Page 26 - Australasian Paint & Panel Magazine Sep-Oct 2018

CAR CRAFT GROUP
“With profit margins always an issue, the group buying power definitely gives you an advantage.”
NEW CAR CRAFT MEMBERS
Garry and Dan Maher L&M Smash Repairs, Seven Hills, Sydney, NSW
Nick Verri and John Syphers NV Panel and Paint Queanbeyan, Canberra, ACT Wesley Chapman Urunga Smash Repairs Urunga, NSW Dan and Megan Leishman Gold Coast Collision Centre Burleigh Heads, QLD
Steve Wilson Wilson ARC, Capalaba, QLD
James Sardellis, George Danas
and Daniel Edwards Bell Collision Thomastown, VIC Darren Robertson and Barbara Gilfillan Dean’s Smash Repairs Morwell, VIC
Bill Kubeil Somerville and District Panels Somerville, VIC Ray and Sam Campbell Broome Accident Repair Centre Bilingurr, WA
Guido Merlo Autocrash Express Repairs, Yarrawonga, NT
Butch Bennett Butch Bennett Crash Repairs Clare, SA
www.paintandpanel.com.au
LEFT: Garry and Dan Maher;
BELOW: Nick Verri and John Syphers.
Each state in the Car Craft group runs itself and chooses which suppliers to buy from. Daniel Edwards from Bell Collision in Melbourne said, "As a founding member we do a get group say in the direction we want to go, the suppliers we choose and the insurance companies we approach.
"The main reason that I joined was to be able to collaborate and discuss the industry with like-minded repairers and to get a better deal on parts. A group with a national footprint will help in being able to supply work to our business."
Garry Maher from L&M Smash Repair is a founding member of Car Craft Group, NSW Central. "Talking to the Car Craft representatives a while back we found their philosophy very interesting and running in-line with our own, so when the opportunity came to join the group we were in feet first. We think with its nationwide coverage it is large enough to appeal to insurers, fleets and OEMs.
"I like the fact that joining is by invitation only to like- minded businesses with a commitment to high quality repairs, training and customer satisfaction and adhering to a consistent standard. All members of the group are shareholders in their own region. So we have a say on how funds are spent, invested or returned to the shareholders.
"The group also advertises on radio and TV and as a group we can share the cost of this and have a wider reach.
"As an I-CAR Instructor I was very happy to see their Road to Gold and AMBRA ambitions. So personally, I am looking forward to my son Daniel taking over the full time operation of L&M Smash which will allow me to assist Car Craft nationally to achieve I-CAR Gold Class status."
26 PAINT&PANEL September / October 2018