and the right training for their staff and have good relation- ships with our work providers. The mix is broad with prestige, rapid, OEM ap- proved, general repairers and even truck and 4WD repairers.
“While businesses are generally invited to join we are open to business owners making inquir- ies too,” McMahon says.
ABOVE: Peter McMahon
RIGHT: Wall art at member Gold Coat Collision.