Page 50 - Australasian Paint & Panel magazine Nov-Dec 2021

50
BEST NEW QUEENSLAND
PAINT&PANEL NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021
GOLD COAST COLLISION
MEGAN AND DAN LEISHMAN ARE TWO OF THE HARDEST WORKERS WE’VE COME ACROSS AND THEY KEEP GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.
W HEN WE CAUGHT UP WITH Megan the shop was in- sanely busy and had been for some time. The couple moved into the original work- shop in December 2017 having outgrown their previous premises. When the gym next door closed down they nervously rented it so that they had room to grow. Just four years later they are bursting at
the seams and looking for another unit. They didn’t plan an extensive remodel – yes the paintshop was on the list but a leak last March that started after everyone had gone home wreaked havoc with the entire workshop with 4cm of water and the in ground Car-O-Liner submerged. It was the first lockdown and work had qui-
etened down but they decided to take the plunge. The insurance company took their time and of course the tradies said there was a long wait. So, like they did when they first moved into the shop they decid- ed to roll up their sleeves and do a lot of the work themselves. This meant week- ends of tearing down the diving wall, rip- ping out plumbing – we’re talking 22 skips – and an extensive remodel.
Gone is the preposterously large re- ception area they inherited, what re- mains is still very roomy and very nice. There’s a viewing window into a new detailing/inspection bay with megawatt lighting which is a much better use of space. By moving walls they have man- aged to bring the customer toilet inside
to reception so people don’t have to walk through the workshop.
The shop has become Tesla accredited since we last visited and already about 30% of their work comes from the Tesla stable. Outside in the full car park the old gates which opened inwards have been replaced by electric sliding gates and the outside has been freshly painted.
This once tiny boutique shop is now firmly in the medium category repairing around 30 cars per week. Because floor space is limited they have built upwards with high storage racks for parts.
Now heavy hits are formalised along the side of the panel shop as you go in. There’s a new hoist and the bays in the centre are fit up bays. The two work-