While this is a Garage Visit piece, it is actually about a Garage Visitor, namely John Hall, who was runner-up in Top Technician 2022. His career as its stands today began in 2006, when he took the plunge as a mobile auto electrician: “This was in order to meet the demand of garages that weren't interested investing at that time even in very basic diagnostic equipment. Smaller garages didn't see the benefit in buying what was potentially £3,000 worth of equipment to do an odd job here and there. That very quickly developed into diagnosing not just the average engine light, but also assisting on complicated servicing procedures, even working for main dealers, helping them to diagnose problems. It's grown over the years as technology goes.” The shape of John’s business evolved over time, as he learned what worked and what did not work, including both primary and secondary income streams: “I wouldn't say it's all been planned,” he observed modestly, “a lot of it has been reactive. At the moment, a large part of my business is for local bodyshops doing ADAS calibration, electrical repairs, as well as EVs and anything else that's 58 AFTERMARKET APRIL 2023 GARAGE VISIT www.aftermarketonline.net Aftermarket heads up to Yorkshire to find out more about Top Technician 2022 runner-up John Hall coming up in the market. I've not been shy when it comes to sort of investing in training and equipment, but you've got to look at it from a business point of view. Is it worth investing in this? Is it worth going down that road? I get involved in just about everything on cars, light vans, even motorbikes. I even do a little bit of relief MOT testing for garages where there may only be one person in the garage. I was asked by a very good customer, where I was doing diagnostic work at the time, if I would be interested in covering his motorbike MOT because his tester was ill and had to leave. I agreed to do it for a few months in 2011. I'm still doing it. However, the majority of the work is diagnostics or the advanced type of work, but only for trade customers. I gave up doing retail customers very shortly after I went self-employed, because you can't do what I do in a domestic environment. You do need a garage, you do need access to ramps etc.” Good grounding Until 18 months ago, John’s customer base covered around 150 garages across Yorkshire: “Some of them I was doing quite a lot with every week, while others I might do one job every six months. In an attempt to streamline it, I Above: John Hall ALL VEHICLES GREAT AND SMALL
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