The Garage 299

WELCOME
The
Supporting the Independent Garage and MOT sector
Issue 299
August 2019
Hello
Welcome to this issue of The Garage.
This issue reflects just how much the
independent aftermarket has changed
recently, as we take a look at garage
branding and social media.
Let’s start with social media, which has
gone way beyond being a way for teenagers to keep
in touch with other into a perfectly handy, highly
useful business tool.
With the demise of Yellow Pages, for example, it’s
clear just much we value our mobile phones and
our computers at home. We don’t use them just
to stay in touch, but to find the best deals when
shopping and of course getting our cars serviced.
But how many decent garages have a website
or a Facebook page? It’s surprising how many
aren’t ‘connected’ and that’s a pity, because social
media really offers a great way of broadening your
businesses’ public image. As fewer people look in
the local paper for recommendations and continue
to use their phones, you could be missing out –
and why do that?
Establishing a social media presence through
Facebook or Twitter surely makes sense: It costs
almost nothing and that – considering the coverage
it brings your business – surely cannot be missed.
And because of that we take a closer look at how
social media can help bring more business your
way.
Getting customers through your door, and
new ones especially, isn’t always easy. Sometimes
motorists aren’t confident the ‘friendly local garage’
is really up to the job – even though of course it
probably is. All too often there’s a perception that
independents can’t work on the latest cars, or
bigger, more complicated but older cars.
So how do you give out an air of confidence?
Garage branding is regarded by many independent
businesses as the way forward, where signage,
smarter clothing and better marketing help give a
more professional air.
It’s not all about image: Garage branding
programmes offer plenty of technical support and
training too, meaning you’ll not be turning some
jobs away, and that has to be a good thing.
Of course some independents might not want
to join as they feel it locks them into spending
commitments and also becoming apt of a
network, but that’s necessarily the case, as most
businesses still retain the characteristics of being
an independent that customers find so appealing.
And ask yourself this: If garage branding
schemes aren’t all that, how come so many garages
do belong to one?
Enjoy the issue!
Richard Barnett, features’ editor
PS. If you agree, disagree or have anything to
add to our comments please email:
stuart.woolley@ppmedia.co.uk
Editorial
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Richard Barnett
Design & Layout
Lizzie Colbert
lizzie.colbert@ppmedia.co.uk
Production
Mark Blacker
mark.blacker@ppmedia.co.uk
Advertising
Stuart Woolley
stuart.woolley@ppmedia.co.uk
Editorial, Production and
Advertising address:
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Bridge Road, Wellington
Telford, Shropshire
TF1 1RY
Telephone:
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Website:
www.garageandmot.com
The
Supporting the Independent Garage and MOT sector
is published by: Partnership
Publishing Ltd, Bridge Road,
Wellington, Telford TF1 1RY
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3 Comment.indd 1 27/08/2019 09:37