FORGING BONDS

This shift signaled a paradigm change that demanded a strategic response.

Chris’s decision to join the network was influenced by a combination of factors deeply rooted in both familial legacy and strategic foresight. Having purchased the shop from his uncle in 2017, Chris inherited a business with a longstanding reputation for repair quality, yet one that was still grappling with challenges in maximizing claims acquisition. Reflecting on past opportunities, Chris notes that Steve Leal, president of Fix Network World, had originally approached his family’s business in 2012, but they weren’t yet prepared to make the leap. However, as market dynamics evolved, particularly amidst the challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Chris and his team recognized the need for a strategic shift. With insurance claims taking center stage in their business model, they embarked on a thorough exploration of network options. Among the contenders, ProColor stood out for its synergies within Fix Network and its broader ecosystem, offering a holistic approach to automotive repair that already encompassed collision repair services with reputable brand, Fix Auto, mechanical services through Speedy Auto Service and windshield repair and replacement via NOVUS Glass. This alignment with Fix Network’s comprehensive vision, coupled with their track record of success, made it the clear choice for Chris and his team as they embarked on a new chapter of growth and collaboration within the network.

Fix Auto Charlottetown, led by Dave Gaudet, whose father had once worked alongside Chris’ uncle before venturing out on his own, was once viewed as an opponent. “At one time, the sentiment between our businesses was ‘that’s competition, don’t share industry secrets,’” Chris reveals. However, after joining the network, the winds of change brought forth new opportunities for collaboration and synergy.

Hurricane Fiona, a force of nature that swept through Charlottetown in September 2022, brought with it a deluge of insurance claims, challenging the capacity and resources of both ProColor Collision and Fix Auto. In a remarkable display of solidarity, the two brands rallied together, crossing traditional boundaries to support one another. “During the Hurricane Fiona fiasco, Fix Auto reached out to us, knowing that our shop had capacity and thought that since we were now a part of the same network, we could help each other out,” Chris explains.

Following their conversation, within a span of 72 hours, ProColor Collision Charlottetown had an additional 45 claims, alleviating the burden of antsy adjusters, and ensuring prompt and efficient service for their customers. This pivotal moment exemplifies the ideals of collaboration and cooperation that define the relationship between ProColor Collision and Fix Auto. They have also sent Fix Auto their own claims when they’ve needed that same support, and it has been back and forth since then. This also means that between the two brands, they are able to capitalize on the market share rather than the competition. “Now, if something comes up and one of the two shops has a problem or a question about a paint code, for example, we can text each other. It’s nice knowing we have that support under 3 kilometers away and someone to bounce ideas off of,” Chris affirms.

In a world where competition often reigns supreme, Chris advocates a philosophy of unity and collective progress. “We all have the same goal,” he asserts, “we need to be talking to each other rather than pushing the facade that ‘it’s me against everyone else.’”