Smash repairs chain Bears Group has expanded its footprint with the acquisition of Smee's Auto Body Repairs.
Geoff Smee opened the body repairs shop in Taren Point NSW in the early 1980s and continued to run the business while working on the shop floor for over 40 years up until his recent retirement.
“I had the pleasure of speaking with him in depth about his career and business accolades,” Bears Group CEO, Steve Lozenkovski, said.
“He is the last of his kind, surviving completely off a personal customer-based business model, never aligning himself with any particular work provider or insurer in a metro location.”
Lozenkovski assured former Smee Body Repairs customers that the businesses values of exceptional customer service will not change.
“We aim to continue his legacy and continue to support his loyal client base whilst also working with our providers to deliver a modern, well-equipped and up to date facility in the Sutherland Shire,” he said.
“The new site will act as our foot in the door for Sydney and we intend on servicing our smash, hail and ADAS clients with a personal touch and convenient location.
The new shop will now operate under the moniker of Bears Auto Group, Taren Point.
The new Sydney site complements Bears Group’s Brisbane, Wollongong, ACT and Victorian sites in the Bears network with plans of further east coast expansion in “strategic locations” over 2026.