Nov. 12, 2012—Zara’s Collision Center has been named to American Honda Motor Co. Inc.’s ProFirst body shop recognition program, becoming the first collision repair facility in the Springfield, Ill., market to achieve the certification.
Honda’s shop recognition program, which the company launched in October, is meant to promote complete and safe repairs of Honda and Acura vehicles, and to provide support to shops that have demonstrated a commitment to high levels of customer satisfaction.
To obtain certification under the program, Zara’s achieved I-CAR’s Gold Class Professionals business designation and completed the training organization’s Collision Repair for Honda and Acura Vehicles course (HON01). In addition, Zara’s agreed to conduct a certain number of parts transactions using OEConnection’s CollisionLink software.
“Honda recognizes a body shop because of the shop’s higher level of customer satisfaction through training and technology,” said Brad Zara, president of Zara’s. “Besides achieving the industry’s I-CAR Gold Class designation, a ProFirst shop has completed the I-CAR training course, Collision Repair for Honda and Acura Vehicles. It’s a huge compliment to the entire Zara’s team to be named a ProFirst Level 3 shop. We look forward to an even closer relationship with our local dealership, Honda of Illinois.”
Honda’s ProFirst shop recognition program is open to both dealer-owned and independent collision repair shops. Honda said all shops that participate with the ProFirst program will receive a plaque, free access to Honda and Acura parts catalogs and bulletins, access to service and repair information, and placement on the company’s store-locator tool on its consumer website—collision.honda.com.
“The ProFirst body shop recognition program, in conjunction with the I-CAR Gold Class Professionals designation, will align participating shops with a training program that is meant to elevate the customer experience and enable shop employees to work up to their full potential,” said John Van Alstyne, president and CEO of I-CAR. “Training and knowledge provide a platform for business and personal excellence, generating benefits for both the organization and the customer, including increased operational efficiencies, reduced cycle times, minimized repair mistakes, and most importantly, complete and safe repairs.”
For more information, or to apply for the program, visit profirst.honda.com or profirst.acura.com.
