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 […]
SPRING HAS SPRUNG
Put some pep in your step this season—there’s plenty of room to grow By DARRYL SIMMONS There’s something special about this time of year. As the snow finally melts and we get to head outside without coats and boots, it’s only natural to think about things growing. Despite the topsy-turvy circus across the globe, it’s […]
DUCKS IN A ROW
The perfect time for planning is the present By DARRYL SIMMONS And not a minute too soon, 2021 is in our rear-view mirror. From all accounts it was a challenging time, but most repairers weathered the storm and are ready for the year ahead. Interesting times ahead for sure. But we’ve been warned before about […]
TO 2022, AND BEYOND!
Give the gift of wisdom this holiday season By DARRYL SIMMONS Well, folks, another year for the history books. It may not have been the most stellar year on record, but we certainly made the best of it. One thing we can undoubtedly be happy about is the resurgence of industry trade shows. Oh, how […]
