Aug 16, 2021
This week’s key takeaway:
How did UK repairers navigate the pandemic? With David Cresswell...
Episode intro:
It’s always good to pick the brains of an industry leader in another country, and what a great guy we have to tell us how it is over in the UK. David Cresswell founded the ABP group back in 2004, and is one of the most respected industry voices in the UK.
The ABP group looks after the interests of 2,500 members across body shops, insurance companies, part suppliers and car manufacturers. They are also behind the ABP Yearbook: the bible of statistics about all-things collision repair in the UK.
David was kind enough to share some of the key data that measures the prosperity of the industry pre-Covid and post-Covid, as well as some interesting ideas on how insurance companies and body shops could adapt their methods in order to increase margin. How does the profitability of the Aussie market stack up against the UK at the moment? You might be surprised...
In this week’s episode you will learn:
-How UK body shops managed to stay open during the Covid crisis
-Why are the groups doing so well?
-Did the UK see an increase in high-impact accidents?
-How the UK is struggling to cope with the shortage of skilled staff
-How the industry has ruined its own margins
-The rise of digital handling
-Why compulsory car insurance causes a heated-up market
-Why better accountability from insurers would improve profit margins
-How body shops have diversified to paint more than just cars
-How over-reliance on contract work can make people forget how to sell
Show links:
** Do you have something unique you want to share with us? Contact Paint & Panel editor Sam Street at: sam@yaffa.com.au
** Go to www.paintandpanel.com.au to sign up for our weekly E-newsletter
** Go to www.paintandpanel.com.au/podcast to catch up on past shows and access show notes from every episode.