A good website is the key to attracting customers – and the right staff

Website could be a 'secret weapon', says Garage Services Online

A good website is the key to attracting customers – and the right staff

Andy Savva, a trainer and mentor to the independent garage sector, is urging garage owners to think outside the box to help tackle staff shortages.

According to GiPA, 57 percent of workshops say staffing is their main challenge and this is something that Andy, The Garage Inspector, says garages should address urgently.

He is currently training garage businesses on a variety of topics from leadership and quality management to marketing essentials, and believes garage owners can do more to attract the best technicians.

He said: “Someone’s perception of you and your garage affects everything. From whether they contact you in the first place, to how much they feel the quality of your service is worth.

“The key to managing that perception is communication. You must communicate well from the moment they find you online, right through to when you give them the bill.

“If you don’t get it right, your garage’s image will be a turn-off for customers – and potential employees.

“Secondly, if you don’t communicate the professionalism and quality of your service, how can you expect to charge properly for it? And if you don’t charge what you should, you can’t afford to pay the technicians what they’re worth? See the connection?”

With the industry’s staff shortage problem, he says there isn’t going to be an overnight fix and is urging garage owners to stop selling themselves and their technicians short. 

He concludes: “It starts with communication and marketing. At the very least, garages must have a website that’s a beacon for attracting the right work and the right people.

Jim Lang, MD at independent garage website provider, Garage Services Online, agrees.

He said: “It’s a common misconception that a website will only attract more work to a garage that’s already ‘too busy’. They do so much more and that includes being configured to just attract the work a garage wants.

“Most importantly, within seconds, they shape someone’s perception of you. How professional you are, and whether they could like and trust you.

“For garages who think outside the box, a specialist website will be at the core of their business; their secret weapon to making more profit – and ultimately attracting the best staff.”

Have your say!

0 0

Lost Password

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.