Shop Profile Peter Adams builds a new one

The old shop had reached its limits. What to do? Build a new one, of course.

ADAMS SMASH REPAIRS in Erina, on NSW Central Coast, had nowhere to go. The land upon which it had stood since 1964 was now a valuable commercial site but no longer suitable to accommodate the growing demands of a smash repair shop. When a big block of land came up for sale in nearby Gosford, managing director, Peter Adams, grabbed it ‘ along with the block next door to house his 20 truck towing business.
With 3500 square metres at his disposal, Adams built a series of industrial units with a central driveway and occupied the rear group for his new, spacious shop. After the plans were approved, which had to include all the latest building and safety regulations, it took only eight months to complete. He moved in and began repairing cars at the beginning of November last year.
Before the new shop started operating, the company had a staff of 62 (including tow truck employees). The old shop turned out in excess of 60 cars a week. That will be maintained until the new shop settles down, and staffing is brought up to optimum levels. Adams intends to keep running the old shop for the time being. It will concentrate on light hits.
Every repairer in a cramped old shop dreams of having a blank canvas, with virtually unlimited space, to start again. But it is not so easy when that becomes a reality. Adams first preference was to avoid moving cars unnecessarily ‘ a major problem in the old shop. Thus the new one has an abundance of bays covering assessing, dismantling, repairing, and just parking. The ceilings are tall and the floors are epoxy coated. When he was planning the new shop Adams talked to his friend Tony Farrugia in Canberra and the finished result shows Farrugia’s influence of space and neatness.
Lowbake Car-O-Liner and Fan scored most of the new equipment business. There are five Lowbake prep bays with infra red drying, three ovens (one of which is truck size), six Car-OLiner speed benches set into the floor plus a couple of full size models, Car-O-Tronic measuring, and a brace of Fan inverter and silicone bronze welders. PPG is the paint brand of choice, with some use of Concept in the old shop.
Where the old shop had a tiny office, the Gosford complex has an open, sweeping reception with clerical work stations behind and executive offices and training room upstairs.
Peter Adams is a third generation in his smash repairer family. He takes a paternal view of his business, describing himself as ‘easy goin’’. This is probably one reason why he keeps staff long term. He currently employs six apprentices ‘ with the eventual goal of having one apprentice for every qualified tradesperson.
Through his long family experience of running smash shops, Adams has a seasoned view of the smash repair business. As an NRMA preferred repairer he welcomes real time and real money ‘ although the roll out hasn’t yet reached the NSW central coast. He says it will help the industry to be paid for the growing capital outlay now required for smash repairs.
‘One of the main problems today is being able to get the right money for the right job,’ he says. ‘There is no formula that sees to it that the good shops are paid for their skill and equipment.
‘The industry is destroying itself through too much price cutting. I see quotes that win jobs by taking it out of the labour component and you know very well the job can’t be done properly for that.’
As in the old Adams shop, the new one will continue with Auto Quote and the BMS management system. Adams says his business took a major step forward when, four years ago, he put in BMS and employed a business coach to help implement it. ‘It was the best thing I ever did,’ he says. ‘Now I spend Saturday morning working on my scheduling board for the following week. People like to know what work they’ve got ahead of them. If I look around and everybody isn’t busy, I know I’m not making money.’