IT STARTS WITH YOU
First-ever Canadian Council of Collision Repairers meeting sets the foundation for collaborative industry change By DARRYL SIMMONS In early January, I had the privilege of attending the historic first in-person meeting of the Canadian Council of Collision Repairers (CCCR) at Pfaff Autoworks in Markham, Ontario. If you’ve yet to hear about it, trust me when […]
PROGRESS, PROMISE AND PROSPERITY
With a commitment to training and embracing safe repairs, Canada’s collision repair industry is poised for a great new year! By DARRYL SIMMONS As we make our way through the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to take a breather and reflect on the year that was and the one quickly approaching. This period is […]
EMBRACING AN OPEN DIALOGUE
Transparent communication is key to moving the industry forward By DARRYL SIMMONS It truly baffles me why our industry hesitates to foster open dialogue between insurers and repairers, particularly when it comes to agreeing upon safe and effective repair practices, as outlined by OEM and I-CAR standards. This hesitance risks unnecessary confrontation and discord. Why […]
WHEELS OF FORTUNE
There’s a lot of collaboration in the collision industry’s future BY DARRYL SIMMONS One of the best things about my job is getting out to events and meeting the incredible people of our industry. Two recent events that I really enjoyed were IBIS and the Driven Brands convention. IBIS is a global summit where we […]
THE OEM IMPACT
Automakers and insurers are no longer stange bedfellows By DARRYL SIMMONS With Toyota’s recent foray to provide insurance to the U.S. market, the stage seems to be quietly getting set for the ultimate behemoth of consolidation and full cradle-to-grave control by the OEM. This trend, which has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the […]
KEEP CURRENT
The number of electric vehicles (EVs) on Canadian roads is growing. About 95 percent of the Canadian vehicle parc remains gasoline-powered, according to 2022 numbers from Statistics Canada, but small waves are starting. In other words, it’s time to decide whether your collision centre will stay current or fade into obsolescence as we stride into […]
YOUR VOICE COUNTS. DON’T STAY SILENT.
Unless you speak up, the status quo will never change. The Canadian Council of Collision Repairers is ready to be your voice. BY DARRYL SIMMONS There’s nothing more exciting than getting together a group of shop owners and managers. Collision repair shop owners and operators sure are a passionate group. Since we first started talking […]
IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU
Is it time for a national association? The Collision Repair Bureau might be the answer By DARRYL SIMMONS Now that we’re basically done with the pandemic—or have at least learned how to deal with it—all shops can get back to the real issues facing their business, namely profitability, sustainability, image building and attracting more qualified […]
BREAKING POINT
Let’s hope it doesn’t get there By DARRYL SIMMONS The response to my last column, “The Tipping Point” was a lot greater than I had expected. Thank you for sharing your concerns. Letters via email came from across the country and each one was saying the same thing. As a shop owner or manager, you […]
THE TIPPING POINT
It’s time we put our heads together— for the greater good of the industry I recently made a heated argument against some restaurant service staff making a case they deserve larger tips due to a decrease in wages spurred by COVID. Pardon me? Did I just hear that right? Did they really think everyone else […]
