Tour blog 10

Tour blog 10

30 Oct 2008

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Find out who reckons the BSI Kitemark won them 342 new customers. Catch up with Aftermarket On Tour's trip for BEN

Thursday 30th October . . .

5:15pm – A big welcome to you all from the slow lane of the M1. Scratch that, try the middle lane, oh, I mean the fast lane!

Just like our progress towards Leeds, today’s been one of those days that I thought would go badly but got faster and better as it went on.

Last night was a blur of phone calls with people claiming they would be so busy that they definitely wouldn’t be able to spare 30 seconds to smile for the camera. By the time we turned up, most people actually seemed quite glad for a bit of a chin wag.

Anyway, here’s a quick look back at some of the interesting and brilliantly generous people we’ve met today.

 
Michael Gormley at MGA Performance Car Specialist in Derby
This brilliantly friendly garage manager’s workshop specialises in diagnostics, particularly on Jaguars.
Michael’s garage appears to be wonderfully well organised. I guess it helps that he doesn’t really do much grubby mechanical work but it’s sparklingly clean.

After a much-appreciated cuppa, Michael lets us in on some of the frustrations, highs and lows of running a garage business. He also has some tips out there for garages wondering where to advertise their business.

“I monitored all our advertising last year and asked every single customer where they heard about us,” says Kevin. “It surprised me because the biggest response was from Yell.com – probably about 99% - but not the Yellow Pages.

“I know people that tried advertising in the motoring sections of local papers and got virtually no response.”
Michael takes us through into his office area in the back of the workshop and shows us what happens if you type ‘jag service derby’ into Google.

Low and behold, his company’s website (and not that of a local franchised dealer) is in prime position, which Michael puts down to the Yell.com website. Not being a web designer himself, he gets his site organised by a local web designer.

Before we leave for Nottingham, we nip over the road to say hello to the guys across the road.


Ainsley McEwan at McEwans Garage in Derby
Ainsley’s garage is a great example of independent-sector marketing with all his brand badges and quality logos proudly on display outside to reassure customers. He’s also wearing his ATA-branded fleece to show he’s got the right skills for the job.

As soon as he realises we’re dragging ourselves around this nation’s garages to help spread the BEN message, Ainsley very kindly and without hesitation shoves £20 into my hand. Many thanks! 

His workshop specialises in Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia work. Personally, the last time I saw a Lancia on the road was the one my dad had when I was about four years old.

I definitely haven’t seen another one since. Maybe Nottingham is a last stronghold for fans of Italian cars no longer readily available in the UK. Nothing wrong with capitalising on niche markets!


James Gardiner at Rod Lockett Motor Repairs in Derby
I stupidly spend about two minutes talking about the industry with a man who I later realise is a customer and not Rod Lockett himself – who’s nipped out for a sec.

Never mind, I’ve felt much more stupid on many more previous occasions. We grab a pic with tech James instead and head off towards Nottingham.


Paul Purewal, David Clemerson and Steve Wootton at Pitstop Auto Centre in Long Eaton
The boys at this Bosch Car Service garage are just about the most eager to get in front of the camera that we've found. Although admittedly, that's really not that eager. After a quick snap we head down the road to Sandiacre with NGK promo girl Mel in tow.


Pete Taylor at Town St Garage in Sandiacre
Pete’s garage is one of those beautiful old-style wooden sheds with painted blue doors and a sign that’s been hand-painted by a professional sign-maker.

Exactly the sort of garage you should visit in a vintage sports car before speeding off for a day of picnics and balmy summer weather in the English countryside.


The mystery technician at A&K Sandiacre Garage in (you’ve guessed it) Sandiacre
As usual, I go in chatting away only to realise that my words are falling on non-English speaking ears. Apparently we’ve missed the boss by minutes. As time is of the essence, we decide to scarper.

Much as I’d like to chalk this one up as a legitimate garage visit, we failed to get a pic or pass on any words of advice about BEN so it’s a no score unfortunately.

The many makers of multi-lingual diagnostic kit out there may want to call in and try and notch up a sale. Never mind body control modules and functionality, I reckon they‘ll probably need a unit that’s strong in Eastern European linguistics.


Adam Rose at Bulwell Auto Services in (very logically) Bulwell
There are lots of camera shy garage staff out there. Personally, I reckon it’s only thanks to the aesthetic appeal of NGK’s BoxClever promo girl Mel that we bag this snap.

Garage boss Kelvin snaps up some info on NGK’s latest catalogues and promotions. Another big thank you to the NGK guys for their generous support of Aftermarket On Tour and, most importantly, their £500 donation to BEN.


Ray Ellis, Pete Hazeldine and Marcus Wainwright at Market Garage in Bulwell
This is another of those garages (pictured at the top of this page) where I suspect our presence is more welcome thanks to Mel and her lycra catsuit.

NGK goodies are dished out and there are whispered discussions about the BoxClever promotion. Mel even gives the boss a trendy, and probably not too cheap, NGK watch as a gift.

He says he’ll give it to one of his techs. Either he really wants to reward his staff or the watch in question is not quite his style, if you know what I mean.


Chaz and Barbara Marshall at Churchfield Motor Repairs in Churchfield (I presume, but if not, then definitely somewhere in the Nottingham area. It’s a bit disorientating being in a van all day!)
When I first called Churchfield Motor Repairs and asked about popping along and getting a quick pic to prove we were there, I thought Barbara was going to put the phone down on me.

Thankfully (or should that be hopefully) it wasn’t my annoying voice that put her off but more the prospect of having her picture taken.
Her husband Chaz crawls out from underneath a car and says he’ll give £20 to BEN if she lets my On Tour colleague (and chauffeur of excellence) Simon get a snap.

Eventually she agrees and the BEN cause is that little bit better off. Thanks Chaz! For the record, I don’t know why Barbara is so camera shy.  She’s a genuinely elegant looking lady.


Amanda ‘The Boss’ Steel, her husband Kevin, Kerry Lee on reception and technicians Danny Osborne, Ben Strange, Ben Hudson and Joe ‘The Mischief Maker’ Coyle at Jim Steel Garage Services
There can’t be many bigger fans of the BSI Kitemark for Garage Services out there than Amanda and Kevin.

Kevin explains that thanks to their Kitemark accreditation, they’ve won the servicing contract for 342 Nottingham City Council vans. And to cope with the work, the garage has expanded to a huge second site about 15 minutes’ drive away.

“For us, BSI has been the best thing,” says Kevin, from behind his garage’s bright and smart reception area. “I took my Kitemark stuff along to our first meeting with the council to talk about possibly taking on the fleet work. It meant every question they asked I could back up with paperwork.

“Anyone that’s been through the audit process knows that BSI don’t just take your cheque and give you the signs to put up.”
To help capitalise on winning their new fleet business, Kevin and Amanda are offering 1,200 staff at the city council discounts on service and repair work too.

The garage was founded 15 years ago by Kevin and his dad Jim. Although, like every good husband should, Kevin insists that his wife Amanda is the one who’s really in charge.

Kevin says the perception that the BSI Kitemark is too expensive and too difficult to achieve is not necessarily the right way to look at the situation.

“Some people just see a fee of hundreds of pounds and a lot of paperwork. They don’t see all the benefits.

“We’re a Unipart Car Care Centre and they helped with the paperwork and admin. There is work to do but maybe it’s work that needs doing. After that, it’s not that much extra. There are just a few daily and weekly checks.

“It’s been the best thing we’ve ever done. We wouldn’t let an engineer come and fix our boilers without CORGI registration so why should your car be any different,” says Amanda. “We’ve certainly had a big upturn in work since getting the Kitemark.”


Wayne Burton and Matt Withers at the other Jim Steel Garage Services
This huge garage workshop is the product of the Jim Steel empire’s impressive expansion. Wayne has never heard of BEN so hopefully I do a good job of filling him in on how the charity can help people in the automotive sector should they fall on hard times.

Simon gets some snaps of the Nottingham City Council vans that Jim Steel has added to its portfolio of work thanks to the BSI Kitemark and we hit the road.

I plug in the laptop, make some calls and phone up Tina – Premier Inn’s unbelievably annoying automated booking system – to see if we can get a roof over our heads for the night.

A quick tip for anyone trying to book a Premier Inn room in the future. Talk total nonsense to Tina. She’ll start to short circuit and you’ll be put through to a real person who’ll actually be able to tell you if there’s a hotel somewhere near the M62.

If all goes well tomorrow, it’s Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Preston on the agenda. 43 down and 57 to go! That’s all for now folks . . .

Tom

 

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