PRESIDENT’S
Steven Krieps (304) 755-1146 skrieps@live.com
MESSAGE TECH SHORTAGE,RISING MATERIAL COSTS: WHAT GIVES?! As always, there is a lot going on in the collision repair industry, which is great for content generation…but what does it mean to your shop? Ever sit down and focus on one item? I know it’s very hard given the fact that, in this business, it can feel like you are running around with a fire hose all day, every day. I figured I would point out a few things I have been thinking about recently. We all know costs are rising, and paint materials is a huge one. Limited supplies reduced supply chain efforts, and now inflation is driving prices upward. Yet, in 2021, only 19.2 percent of shops (down from 27.5 percent in 2020) utilized a paint materials invoicing system. How you choose to bill is a business decision, but consider this: If you utilize the multiplier-based billing method, when was the last time the multiplier was adjusted? One report showed an average increase in paint material of 11 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 with more double-digit increases coming in 2022. Sit down with your advisors, and look at your numbers. As if that was not enough, how are you on technicians? We have a generation retiring, but who is coming in to replace them? The days of bringing in a mechanically-inclined kid and teaching him in house are over for the most part. You can still accomplish that to a degree, but today’s cars are so advanced in construction and technology that outside training, such as programs offered by the manufacturers, are a necessity, and they’re expensive. We can’t afford not to train our people as we are trusted to know WMABA OFFICERS
PRESIDENT Steve Krieps steve@gregclineauto.com 304-755-1146 VICE PRESIDENT Rodney Bolton boltonconsulting61@gmail.com 443-386-0086 TREASURER Kris Burton kris@rosslynautobody.com 703-820-1800 SECRETARY Phil Rice phil@ricewoods.com 540-846-6617 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Torchy Chandler Torchy Chandler torchy.chandler@gmail.com 410-309-2242
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Don Beaver (donbeaver3551@gmail.com) 443-235-6668
Bill Hawkins (hawkinswilliamjr@gmail.com) 510-915-2283
Barry Dorn (bdorn@dornsbodyandpaint.com) 804-746-3928
John Shoemaker (john.a.shoemaker@basf.com) 248-763-4375
ADMINISTRATION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jordan Hendler (jordanhendler@wmaba.com) 804-789-9649 WMABA CORPORATE OFFICE P.O. Box 3157 • Mechanicsville, VA 23116
4
April 2022
what we are doing. But again, it’s an added expense. With Target offering up to $24 per hour, how will your shop attract people? For some, is that 50 percent of their labor? What about benefits, what about retirement, healthcare, short- and long-term disability!? I cannot stress the importance of offering technicians at least shortterm disability. Organizations like SCRS have been working to put together group plans that may be able to help. But the employment market is very tough for the collision industry. How will you bring in the next generation and ensure your sustainability? I may leave you with more questions than answers, but that’s kind of the point. You need to question, network, discuss and share, but get involved. One person will not have all the answers, but no one knows this industry better than those in it. H&D
STAFF PUBLISHER
Thomas Greco thomas@grecopublishing.com
SALES DIRECTOR
Alicia Figurelli alicia@grecopublishing.com
EDITORIAL/CREATIVE COORDINATOR
Alana Quartuccio Bonillo alana@grecopublishing.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Chasidy Rae Sisk chasidy@grecopublishing.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Donna Greco donna@grecopublishing.com
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Joe Greco .joe@grecopublishing.com
PUBLISHED BY TGP, Inc. 244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110 973-667-6922 FAX 973-235-1963
Reproduction of any portions of this publication is specifically prohibited without written permission from the publisher. The opinions and ideas appearing in this magazine are not necessarily representations of TGP Inc. or of the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA). Copyright © 2022 Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. Stock Images courtesy of istockphoto.com.