Shop progress!

[Darren M]

Now, this is just my 2c but I'm going to lay it out serious like here.
Screw the fancy shit, screw the pimped out cards, screw the super great look. GET TO FIXING CARS! And, do one hell of a job. Get some cheap cards from Vistaprint.com, save your cash, and get to work!!! You're pouring through money right now. Get some business. Happy customers sell for you. Especially in that area. I fear you are focusing on the wrong priorites. Again, it isn't my shop, and yes I agree you'll need cards, but for crying out loud. At the time of a business start up the following mantra just screams. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!!!!!!
(I have this in my office and refer to it frequently.)

Good luck man, seriously, I wish you the best and hope you're as good w/ your books and your wrench as seem to be with the paint brush.

[crapstang]

the rims? C'mon, you can do better than that!

[LaserSVT]

Now, this is just my 2c but I'm going to lay it out serious like here.
Screw the fancy shit, screw the pimped out cards, screw the super great look. GET TO FIXING CARS! And, do one hell of a job. Get some cheap cards from Vistaprint.com, save your cash, and get to work!!! You're pouring through money right now. Get some business. Happy customers sell for you. Especially in that area. I fear you are focusing on the wrong priorites. Again, it isn't my shop, and yes I agree you'll need cards, but for crying out loud. At the time of a business start up the following mantra just screams. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!!!!!!
(I have this in my office and refer to it frequently.)

Good luck man, seriously, I wish you the best and hope you're as good w/ your books and your wrench as seem to be with the paint brush.

Oh I agree. BUT I have a friend that will make me these cards for less then basic black and white ones locally. I been shopping like crazy and when he said what I could have for a little less I decided why not?

And costs are very important with a new buisiness. Everything I have purchased I have shopped for like crazy to get the absolute lowest price I can. Got the air comp for near half what everyone else sells it for, same with the welder and trans jack. Going with $100 banner signs for now instead of $450 aluminum ones till I see where the buisiness is at.

I have been very frugal with purchases and hope I am doing it all right. Only time will tell.



As for now we are not even open yet and already repaired three cars. Have another one tomorrow too with a brake job and trans service. Have a SportTrac that needs a trans R&R on Monday, Cobra clutch and flywheel and a BMW exhaust Tuesday, Mustang GT control arms on Wed as well as a stereo install on a Neon, GMC 1500 radiator and brakes Thursday...... I hope it keeps up.

[lincolnboy]

I see one thing wrong. I dont see no smoking signs in the shop.

[CRASH]

I see one thing wrong. I dont see no smoking signs in the shop.

And photoshop your license plates out of the picture if you are going to use it for your cards.

Or, whatever your business name is going to be, photoshop that onto the front license plates.

OR, I could paint your business name on some aluminum blanks to bolt onto the front of your cars.

How big are your business signs going to be ?

-Aaron

[Darren M]

As for now we are not even open yet and already repaired three cars. Have another one tomorrow too with a brake job and trans service. Have a SportTrac that needs a trans R&R on Monday, Cobra clutch and flywheel and a BMW exhaust Tuesday, Mustang GT control arms on Wed as well as a stereo install on a Neon, GMC 1500 radiator and brakes Thursday...... I hope it keeps up.

Awesome!

[dville_gt]

As for now we are not even open yet and already repaired three cars.

of those three how many are paying customers (i.e. not your own cars you are working on?)

i honestly wish you the best of luck, it just seems like this has been built around being your dream garage instead of being a professional business. pool table, kegerators, your cars in the shop.... call me crazy

[Z06killinsbf]

I have to agree, best of luck but the pool table screams unprofessional.

[LaserSVT]

I see one thing wrong. I dont see no smoking signs in the shop.

Thats cause I took them down.

And photoshop your license plates out of the picture if you are going to use it for your cards.

Or, whatever your business name is going to be, photoshop that onto the front license plates.

OR, I could paint your business name on some aluminum blanks to bolt onto the front of your cars.

How big are your business signs going to be ?

-Aaron

Good idea with the plate covers. Gonna see if my buddy thtas making the cards can chop that on the front plates.
The signs are 8' x 4' for now. Prolly go bigger in the future.

of those three how many are paying customers (i.e. not your own cars you are working on?)

i honestly wish you the best of luck, it just seems like this has been built around being your dream garage instead of being a professional business. pool table, kegerators, your cars in the shop.... call me crazy

All are paying..... I take that back, one painted a good portion of the shop and only had a broken wire on the brake switch so I didnt charge her anything.

As for the pool table and kegerator, they were left by the previous owner. I dont even drink and have never shot a game of pool in my life. LOL! The kegerator is for sale right now. Not sure about the table, I have a lot of customers that are friends and were excited to see the table so I may just keep it so they can play while I work on their rides.

I have to agree, best of luck but the pool table screams unprofessional.

See above reply.

In all seriousness, I thought about selling the table but am told its only worth $100 in its current condition and for $100 I would prefer to keep it even if it becomes a work bench. Damn thing is pretty solid.

[Silverback]

pictures on business cards are cheap and tacky

I don't know one major corporation that uses full color pictures on their business cards, and there's a reason for it.

A good single color, maybe multi-color if you actually have an official logo, then black text on white background. Include the business name, tag line if you have one, maybe a list of services, then your name, the shops address and phone number, maybe a website/email address if you have a business one, do not include your personal one as it looks unprofessional.

[LaserSVT]

Forgot, met the towns post master and he also owns the only store in Golinda. Hes the goto guy for Golinda on where to go. I hooked him up with a no start issue and he was very happy. Hes tellin the whole town to come see us for work. He also gave me free burgers for life since I didnt charge him to come out to scan and diagnose the cars problem. Did that for good reason though cause he is who he is and know he can send me TONS of buisiness. His resturant is the local hangout on Friday and Saturday nights.
Hes even getting me hooked up wit flyers through the post office at some absurdly cheap rate.

He also sent me to meet Robinsons town info lady who everyone seems to know. We hit it off and she said the other shops in town sucks and if Mike (the post master) says Im good then she will send me anyone and everyone.

Small towns, gotta love them. LOL

[Silverback]

and if you are going to keep the pool table, it needs to be out of the shop and in the "waiting area".

Right now it just looks like an old redneck place to hang out. You want it to give off a professional vibe. I'd worry that some idiot would be playing pool and launch a ball off the table and hit my car, then I'd be concerned if you were bonded and insured to make sure I could get it fixed at another shop, because it wouldn't be coming back after that.

[LaserSVT]

pictures on business cards are cheap and tacky

I don't know one major corporation that uses full color pictures on their business cards, and there's a reason for it.

A good single color, maybe multi-color if you actually have an official logo, then black text on white background. Include the business name, tag line if you have one, maybe a list of services, then your name, the shops address and phone number, maybe a website/email address if you have a business one, do not include your personal one as it looks unprofessional.

This is kinda what I had in mind. Much tweaking to do and still waiting on AT&T to install the hard lines.

[Silverback]

I'd go with something more like this...



Using your logo, or something like that. Just a 3 minute job

[grove rat]

i admit... matt's card is simple but pimpin'