Kuni Honda Enters Collision Repair Business
Kuni Honda enters collision repair business with onsite facility
by Michael Anderson
Centennial, Colo.???Parked in the showroom of Kuni Honda is a two-tone 1994 Honda Civic, with half of the car restored and painted black, and the other showing dents, door dings, and faded red paint. The car serves as a marketing piece for Herm Brocksmith's new collision center, Kuni Body Shop & Collision Repair that opened this fall.
"I researched the entire marketplace and saw a big opportunity for a dealership body shop," said Brocksmith, the dealership's president and general manager, who pointed out that many dealers send their customers elsewhere for the service.
"It gives them another reason to be loyal," he said. "It gives us another opportunity to gain a new customer."
"I want our guests to come to one place and get everything under one roof," said Charles Russell, collision center manager, who pointed out that it was Brocksmith's initial plan to add a body shop when he became the general manager of the dealership in 2009.
"The green leaf logo immediately lets customers know that the body shop uses 'green' practices," Russell said, adding that the shop recycles waste material, sprays Standox Standoblue waterborne basecoat, recycles all shop and office paper, and even uses staplers made from recycled plastic.
"Colorado residents tend to be more environmentally conscious and forward thinking," Russell said, making the marketing thrust a natural for the area.
At the time of the interview, high-speed doors that can raise and lower in 10 seconds were being installed to help keep in the heat during winter months.
In spite of no formal DRP programs, the 10,000-square-foot shop has plenty of business, a good mix of customer-pay work and insurance claims, Russell said. Many insurance field adjusters have seen the quality of our work and accuracy of estimates and cycle times, he said, which has built trust and repeat business.
"Having a collision repair center attached to a franchise dealership definitely has its advantages," he said, pointing out that when a car needs collision-related mechanical work or an airbag reset, they simply open the garage door and roll it into their service department.
Since 39 percent of cars on the road need an alignment, and especially those involved in an accident, the Hunter alignment machines in the service department come in handy, Russell noted.
"Having dedicated parts person that works on behalf of the body shop in the parts department is another major benefit," he said, especially since they work on all makes and models and have to procure parts from other wholesaling dealers and suppliers.
"The customers who visit the sales department or service department are a natural source of business," Russell said. "An estimator is situated in the service department during high-traffic times, keeping an eye out for potential customer-pay work," he said.
With a large base of Honda owners in the immediate area, Russell said there is plenty of opportunity for collision work. "Honda people like to take their vehicles to a Honda shop," he added.
"The estimator will write an estimate and place a 12-inch or two-foot band aid with the Kuni logo and phone number on the damaged area," he said, which always gets customers' attention.
"Examples of customer-pay work include minor dents and scratches, windshield repair, or headlamp restoration," Russell said, pointing out that the magnesium chloride used on the roads tends to degrade the protective film on the plastic headlamps. "When people have the service done, they often comment on how well they can see while driving at night," he added.
"The shop is outfitted with the latest equipment, including a two-bay pressurized Global Finishing Solutions (GFS) prep station, a GFS high-efficiency spray booth, and a pit for a second booth," he said.
"A Kaeser rotary-screw compressor supplies the air to the shop, complete with a refrigerated drier," he said, adding that the air is delivered via Kaeser's Smart pipe with aluminum fittings.
"For straightening frames, the techs use a Chief frame rack coupled with a Genesis measuring system," Russell said. "We can put a long-bed dualie on the frame machine and pull it," he said, adding that no expense was spared when the clamps were purchased, since they now have most. "We can do any kind of frame repair known to man."
"The shop employs 12 people and is looking to hire more," Russell said, because of better-than expected volume. He said he is looking to fill positions in estimating, administration, technicians, and detailers.
"I'm big on finding the right people and putting them in the right seat on the bus," he said.
Kuni Honda is part of the Kuni Automotive dealer group with locations in Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and California. All Kuni Automotive's dealerships are partially owned by the Kuni Foundation, which distributes funds to organizations working on cancer research and those working with adults with developmental disorders.
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Press Release Kuni Body Shop & Collision Repair Open for Business
Press Release
9/16/2011
Kuni Honda Body Shop & Collision Repair
For Immediate Release:
Kuni Honda on Arapahoe located in Centennial, Colorado has opened Denver's ONLY Honda Body Shop.
Herm Brocksmith, President and General Manager of Kuni Honda on Arapahoe said, "Our fully equipped, Green, Eco-Friendly Body Shop and collision repair facility is now open for business at 10750 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial, Colorado. Our facility and equipment are state-of-the-art with the latest in green technology making our footprint on the environment as small as possible. At the Kuni Body Shop & Collision Repair facility, our focus is on the safety, functionality and appearance of our guest's vehicle. Our highly skilled auto body team is ready to make your car shine!"
For more information regarding the Kuni Body Shop & Collision Repair, please visit our websites at: www.kuni-honda.com or www.kunibodyshop.com.
Kuni Body Shop & Collision Repair???We Meet Nice People by Accident!
Kuni Body Shop & Collision Repair, a division of Kuni Honda on Arapahoe, is part of an Auto Dealer group serving the entire Denver, CO area in Denver, Parker, Littleton, Lakewood, Aurora, Centennial, Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Larkspur, Englewood, Westminster, Boulder. At all the Kuni dealerships we treat the needs of each individual customer with paramount concern. We know that you have high expectations, and as a company, we enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding those standards each and every time. Allow us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence! "We Meet Nice People...by Accident!"
Visit our blog sites: www.kuni-honda-accord.com , www.kuni-honda-civic.com , www.kuni-honda-crv.com , www.kuni-honda-pilot.com , www.kuni-honda-odyssey.com , www.kuni-honda-autobody.com , www.hermbrocksmith.com , www.the4fatalmistakes.com .
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