Page 31 - Australasian Paint & Panel magazine July-August 2022

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down on the freeway. There were over 900 people at his funeral demonstrating how many connections he had made in the industry and local community. Brad, who was just 25, had some very big shoes to fill. His sister Ashleigh joined the business in 2010 and is the office manager ensuring both front and back of house runs smoothly. With younger brother James the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, he is a talented autobody repair technician with a knack for diag- nostics and a passion for repairing cars.
“There were over 900
people at his funeral demonstrating how many connections he had made in the industry and local community.
Since Brad has taken the helm, the business has more than doubled its foot- print. Not only does Weststar Prestige en- joy a great relationship with a wide range of insurers but it added other OEM ap- provals along the way. As demand grew, a new workshop was built a couple of units down the road with a stunning re- finish centre named after dad John. A couple of years later another unit was created next door to this one as a detail- ing area, electric vehicle and mixed ma- terials repair area, and handover centre.
In July 2000 John decided to pursue the prestige market and changed the business name from Fixem to Weststar Prestige Paint & Panel July 2000. This was when John decided to pursue the prestige market, one of the early indus- try specialists. Today Weststar almost exclusively repairs Mercedes-Benz and Teslas. It took a while but the business model is now fully realised.
“It’s a great achievement for any fam- ily business to survive and thrive for 50 years. I hope we continue my father’s legacy for another 50 years and that we make him proud," says Brad.
TOP:
The original workshop.
ABOVE LEFT: The business grew quickly.
ABOVE:
The next generation Ashleigh, Brad and James Kolich with the anniversary cake.
LEFT:
The man himself Johnny ‘Fixem’
Kolich.
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