Page 48 - Australasian Paint & Panel Nov-Dec 2022

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2022 JUDGING
Repair. Even if they only have a couple training we heard many of them talk about their efforts to connect with local schools and offer work experience and school-based apprenticeships. While many people agree that trying to reach kids earlier – before year 10 is best I don’t think many can beat Geoff Richards Pan- el Beating in Dubbo who do ‘show and tells’ for the nearby kindergarten.
JUDGE POWELL’S REFLECTIONS
Veteran Paint & Panel judge Neil Powell gave his impressions on where the industry was at after talking to so many collision re- pair business owners. “The insurers were really overloading the shops which made those shops difficult to navigate,” he said. “We heard of repairers, who insurers wouldn’t previously give the time of the day, being deluged with cars. But what will they do when the crisis is over?
“Parts storage was another big prob- lem where there were so many parts trolleys loaded up waiting for one of two parts before the job could be started. In many instances they were spilling out onto the workshop floor taking up valu- able workfloor space.
“It was great to get back to some in-per- son judging and be able to sit down and listen face to face. However, the Zoom judging does mean we can judge more shops and this year we met lots of new business owners who have never entered the awards before, which is always good.
“Another trend was to see the business owners and their teams curating a custom- er experience where customers walked away with much more than they expected in terms of service and experience.”
NEW JUDGING FORMAT
Just a reminder that we have now set in place a new judging system which in- cludes a judging panel. Judges Neil Powell and Sam Street select the final- ists after judging either in person or via Zoom. Nominees also tell the judging panel about themselves via the awards portal where they can upload photos. The judging panel of six this year then reviewed all of the submission and vot- ed their winner. This is a blind vote so the winners will be as much of a sur- prise to them as anyone else at the awards night.
TOP TO BOTTOM: Great to see more females on the gun (yes we know she should be wearing glasses but was just posing for the photo); parts trolley situation crazy in every shop we visited; Judge Greg Preston from Plastic was part of the new judging panel.
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