Auto Body Shop Boot Camp: Making Shops More Productive and Ready for the Future

Mitchell hosted a local auto body shop boot camp for repair shops in the Chicago area Tuesday, November 18. The one-day training was designed to help local repair shop owners understand the latest technologies and strategies that some of the leading shops are using in the industry.

Matt Heubner, Solution Specialist for Mitchell, welcomes customers to the first BodyShop Boot Camp

Shop owners and industry leaders came together to discuss the evolving landscape of the repair industry. Whether shop owners wondered how to market their business in today's mobile world or how to improve cycle time without having to add more technicians, this training course provided the tools to help shops build for the future.

The Chicago boot camp featured the following sessions:

• How to get more cars and revenue in a consolidating marketplace
• How to improve cycle and touch time
• The future of IT in the collision industry
• Length of rental, how it affects your business and what you can do to control it
• How to increase gross profit on paint and materials
• Changing vehicle technology and the impact on the collision industry

Matt Heubner, Solution Specialist, at Mitchell came up with the idea for the boot camps. As Reid Heiser, Director of Solution Advising, Collision Field Sales South says "All too often companies sell to customers without ever creating a forum to engage with peers and learn about what works and what doesn't. Mitchell's body shop boot camp is an opportunity for managers to learn new tools and tips to grow the business. Our goal is not just to provide the industry's best solutions, but it's also to constantly deliver resources that help shop owners increase their productivity and revenue."

Jason Scharton, Business Development Manager for 3M, discusses new vehicle technologies.

In talking to some of the attendees after the one-day training, it was concluded that the event was a success. Here's some of the feedback we collected after the Chicago Boot Camp.  

Would you recommend Body Shop Bootcamp to other industry colleagues? Why or Why Not? 
Yes. This was very enlightening and informational. It is a great way to cross market or network. It's also great to get a glimpse into other aspects of the collision industry.  

What was the best feature of the Body Shop Boot Camp?
The variety of speakers and information presented. 

Would you recommend Body Shop Boot Camp to other industry colleagues? Why or why not?
Most definitely. If I can implement a quarter of what we learned today, [it] will improve our business.

Would you recommend Body Shop Boot Camp to other industry colleagues? Why or why not?
Most definitely. If I can implement a quarter of what we learned today, [it] will improve our business. 

Yes, I will go back to the shop with fresh eyes. [Body Shop] Boot Camp was worth my time.

Want to attend a Body Shop Boot Camp near you? Interest dictates where we'll be next. Email repaircenterinfo@Mitchell.com to request Mitchell to bring the Body Shop Boot Camp to you.