As the spread of COVID-19 continues to impact both the collision repair industry and communities across Canada, Simplicity Car Care recently sent out a message direct from its corporate headquarters, including a list to help collision repair owners, their staff, families, partners and customers through these difficult times.
Said Simplicity Car Care CEO Paul Prochilo, “COVID-19 is an infectious disease that has impacted thousands of people worldwide, creating unprecedented volatility in the economy and the automotive aftermarket. The collision repair community has been affected in a number of ways by COVID- 19, but specifically, due to a decline of all business and travel, the result has been fewer vehicles on the road.”
Prochilo also notes that COVID-10 has “put health and safety in the workplace at risk and has affected the supply chain, as several OEM manufacturers have shut down operations.”
Although there remains a great deal of uncertainty as to when things will improve, Prochilo says that despite the challenges facing us each day as we navigate through this pandemic, “we must lead with optimism and hope through these trying times.
We must focus on what we can control, and not on what we can’t. The health and safety of family, friends and communities remain our most urgent priority. This is certainly not ‘business as usual’ and for that reason, we look to exercise unusual measures in our businesses.
Many collision repairers are seeking ways that can help get them through these tough times.
Our team at Simplicity Car Care has put together a list of ways that will hopefully help collision repair owners and their employees, navigate their businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The list includes the following:
- Actively (and continually) communicate with customers and staff
- Liquidity and cashflow management
- Utilize repair versus replace opportunities (to minimize potential parts shortages)
- Sanitize all vehicles to reduce the spread of COVID-19
- Maintain good sanitization practices
- Maximize opportunities for government subsidy programs
- Take advantage of the extended tax filing deadline
- Offer customers a photo-based estimating service (for protection and to maintain social distancing)
- Provide (where applicable) a vehicle delivery service through your local tow provider
- Stay up-to-date on COVID-19 through the World Health Organization
To summarize, Paul Prochilo says, “Simplicity Car Care will continue to do its part to help innovate and create solutions for the greater good of our industry and communities.
The collision repair industry is built on the principles of dedication and perseverance. I am optimistic that we can take care of one another and learn and grow stronger from this experience.”
For more information, visit simplicitycarcare.ca
