B2tf's one stop rod shop.......

[b2tf]

Well furthering on from the other thread, im floating the idea a bit more now.

So, assuming the store was based in Southern NSW (most likely Wagga Wagga), what would you like to see available/done there, and how would be the best ways to manage doing it etc?

I can only post one poll as far as i can see, so here's what i was thinking. The options selected above (i.e. what products/services to do) would be done/fitted on site, and also available via mail order for things like wheels etc.

Obviously staff would be trained in doing it all, i wouldnt let an apprentice mechanic loose on someone's car to do a chip etc. Thats the whole reason im even considering it, sick of dodgy workmanship or not being able to find anybody around here to do upgrades.

Keep in mind this is all "what if" at this stage.

[Psycho Chicken]

If you can fix my clutch you have a first customer! haha kidding, I can, I'm just lazy.

The way I see it, start off small. Find out which is the most wanted market. You have two areas; clean stuff and dirty stuff. Interior work, tinting, detailing, ECU work is generally pretty clean compared to working on brakes, engines, etc, etc. Both require totally different set ups and different people. Work with one or the other until you're ready to do both.

Other than that, I know nothing. Stuffed if I know anything about running a business.

[MO]

Well you've set yourself a big goal there,personally I would start offsmall and bring in the other gear as demand required.
Remember your reputation depends on quality and price and having the best staff you can afford to pay to do the work.

Go for it but don't forget don't run before you learn how to walk.

[b2tf]

Yeah, this is all majorly long term stuff. Im looking many years into the future here.

I'm waiting for a guy I know who has a pretty successful business of this type (doesnt do as much as is on that list though) to return from holidays, then i'm gonna go have a chat with him about it all, and get some ideas.

But yeah, this is all majorly long term.

[Bucknaked]

When my fluffy dice need a fluffing, I can come too you?

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

When my fluffy dice need a fluffing, I can come too you?

Yeah, tell you what, you can even come to me now and ill do that. Will be good experience for me.

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

When my fluffy dice need a fluffing, I can come too you?

yer an iriot :baby bott I'v told you not to put things like that on your trike. You will get distracted and run into something....

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by xrgran

yer an iriot :baby bott I'v told you not to put things like that on your trike. You will get distracted and run into something....

The trike as a flat. Hoping B2TF has replace it with some fats. :

[Bucknaked]

No sweat. I'll have them for AFD. But as your only in training, I can only pay recognised and accredited dice fluffer upper er's.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

No sweat. I'll have them for AFD. But as your only in training, I can only pay recognised and accredited dice fluffer upper er's.

Well funny you mention that. The training Im doing for my job now, is actually on working with vehicle interior aesthetics. I picked it out from all the courses i could do, not sure how it relates to my current job but I am doing it. So by AFD I'll have Cert IV. in Advanced Dice Fluffery.

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

Well funny you mention that. The training Im doing for my job now, is actually on working with vehicle interior aesthetics. I picked it out from all the courses i could do, not sure how it relates to my current job but I am doing it. So by AFD I'll have Cert IV. in Advanced Dice Fluffery.

Ok, but you break any of my dot's, I'll have to take my business else where. :

Seriously, I think its a great idea. But I see massive setup costs. Having said that, nothing wrong with starting with detailing business and building your business from there. Injekt'd in Canberra are a car detailer, but they also do wheels and rims. I guess it takes some time, and plenty of money. Running your own business was never mean't to be easy. Building wealth, gotta start poor.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

Ok, but you break any of my dot's, I'll have to take my business else where. :

Seriously, I think its a great idea. But I see massive setup costs. Having said that, nothing wrong with starting with detailing business and building your business from there. Injekt'd in Canberra are a car detailer, but they also do wheels and rims. I guess it takes some time, and plenty of money. Running your own business was never mean't to be easy. Building wealth, gotta start poor.

Yeah, thats just it. The setup costs and the initial workload would be enormous.

But who knows, maybe one day I'll say "$%#@ it, I'm gonna do it!".

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Yeah, thats just it. The setup costs and the initial workload would be enormous.

But who knows, maybe one day I'll say "$%#@ it, I'm gonna do it!".

Need some local staff let me know, i maybe able to sacrifice and move to wagga

[cogdoc]

You can't please everyone all of the time. Pick a niche. In your shoes I'd be looking for a specific unique product and expanding from there. Say like SS inductions have done. Something that differentiates you from the rest, like carbon fibre inlets for the E, A and B series cars. How about a flash MP3 player that easily integrates and suits the dash of all the BA's that can't upgrade the flat factory radio's? Something no-one else is doing. The trick is finding the need more than the product to fix it. The tiawanese and chinese have huge industry in producing specific products for our markets. Look at all those trick mobile phone accessories. Where do you think they are designed and produced?

Find the need....then find a way to fill it.

[Bucknaked]

Positive attitude, determination and a lot of hardwork. You can achieve anything. Within reason of course.

[BJ]

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

Well furthering on from the other thread, im floating the idea a bit more now.

So, assuming the store was based in Southern NSW (most likely Wagga Wagga), what would you like to see available/done there, and how would be the best ways to manage doing it etc?

I can only post one poll as far as i can see, so here's what i was thinking. The options selected above (i.e. what products/services to do) would be done/fitted on site, and also available via mail order for things like wheels etc.

Obviously staff would be trained in doing it all, i wouldnt let an apprentice mechanic loose on someone's car to do a chip etc. Thats the whole reason im even considering it, sick of dodgy workmanship or not being able to find anybody around here to do upgrades.

Keep in mind this is all "what if" at this stage.

I can see where you are coming from, but the only thing you will realy have to look at is price. I ran my own workshop doing pretty much what you want to do for over 15 years and the main thing that killed me was the fact that the local dealers would always under cut you. I know you think that what you want to do is not what the dealers would do but you would be suprised. I think it is great that you want to work for your self but if you think you can do it on your own think again, just before i closed shop my average day was at least 16 hours, and that was with three full time trades men. If you were to ask me if i would do it again well no not realy. The other killer is you work- cove BAS holidays, sick days and all of this adds up and when you are paying the bills and you name is on the lease well you get the idea.

[Racecraft]

Your biggest concern is CAPITAL... Setting up a business beit small even costs alot of money.. Insurance, premises lease, allocation of wages, PAYG tax requirements, legal fees etc are all upfront costs, that is before you even have an item on the shelf for stock.

To list your ideas in a fiscal cost set-up format for equipment alone will blow your mind. Admittantly not everything I list is required if you outsource but if you want to release inhouse quality products you'll need decent equipment and in some case are required to by law

Fitting bodykits, bonnets, spoilers etc. :- Spray booth $25k
Vehicle detailing :- Wash bay with grease trap $10k
Window Tinting
Accessories and enhancements i.e. MOMO, Leather etc etc
Wheels/rims :- Tyre balancer 8k + Tyre fitting machine $10k
Import and hard to get parts i.e. FRPP etc.
Exhaust Systems and fitment :- Mandrel bending equipment and MIG welder $30k
ECU Edits/Chips :- Dyno $150k+ for a Dyno Dynamics bit of kit
Brand Name Parts i.e John Bowe Performance Upgrades, SVO, Herrod etc
Engine Internals and fitting etc.

As you can see to be upto spec with the basic equipment alone will cost you mucho money to get off the ground.. It then takes alot of work and profit to re-coupe your initial costs. If you want an all-in-one shop my suggestion would be to buy out existing businesses and monopolise the local market.

I agree with cogdoc and stand by my suggestion in the other thread. Find a few niche products and sell them on-line, sure if the locals want to come to your 'shop front' fine but it is a good way to feel the water without outlaying a bucket of money.

[big_pete]

another disadvantage you may face is being in wagga.
theres hardly the market base of a major city like sydney or melbourne so it could be hard to get established.
however i think once you did get established it would be quite a successfull business as there is very few shops like it in the Wagga area - so it would attract people from the entire Riverina area once the word is out

P.S. id like to see another business like this in wagga ;)

[XA Coupsta]

I say stick to an internet based mail order type business.

Super low overheads, easy to start up, easy to keep running.

I see a massive cost base in employing so many qualified tradespersons. Those guys arent cheap. You have to pay them whether the work is coming in or not.

First stop is a business plan/model.

[DOC]

BTF Anything is possible if you believe and there is some good advice been handed your way so far, and look forward to further updates on your venture and wish you every success moving forward should you decide to contunue.

My 2c worth after studying success for many years.

1. As a person thinks so are they
2. You have the power to choose what you think

Pete

[b2tf]

Pete, thanks for your PMs last night, sorry i went offline but it was past 12 and i was tired and depressed lol. Needed sleep.

Going to speak to some people about this idea in the coming week. Hopefully after that I should have some direction.

It's certainly getting very tempting.

[The MaDDeSTMaN]

Biggest suggestion I have is to remember just how important good customer service is if you start this up.

Reply to emails without making them wait for days, if you can't help someone do your best to point them in the right direction, don't forget the small stuff that can make the difference between someone being merely satisfied and telling all their friends what a great company you run and that they should take their business to you.

Good customer service is hard to find these days, so when people do come across it, they tend to remember it and tell others. You can't buy that sort of advertising!

[ef5l]

if you are serious about this do you have a good enough mechanical abilty, experiance, its all well and good having qualified people working for you but if you dont really have a great understanding, it would be hard to get people to trust you with there cars, as you said your sick of dodgy workmanship how are you going to be any better if you dont no what your doing and you have to beleive what the guys that work for you are telling you.

all being said if you were a qualified mechanic and been in the performance seen for over 5 years you would make good coin.

[b2tf]

Maddestman, believe me. Customer service is one thing at the VERY top of my list. The amount of times Ive been stuffed around, lied to or treated like an idiot is astounding - I quite my job on Friday because I felt the bosses aim was to get money at the expense of customer service and good business sense. Tried to explain my point of view to her but alas she has a $100K boat in her sights and nobody will stop her from getting it.

ef5l, im not a mechanic, far from it. I know a reasonable amount about cars (granted that knowledge is largely limited to fords), and that would be another challenge for me - learning about vehicles as much as possible. But I enjoy doing that, so its not so much a challenge, more a goal. My aim is simple - to one day have a business where you can drive in your standard car, whatever it may be - and drive out with a smile on your face, and a newfound love for your car and driving it.

Im doing a lot of research and talking to a lot of people, and this is all many, many moths away, but its now very much a goal of mine. Hopefully one day I'll be able to reach it.

[The MaDDeSTMaN]

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

Maddestman, believe me. Customer service is one thing at the VERY top of my list. The amount of times Ive been stuffed around, lied to or treated like an idiot is astounding - I quite my job on Friday because I felt the bosses aim was to get money at the expense of customer service and good business sense. Tried to explain my point of view to her but alas she has a $100K boat in her sights and nobody will stop her from getting it.

In that case, you have my support 100%, and if you ever need an employee who shares your views on customer service and who is prepared to go the extra mile for the customer, let me know - I'm sick of being unemployed and would love to get the chance to show what a valuable employee I can be to an employer who actually sees me as more then another cog in a money making machine!

Good luck with it mate, and if there is any way I can help, let me know!

[Timmeh]

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

ef5l, im not a mechanic, far from it. I know a reasonable amount about cars (granted that knowledge is largely limited to fords), and that would be another challenge for me - learning about vehicles as much as possible. But I enjoy doing that, so its not so much a challenge, more a goal.

It's all well and good to have nice intentions, and don't take offence at what I am about to say, but you'd have to hire some experienced mechanics before I'd bring my car to your 'rod shop', just for the fact that I'd want someone who has done the time building high performance engines. Unless you're just planning to be a re-seller for bolt on mods that you can buy from ebay, then I'd only hand over my car to someone who knows what they are doing. Rebuilding engines is something that I have become addicted to, but if you don't know what you're doing, you spend alot of time working things out.

If I knew the owner of a 'rod shop' had never even pulled the rocker covers off his own cars engine, for example (I don't know if you have or not, but I am just being theoretical), then I wouldn't hesitate to keep looking to find someone who has done the time in apprenticeships and has rebuilt a thousand engines.

I assume insurance would be very expensive, in case you manage to make a hand grenade of someone's engine, whether by mistake, or as a learning experience, and so would a qualified mechanic with experience building engines etc.

I know I sound very negative, but either you're gonna want alot of money to throw at it, have some serious skills yourself and believe in them, or stick to visual mods and re-selling bolt ons.

Whether a town like Wagga can support your good intentions is another factor. I lived there for a little while, and I am not sure. Target the RAAF Base! :eclipsee_

Just thought it was important to bounce these ideas off the wall with you, if you do go ahead with it, all the best with it!

Tim

[b2tf]

No Tim, youve made some good points, but i have to emphasis again that this is all purely a 'what if' kinda thing at the moment.I hope you dont think Im stupid enough to go out and do something like this with anything less than a sound mechanic knowledge - only an idiot (or a Ford Mechanic) would play with someone's engine and not know what they're doing.

Oh and as for EBay parts. I challenge you to find ANY part on any of the cars myself or my father have owned which are less than either genuine Ford or very high quality. There is no way in hell any Ebay part will find its way onto my car and for that reason (along with many, many others) I wouldnt be in the business of putting them onto anyone elses.

[The MaDDeSTMaN]

Forgot to add, that was one of the reasons I decided I no longer wanted to work for Shell/Coles Express - they were only interested in the bottom line and had no idea about customer service or how to treat their employees.

If you've ever went into Shell/Coles Express and wondered why you're asked if you want to buy something else, it's because the employees are MADE to ask, and you can get in hot water if you don't ask EVERY customer, even if that same customer comes in several times every day, and always says "no" - to me, that's not good customer service, that's simply annoying the customer.

[DOC]

Originally Posted by The MaDDeSTMaN

Forgot to add, that was one of the reasons I decided I no longer wanted to work for Shell/Coles Express - they were only interested in the bottom line and had no idea about customer service or how to treat their employees.

If you've ever went into Shell/Coles Express and wondered why you're asked if you want to buy something else, it's because the employees are MADE to ask, and you can get in hot water if you don't ask EVERY customer, even if that same customer comes in several times every day, and always says "no" - to me, that's not good customer service, that's simply annoying the customer.

Did they make you ask " do you want to buy something else" or " can i help you with anything else " or similar ?

Not Judging but i would say it's good customer service to ask if there is anything else that you can help them with and also good for the business. In addition a polite way of saying if you have finished with your purchase it's time to pay up so the next person can be served.

[The MaDDeSTMaN]

Originally Posted by DOC

Did they make you ask " do you want to buy something else" or " can i help you with anything else " or similar ?

Not Judging but i would say it's good customer service to ask if there is anything else that you can help them with and also good for the business. In addition a polite way of saying if you have finished with your purchase it's time to pay up so the next person can be served.

Nope, it had to be "Would you like to buy any of our specials, 2 freddos for $2 and one flyby point or 3 lifesavers for $3" or some variation on that, we had to do the hard sell to EVERY customer and push at least one of the "specials" that are on the counter, usually way overpriced lollies of some kind. Also, being filmed, if you didn't ask everyone and didn't get above a particular % for that shift of the addon sales, the boss would watch the video and check to see if you asked EVERY customer if they wanted any of the "specials" and if you didn't, you would get a written warning.

It got absolutely stupid when we'd get customers coming in and saying "No, I don't want any damn specials" before we got a chance to say anything, or our regular customers who we still had to ask, despite KNOWING that us asking ****ed them off - because they'd say so to us, but what could we do?

I got many compliments from customers on my customer service, my genuine smile and friendly attitude towards them, I enjoyed my job, but it was management and their STUPID ideas (such as turning pre-authorise OFF on all the pumps, meaning that we had to run back to the register to authorise a pump before it would dispense any fuel, making it practically impossible to do any restocking or cleaning while you were working on your own) that made me hate that job.

There were other reasons I decided I no longer wanted to work for them, but that's a subject for another thread, and there are some things that I simply can't say on a public forum, knowledge that I gained while working there that I can't share with the public...