Page 83 - Australasian Paint & Panel magazine Nov-Dec 2021

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JUDGES’ COMMENTS
JUDGE POWELL
Jason and his team have transitioned
well into this new large, high-volume, quality repair facility and continue to
increase and diversify their work providers and perhaps progress further into the prestige market.
after such a busy 18 months for the team to slow down a bit and recharge. I will focus on their mental health and their lifestyle. Because of all of the lockdowns it’s been work, sleep, repeat.
“It’s also an opportunity to fine tune and improve things while it’s quieter and to re- ally engage them about why these changes will improve the shop’s flow and process.”
Business owners who value their team - and have a sizeable nucleus of long term staff - are clearly good leaders, Hornby gets a double tick here.
While the business won in the new cat- egory last year our one criticism was that the workshop management system was analogue - organised yes - but we knew he could save a lot of admin resources switching over to a digital solution. He has since adopted iBodyshop and said: “OK, OK don’t tell me I told you so - it’s been life changing and the best thing I’ve done.” It’s also been a Godsend as 90% of estimating takes place off site.
If that’s the best decision then the car wash will definitely come in the top five.
It costs $2.50 per wash, takes 8 minutes and never takes a day off.
With the business going gangbusters we asked about his five year plan. “For the next couple of years it’s about stabi- lising and ensuring everything contin- ues to work well. The three years after that we look for more growth.”
Hornby is eyeing up the unit next door which is likely to be free in 18 months time and may consider having a LCV ded- icated workshop which would mean more space for cars in the current workshop.
It may have a silver lining but it’s a golden repair business.