“Hard work pays off.”
That’s the single best piece of advice Tigran “Ty” Safaryan, owner of Fine Line Auto Body in Columbus, Ohio, has received in his life, he says — and he’s living proof that it’s true.
After moving to America from Armenia in 1994 at just 19 years old — and with little more than a love for cars and a dream of owning his own repair shop — his operation is now the largest family-owned and operated collision MSO in Columbus, Ohio, in addition to owning numerous other partner businesses.
Coming to America
Safaryan says that when he first moved to the U.S., the language barrier was by far the biggest challenge he faced. Coming from a family with an auto body repair business in Armenia, he had a solid foundation of auto repair skills — but his English wasn’t strong at first. He didn’t let that slow him down.
“I always wanted to be in the business, just like my family. I’m a car guy,” he says.
And so, Safaryan got to work…teaching himself English, attending college, and working for free at a local shop to build on his existing knowledge.
“Adjusting to a new country, new systems, and a different way of doing business — all while learning a new language — pushed me to grow quickly both personally and professionally,” he reminisced.
Within just two years of coming to the United States, in 1996 Safaryan opened the first of what would grow to become a network of 12 Fine Line Auto Body shops across Columbus.
“In the beginning, Ty was truly a one-man show,” says Fine Line’s Regional Office Manager Vanessa Flannery. “He did it all: answering phones, paying the bills, writing estimates and supplements, performing body work, and even painting vehicles himself. Every aspect of the business ran through Ty’s hands, laying the foundation for what Fine Line is today.”
By 1998, Safaryan had outgrown the original two-bay garage and opened his second location, the company’s West Broad Street shop. And expansion just continued to snowball from there.
“Growing to multiple locations was always part of the vision,” added Flannery. “That goal fueled every decision, with each new shop bringing them closer to building a recognizable, trusted name across the region.”
Now operating 11 shops — with the 12th in the works — Safaryan is well and truly on his way to building an empire.
When asked how many more shops he’d like to open in the future, his answer came quickly.
“As many as I can — the sky is the limit! The next ten years will be full of surprises.” After all, he says, Columbus is a large city, and he wants to capture as much of the market as possible.
Safaryan’s ability to expand the way he has certainly reflects the trust customers place in Fine Line for reliable collision repair, adds Flannery.
“Through all of Fine Line's growth, Ty has remained true to his original values: hard work, treating people well, and always striving for the highest quality.”
The Blueprint for Expansion
Every new Fine Line shop is built to emulate the others that have come before it — there’s a “look” to all the shops, says Safaryan, so customers immediately recognize them.
In addition to large overhead doors in front, each shop is exceptionally clean — from the perfectly manicured landscapes outside down to the offices and shop floors within. And there’s an “open” feel to them, he adds.
Safaryan also prefers to build his shops from the ground up to ensure consistency — something he’s done with the last eight of his eleven locations. The first three were brownfields; none were acquisitions. He’s now undertaken so many greenfield projects, he says, that he has the permitting and build time down to a science — it takes him about six months to get the proper permits, and between 8–12 months to complete construction.
The shops have also continually grown in size to accommodate the thriving business. While many of the shops average around 10,000 sq. ft., the newest location in Hilliard boasts around 12,000 sq. ft. and 17 overhead doors, with a capacity for 45 cars inside.
To ensure that every location operates smoothly and mirrors the others’ operations, Safaryan employs two regional shop managers who visit all the shops almost every day. There’s also an office manager at each location, with Flannery overseeing the entire network of offices. Weekly managerial meetings and daily staff meetings keep everyone on the same page, too.
A Team of Coworkers, Not Employees
Fine Line currently has just over 100 employees across all locations, but that’s not the term Safaryan prefers to use when referring to them — they’re his coworkers, he says, and he makes every effort to treat every single one of them like family.
“I spend more time with them than many of my own family members, so I mean it when I say they really are like another family to me,” he emphasized.
Flannery, who’s worked for Safaryan for eight years, is quick to agree.
“He creates a close-knit, supportive environment that really reflects his core values.”
There’s also plenty of opportunity to grow with the business — it’s what Flannery appreciates most about her employer, she says. She started in one of the local offices and worked her way up to regional manager.
“They value my input and allow me to contribute ideas that we use in our day-to-day operations,” she adds, something else she and her fellow coworkers love about working for Safaryan.
Not surprisingly, given the way he runs his businesses, Safaryan is also a very charitable person, supporting the community through his church, helping families both in the U.S. and Armenia, and actively taking part in charity work that “brings people together.”
Specialized Service
Fine Line has made it a goal to acquire most major manufacturer certifications over the years, to offer customers the highest quality repairs possible. Safaryan likens it to seeing the right medical specialist for a health concern, knowing that practitioner is the expert in their field.
“You wouldn’t go to a dentist and ask them about your heart, right?” he mused. “It’s the same with certifications. We want customers to know we’re specifically equipped with the knowledge and tooling to handle their particular vehicle.”
The shops’ first efforts towards certification began around 12 years ago, added Flannery, when advanced technology started becoming standard in vehicles.
“We realized we needed to meet strict manufacturer requirements to deliver the highest quality repairs. At the time, we already held our long-standing I-CAR recognition but quickly discovered there was much more involved. Our first OEM certification was secured in 2014, and since then, we've added most major manufacturers. The motivation has always been to ensure top-tier work for our customers, and we've definitely seen a return on that investment. We’re always open to adding more and plan to complete the full lineup in the coming years.”
In addition to high-quality repairs, what is it, in Safaryan’s estimation, that keeps customers continually coming back to Fine Line over competitors?
“The personality of our employees. Our positive energy. And our excellent customer service,” he says.
That’s certainly backed up by the nearly 6,000 (yes, you read that right!) mainly five-star Google reviews that the shops have amassed between them, where people repeatedly tout their excellent experiences and the impressive quality of work the shops put out.
Their reputation is certainly something Safaryan and all his employees are incredibly proud of, as they should be. Coupled with their longstanding presence in the community, they’ve become a household name all over the region.
“We ask customers how they hear about us,” says Safaryan, “and many indicate they’ve just always known, the same way you know there’s a McDonald’s nearby.”
Growing Beyond Collision Repair
On top of Safaryan’s successful collision repair businesses, he also owns numerous partner businesses that allow him to provide comprehensive service to his customers. From towing and rental cars to glass repair, dealerships, and an insurance company, his network is continually growing.
His portfolio of businesses includes Twins Buick GMC Discount Auto Glass, Solid Insurance, Bobb Automotive, Speedy Car Rental, Liberty Towing, and Gray Gables Realty
The glass company, in particular, has really taken off, with 14 installers doing work across Columbus, including for many of the dealerships in the city. Safaryan estimates around 80% of the local franchise dealerships use their services, and they’re likely the second largest installer in the city.
“All the businesses benefit from each other,” he says, and allow him to provide customers with an experience uniquely tailored to meet their needs.
It’s a culmination of decades of hard work, and Safaryan’s success is truly proof that hard work does indeed pay off.
“Stay committed, put in the effort, and the results will follow," he says.
