Western General Bodyworks
AWARDS 2005NORTON/AP&P BEST NEW BODYSHOP VIC
Western General Bodyworks
Early last year young repairer Danny Buzadzic made a decision. He was sick of operating an old, run-down, dingy bodyshop ‘ even though it was modestly profitable. Encouraged by his wife Lisa he went into overdraft and bought a high profile building on busy Gordon Street, Maribyrnong, and set about building a new body shop. In November he moved in, and now the shop is running at twice the volume of the old shop and turning a profit that most repairers would envy.
The first impression of Western General is that of space and transparency. You can see into the shop from the street through the massive front windows; you can see into and out of reception and Buzadzic's office through glass walls; even the spray booth has a glass window in the side. Upstairs a staff games room and adjoining boardroom are transparent. And to add to the feeling of space, there are two large roller doors and tall ceilings in the workshop. All this epitomises Buzadzic's business style: open. This makes him a friend to his customers and his well paid staff ‘ but not to many insurers with whom he battles to allow the best repair quality plus a polish and detail for every car at the end of its stay in the shop. The company employs a full time polisher and a full time detailer. This fulfils the dream of owners to get their car back looking like new ‘ a luxury for which insurers are seldom prepared to pay.
Everywhere is inventiveness that has come from the combined minds of the staff and the management. Everybody had a hand in designing the shop and selecting the equipment. The receptionist speaks three Asian languages and there are three European languages fluently spoken as well. This encourages customers for whom English is a second language.
The group decision on the selection of equipment has resulted in the Car-o-liner trio of benches, CR 500 welder and Car-o-tronic measuring, Rupes overhead dust extraction, a custom spray booth and prep bays by Melbourne builder Joe Marino, Sikkens paint and DNS quoting. One of the most interesting machines components of the American Chief
Ezyliner bench. It is built into the floor and has three dozers on a movable plate. It was made especially for Western General and is a super quick way of pulling - especially on light hits.
The shop average per job is between $6000 and $8000 ‘ and many of those are prestige vehicles whose owners insist on their repair being done by Western General.
POWELL'S COMMENT
I was very impressed by the in-ground alignment system. It is quick and user-friendly.
The shop strongly favours replace rather than repair, which has the effect of moving the jobs through the shop faster and minimising the generation of dust.