Hi

Myself and business partner are starting up a garage in aberdeen and will be mainly concentrating on high performance japanese cars.

What im trying to do is get any general opinions, ideas from any local lads of what services they find hard to get in this area.

The general idea is that this business will be set up with your club members and other japanese performance enthusiasts in mind so it really matters for me to take on board what you really need.

 

We will be providing the following services. general servicing, repairs, electronic diagnostics, tuning supply and fit service from ind kits, exhausts to full engine rebuilds.

 

I would be gratefull for any comments or suggestions on how this could be tailored to the needs of the car owner.

 

Thanks

Rich

I find that in Scotland, there are plenty of "Jap performance specialists". But by the word specialist they will do any car with little or no experience on cars like ours. What I mean is they are familiar with working on cars like Evos and Subarus etc.

 

The work you are offering sounds very similiar to 4 companies I know of not far from me. Heres what I think you would need to be successful:

 

- Be helpful and show a care towards the cars and owners

- Use the owners clubs to get more information of all the the makes and models that you suspect you could get. I could work on any japanese car way before my mechanic could, just for the siple fact I have learned through the owners clubs.

- Always complete work properly (this may sound daft but you know there are a million companies out there who will just do the work any way possible to get money out, you know what I mean).

- I think that around the Aberdeen area there is none or bare minimal competition, so your on a winner. (Try advertising through some of the local forums around the Dundee/Fife/Perthshire area also might help).

 

Sorry to be blunt, but I hope this helps. I would certinly pop up a few times to get work carried out. Of the 4 tuners I know of in Scotland, I have had mates cars in for work and came out unhappy. Be good to get a decent garage.

 

Dave G

Thanks dave for your honest opinions

 

I agree that alot of specialists think they will work on imprezas and automatically become a specialist in every form of performance car on the road.

 

Me and my partner came up with the idea of the garage because both being japanese car enthusiasts owning between us S13 200sx,S14 200sx, pulsar gtir,z31 300zx turbo, z32 300zx, gen 3 rx7, impreza turbo, celica gt and gt4,

and currently own a GTO TT. We found trying to find any tuning products avalible locally and a garage that people could trust not to be ripped off no excistant.

Both being mechanics and coming from a large varied background of these cars we each enjoyed working on them and soon alot of local guys on owner clubs got us to do repair work on the side.

 

We thought why not do this for a living if we do it already?

 

We will be aiming to provide a freindly service that will take in consideration the owners needs and budget. That in mind we will not be punishing you with premium labour rates just because of the car you own.

 

Thanks

 

Rich

Sounds promising,

 

If you arrange for some sort of opening day I will pop along and have a wee nosey. I usually prefer to get garages to do any performance work for me but due to the lack of a garage who could do work properly I found that I am better working on the car myself. But now that there is a good place opening I could see you having my car in for a few weeks at a time for some work.

 

Hope this venture succeeds.

 

Dave G

We would be aiming to have some form of open day that we could have a chat with owners taking the time to discuss their requirments and opionins

 

Still trying to work out details of that but hoping to arrange around mid may

 

Trying to make the opening day a little different from everyone elses.

 

Thanks

Rich

i also think having sum kind of reward scheme might help?

 

on your 3rd visit get 15% off all work

 

5th visit get 20% off

 

go up to a max of 25% off

 

might be a idea to help keep customers and reward them for being loyal?

 

also perhaps do a free hour check up, ideal if sum1 wants to know whats up with there car, take it in there and get you guys to take a quick look for free. this might perswade them to spend any cash with you.

 

i think presentation is VITAL, i once went to a place in nottingham for my old car for some work, the place was a disgrace, more like a scrap yard, tools everywhere, oil all over the floor etc etc. took 1 look and walked away and took the car else where :)

 

sounds promising m8, hope it works out, not enough places about that people can trust, i only trust 2 places to work on my car. Most places just ant got a clue. Its a real shame

 

good luck anyway :)

i agree with you that presentation is vital first impressions counts.

We are spending a good bit of time on the small details on the premises

We have discussed some form of customer loyalty scheme which will be in place on opening.

i belive if a customer is willing to support you with continued custom you should also give something back.

 

If anyone has any suggestions on this please feel free to comment

 

thanks

Rich

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Presentation is key as said above but so is reputation. You can only get a good reputatiuon by doing good work, giving good friendly advice and by going that step further.

 

By going a step further I suppose the following springs to mind:

 

1. If an owner brings a car in for a service, why not offer to give the car a full inspection. That way the owner knows other things wrong with the car. Show the owner exactly what you have found in an open and non obligatory fashion and explain all options to him.

 

2. Give a car back clean, inside and out. Owners will notice this and will rmember it and tell friends. If you do something good a customer will tell a friend, if you do something bad a customer will tell all of his friends!!!

 

3. Loyalty scheme offering discounts (25% sounds a bit much tho)

 

4. Free tuning advice. Advise young drivers on how to get more out of their car and if you also supply the parts at competitive prices, you could get more business.

 

5. Professional looking garage and a professional attitude. We see so many cowboys in this game...try to distance yourself from them.

 

6. Free tea and coffee...sounds simple but it works...

 

 

Just my observations.....HTH