Allan McCarthy has totally transformed his Claremont shop turning it into a haven for the prestige car owners.
McCarthy was the first shop in Australia to become a Bentley factory accredited repairer in the luxury makers’ new program.
This 60-year-old, third generation shop has carved out a tasteful niche as an ultra-prestige repairer.
The transformation was not without its challenges, with an uncooperative council refusing planning permission to rebuild,
McCarthy had to make the best of what he already had – and clearly this was enough to impress the likes of Bentley and no doubt some other high class badges will be added.
As many prestige repairers have reported, the auditing process for accreditation is long, expensive and exhaustive, but it is also useful to sharpen up every aspect of your business.
McCarthy’s is also proud to be a member of the Car Craft group and one of the original founding directors.
Not only has the exterior been revamped with attractive cladding, the reception and workshop have also been refurbished simply and tastefully. Attention to detail includes a beautiful custom-made Glasurit sign.
There has also been a substantial investment in equipment – a new Cellete XL bench and a VAS Car-O-Liner, an aluminium repair booth and special tools, to name but a few.
McCarthy believes that independents need to be a badged shop to survive and is investing in the future of his company that will be passed on to his panelbeater son Sean, currently the workshop supervisor, and Sean’s wife Kylia, who is one of the three-strong administration and reception team.
The family connections don’t stop there, as Allan’s brother-in-law is the manager/ estimator and his nephew is one of the five tradesmen panel beaters who, along with five painters and an apprentice in each department, and a detailer make up the workshop team.
Son Sean is a qualified panel beater and there’s also a a detailer.
Naturally, the costs of carrying such a prestige badge aren’t limited to equipment, four of the workshop team are scheduled to go to the UK for training in December.
Environmental care is high at McCarthy’s, with the shop carrying the Green Stamp level three certification and waterborne paints are in use.
Another nice touch in the workshop, and a simple one, is posters of luxury cars on the walls, which further brightens up the working environment.
McCarthy’s, naturally, strives for exceptionally high levels of customer service. McCarthy see the shops clients as their best advertisement, with word-of-mouth even more vital in the echelons of luxury drivers.
McCarthy is to be congratulated for his vision and the determination, investment and hard work that went into realising that vision. He has secured the future of the business for the next generation of McCarthys and the next generation of luxury cars they will repair.
Powell’s comments
From humble beginnings of an old family business, dealing with council restrictions the refurbishment of this panel shop is nothing short of magical. I was not expecting the transformation to be this extreme. It is now a very impressive well equipped smash repair facility, with all of the latest technology.