February 2021

BY Andy Savva T he world is a big place. On my travels, I have met some really amazing people running amazing businesses, and I have also met some people that were struggling. I’ve met some people where they have lost direction, and I have watched them find their way again. Having spent time with these people, whether it is through my courses or if it is through my garage visits, I think they should be able to share their ideas too, for the benefit of everyone in the sector. There is so much out there for people to share, about their success stories, what they have done individually in their own marketplace to develop their businesses after my visit. I think it is good for others to have the opportunity to write articles about their own business struggles and successes and things they have overcome. I think it will really resonate with the readers of Aftermarket magazine. It will be refreshing. Examples Let’s look at the kind of garages where I think the sector can really learn from their example. Rebecca and Dave Pullan from Carmaster in Harrogate are a great starting point. They have moved their business on from where it was when I first met them. On the business side of the business, Rebecca has taken the garage to another level. In her words: “I turned it from what was a back-street garage, to what is now a superior garage, the best garage in the area.” That is refreshing to me, but I don’t want to be the one boasting about it – I’d rather they talk about their successes themselves. They have even employed a General Manager now, that has enabled them to step back a little bit. This is dynamite for me, this is the kind of thing I would like to hear. This was their end-game, their goal. This means we are getting somewhere. Rebecca is one of the best marketers I have seen in the motor trade. Then you have people like Tina Drayson from CCM, and Mike Field from Fields Car Centre. Mike’s writing in my Facebook group has been inspirational for a lot of people. It’s not just about me. I just want to share the exposure, give a few people the spotlight, and I want to shout loud about the independent sector. We are not only running businesses, we can put pen to paper and we can share our stories. That is what I want to do. I want to allow others, who want to, to share 14 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2021 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net OPENING UP THE FLOOR Andy is opening up the floor in 2021 to give top graduates and the best businesses from The Garage Inspector programmes a chance to share their wisdom within Aftermarket