Get out of the shop

Changing your surroundings is one good way to get new ideas

I recently drove a few hours north to the Seattle area to spend a day visiting a couple of other body shops. I'd been thinking about implementing a couple of things in my shop. My paint supplier helped put me in touch with some shops that were doing just what I was thinking about. I got to see first hand how it was working for them and learn from someone who had first-hand knowledge about the potentials and pitfalls.

The trip was a good reminder of what I think is the single biggest "secret to success" in this industry: get out of your shop. It's all too easy to get so caught up with the day-to-day responsibilities of running the business that we forget there's a whole lot of other people out there doing just what we are doing – only doing some part of it in some way better than we are. Getting out of your shop for a few minutes, a few hours or a few days will almost always help you learn something that will help make your business better when you return.

Often when I'm heading out of town for a meeting, training session or even just vacation, I try to schedule a visit to a shop in that area. As with my Seattle trip, my paint company can often provide the names of some good shops in any community, but I've also gotten suggestions through CARSTAR, various trade associations and from others I know in different parts of the country.

Rarely, if ever, have I had another shop turn down a request to tour its facility. Most of us are proud of our businesses and are happy to show them off. And you can't spend 30 minutes walking around someone else's shop without coming away with at least one idea to help your business.

I mentioned trade associations, and I think it's probably a mistake to not belong to at least one. We belong to several, and they all have strengths and weaknesses, but to one degree or another, they all offer you an opportunity to interact with other shop owners, to learn that you're not "the only one" and to build a local or even national network of shop owners you can contact for advice, ideas or just to commiserate.

The three major multi-state associations are the Automotive Service Association (www.asashop.org), the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (www.scrs.com) and the Alliance of Automotive Service Professionals (www.autoserviceproviders.com). Those groups have state affiliate groups that may be active in your area. I've learned of a number of smaller but increasingly active shop organizations out there, so if you can't find an association in your area, send us an e-mail at ABRN and we'll try to point you to a group.

I'll admit I don't attend the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) every year as I used to, but as the biggest gathering of the industry, it's still an ideal place to pick up new equipment, tools and ideas for your business. As with most trade shows, while there are often some good classes and seminars, you're just as likely to pick up great information from those across the table from you at a luncheon or sitting next to you on the shuttle bus from your hotel to the convention site.

While NACE has been held in Las Vegas every year for a number of years, other industry events are held throughout the country. The Collision Industry Conference (CIC) is a quarterly open-to-anyone gathering of shops, insurers and vendors that meets to discuss industry issues and attempts to work on potential solutions to industry problems.

ASA and SCRS both hold other annual meetings or gatherings, as does the Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence (www.theCCRE.org), which is comprised of shops determined to "operate as independent business entities."

Training can be another good excuse to get out of your shop and pick up some ideas and insights. You can often learn just as much from the person you sit next to in class as the instructor, so take advantage of any breaks in the class to strike up a conversation.

For technical training, check with I-CAR (www.i-car.com) and your paint and equipment manufacturers. On the management side, I gained a lot from the training I've attended through the Masters School of Autobody Management (www.masters-school.com) and the Automotive Management Institute (www.AMIonline.com). Your state or local association may be able to help bring some of this training to your area.

I participated for a number of years in a 20 group, a small group of generally similar-sized shops from different markets who meet quarterly to compare financial and other performance benchmarks, share ideas and discuss what's working and what's not. I was in an "independent" 20 group, but there are also those organized and affiliated by the paint companies or shop network groups like CARSTAR and Fix Auto.

But "getting out of your shop" doesn't always necessarily mean exiting the building. You're doing one of the easiest things you can do to get perspectives and ideas from other shop owners right now: reading the industry trade press and Web sites. Sign up for ABRN's twice-weekly e-newsletter, E-Pillar, and check out other industry newsletters and Web sites.

Making sure you set aside some time every week and every month to take some of these steps to get out of your shop will help keep you focused and excited about working on (and not just in) your business.