Page 100 - Australian Paint & Panel Nov-Dec 2020

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BEST PRACTICE AWARDS
PAINT&PANEL NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
BEST MULTI-SITE OPERATOR
WESTERN GENERAL BODYWORKS
FOUNDER AND HEAD OF WESTERN GENERAL BODYWORKS GROUP DANNY BUZADZIC IS WHAT WE IN THE UK CALL A CHARACTER. BURSTING WITH ENERGY AND IDEAS HE HAS BUILT HIMSELF QUITE THE MINI REPAIR EMPIRE.
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
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of
N 2005 HE TOOK OUT BEST
new shop for his one and only store in Maribyrnong, Victoria. It was a shop ahead its time in many ways with a large stylish customer area and a transparent feel with just a shiny glass wall separating it from the workshop. Clean and well equipped it attracts a lot of prestige customers. Since then branches have been established or busi- nesses purchased in Sunshine, Bun- doora, Werribee, Geelong West, Newt- won and Belmont in Victoria. There’s another store in Belmont NSW and the enormous Miami Smash Repairs and the productive Maxbutts Auto Bodyworks
both on the Gold Coast.
That’s a whopping 11 branches never
mind the towing sites and WGBG re- pairs over 10,000 vehicles per year. Pre– covid the group employed over 150 staff. At different branches the group has
OEM approvals for Porsche, BMW, Suba- ru and Holden.
Despite the sizeable footprint and num- bers involved WGBG still feels like a fam- ily run, inclusive business rather than a corporate. Staff are offered I–Car training, flexible working hours and performance based incentives. The atmosphere obvi- ously agrees with many as the business has a relatively low staff turnover. Ap- prentices are nutured in large numbers within the group who partner with the Les Twentymen foundation to help local youths troubled with domestic violence and substance abuse learn a trade.
There are monthly management meet- ings to keep everyone in touch and in- formed and use team chat software in the meantime.
The company has a great website with a futuristic promo video. Marketing is takes place via social media and a spon- sorship of V8 Supercars.
ABOVE: Maimi Smash is one of two Gold Coast shops in the group. LEFT: One of the may courtesy cars WGMW offers outside HQ. TOP: Buzadzic working away behind his MSO award.
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