SHOP: Ebby’s Auto Painting & Collision Repair Inc. LOCATION: Williamsburg, Va. OWNER: Ebby Hall
1) Hall spent $600,000 to remodel the outside of his facility in 2010. During the remodel, he repainted the shop with red, white and blue paint to match the company’s color scheme branded on its logo. That helps the shop maintain a consistent image, and imprint the brand colors onto community members’ minds. Hall used automotive paint so the facility will look shiny for a long time.
2) Hall installed two signs, one on each side of the front door. The signage creates an appealing symmetrical design to the facility and prevents the exterior of the building from looking too plain. The signs also advertise the work performed by the shop to passersby.
3) Hall says having a clean and well-maintained parking lot is critical to the appearance of the shop. A maintenance crew cleans debris from the shop’s parking lot once a week. Hall also spends about $1,500 every three years to repaint the parking lines to keep them looking bright.
4) Roughly 200 plants, bushes and trees were planted around the perimeter of the facility to add curb appeal—which cost about $6,000. Hall also laid bright green turf grass and mulch to make the property more inviting.
Hall says it’s crucial to keep the landscaping looking healthy in order to maintain positive curb appeal. He hired a company for $85 a week to maintain the property. The company mows and trims the grass, fertilizes it eight times a year, and adds new mulch twice a year to keep everything looking fresh.
5) Lighting was installed across the entire front side of the facility. The lights shine down on the building at night, so the shop is illuminated even after business hours. Hall says that helps the shop advertise and project a positive image around the clock.
