Your Input Please

[imprezyou]

Hi guys its been a long time some remember me some dont , but here goes so tell me your ideas please .

Over the the last few months I have been selling off my companies and have been offered by a good friend unlimited funds to set up shop , rolling road , tuning shop etc etc , I have been in talks with a few well know mechanics and will let you know more in time as the situation progresses. What would you guys want from a leading tuning specialist ? where would you guys travel to ?

What sort of services are you intrested in ? shop ?, tuning centre ? mots? cafe ? etc etc , we are hopeing to be open before summer 09 and your input is most important to us . So get them ideas rolling in please .

paul

Edited October 16, 2008 by imprezyou

[matthew_buckland]

Hi Paul, Good to see you on here again, hows the BMW? Think its a brilliant idea to set up your own tuning shop, could do with a well run, friendly and competitive rolling road local.

[HOL]

Years ago some friends and I talked about doing this. Then we finished our pints and went home!!!

The biggest discussion was about location, as you want a workshop/sales front that is within easy reach of the motorway network, but does not require complicated directions.

A tyre fitting bay/ramps is a must as these seem to be the biggest sellers, just lookt at Elite in Essex to see how sucessful tat part of the busines could be.

If you had laker road premises, you could sell Bling-bling over the counter all night!!

[imprezyou]

I looked at premises there but did not feel happy knowing what goes on up there most evenings , it may get bad publicity ie: promoting boy racing etc , I really want to draw in a differant client , not saying the bling bling bit wont make money but i want to offer that little bit of differant , I will think about the tyre fitting and four wheel alinement bit , I will be offering a k/s discount card to so not to worry about that one .

Edited October 16, 2008 by imprezyou

[Jamessti]

Would love some like Elite this side of the Thames. MMmm how about combining Elite and something like RCM, scooby clinic.

The best thing to do if you don't the likes of the Paxo brigade, is to only cater for the likes of the imports (if you want to sell parts). Another idea is to import second performance parts, by the container load.

Have you look at Medway Industrial estate, Gillingham business park and Courteney rd....

[imprezyou]

Yes looking at a double unit on tuesday down medway ind estate also some units in ashford aswel , this is not a small venture so we gotta get it right first time , location location location is my number one priority to start . So get your ideas rolling in .

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE AND HAVE IN KENT ??????????????????????

[shiralee]

A GOOD ROLLING ROAD WITH SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR SIDC MEMBERS!!

[imprezyou]

Well kent scoobies dont really want much then , thanks for the very 3 or 4 limited few that did reply , and you few may receive a discount card

[Pele]

There is a good site in Swanscombe, loads of potential and lots of parking

[Jamessti]

this is not a small venture so we gotta get it right first time

It will cost you less in the long run to get it right first time.

What i think we are really look for, is a place that can under take jobs that are too big or can't be done by Deano (no offence Deano). Like engine rebuilds and stuff like that...

[Garth W]

A GOOD ROLLING ROAD WITH SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR SIDC MEMBERS!!

It would be great to have a decent tuning garage with 4wd and 2wd rolling road and a shop that sells a wide range of tuning and cosmetic parts in the medway area, not to mention discounts for kent scoobies!

[timmy2take]

Location location location = as close to the m25 as possible to give accessibility to the most people possible within a certain area.

[imprezyou]

Ok so we are looking for

1: 2 and 4 wd rolling road with dyno

2: tyre fitting and exhausts etc

3: discounts for members

4: Good parking

5: Easy directions

6: mot's

7: Engine rebuilding etc with quick turn around times

8:

Been talking last night with my partner , we defo will be opening a cafe with a theme , eat while you wait for an mot or a service while you wait etc, we settled on the THE DRIFT IN CAFE perhaps create an ace cafe sort of meeting point for car clubs and bikes etc so think we need to speak with councils and police with regards to ther approval etc .

Also an over the counter parts centre for imports etc and uk modified cars . Any more of your ideas would be cool

[Montythegod]

All sounds good and ticks my boxes, perhaps themeing it similar to ace cafe where meets can be held and people can buy food whilst they wait for work to be done on the cars.. problem is you will need a huge unit for all that.

The scene up laker road is changing and because of the speed ramps being installed up there, the racing will stop, there is the old Remploy building up there currently on the market for £1.2 million, (yes i thought about it) has catering facilites and plenty of potential workshop space / storage and shop space out the back as well as stacks of parking ... shame the speed ramps may hinder potential customers...

[scoobywag]

hi ya mate i thinks its kool u are going to sort out a tuning center cheap rates for sidc members being able to remap will be cool as i want mine done and the company up here want 900 pound let me know when u are sorted and i will pop and have look round if thats all goood with u

[imprezyou]

I am going to make some enquires on monday about laker road and have a sniff around , sounds cheap at the price and with the credit crunch I may well be in a good postion to lower the asking price , thanks for that I will let you know about it , do you know if there is a contact number advertised there ?

[Montythegod]

I am going to make some enquires on monday about laker road and have a sniff around , sounds cheap at the price and with the credit crunch I may well be in a good postion to lower the asking price , thanks for that I will let you know about it , do you know if there is a contact number advertised there ?

yes there is, i looked the property up on their website.. if i get a chance i will pop up there and get the details today

[darryl_martin]

Have to say it would be nice to have a specialist closer to home. Looks like a good set of services you have in the list. From the sales point of view how about some of the jap tuners, hks, blitz, jun etc, and then steering clear of boy racer stuff/brands if you know what I mean. Might be a trade off between selling quality stuff and mass market things that everybody can get or afford, or just a healthy balance of the two. You see or hear of all these demo cars in Japan but it would be nice to be able to actually see the items on the shelf.

[spannaz]

Have to say it would be nice to have a specialist closer to home. Looks like a good set of services you have in the list. From the sales point of view how about some of the jap tuners, hks, blitz, jun etc, and then steering clear of boy racer stuff/brands if you know what I mean. Might be a trade off between selling quality stuff and mass market things that everybody can get or afford, or just a healthy balance of the two. You see or hear of all these demo cars in Japan but it would be nice to be able to actually see the items on the shelf.

good point raised there about parts for all budgets. No one likes the noisey bad behaved boy racers, but most have money to throw away and to keep turning over you'll always need a variety of customers, from the "cheap keep it on the road" to the "only the best of the best will do" people. Having been in the industry for too many years (finally got out) having somewhere you can trust is the key point, regardless of spending a pound to 10 grand, and time. How many people have tried getting hold of people, and either get fobbed off as they are too busy (taken on too much too fast) or jus never got back to you. Having all the facilities in the world is great, but your as good as the staff you employ. People that take time to listen, advise accordingly and deal with customers will find them spending more money, more often.

Medway has great links, and as Scoobies are known for noise at least there will be no complaints from the neighbours, which can mean evening meets/open days on weekends etc, as most of us probably work, getting days off is never easy!

I am new to the Scooby business but old at the car modding and trust very very few people with my car which is in fact a leathal weapon if put into the wrong hands, but am always willing to support local business so would welcome a specialists on my doorstep that i can wander down to on weekends with the kids (BIG BIG scooby fan here that sleeps with a scooby brochure), even if its only to have a look at whats new, or whats on the rollers lol

[darryl_martin]

"having somewhere you can trust is the key point, but your as good as the staff you employ. People that take time to listen, advise accordingly and deal with customers will find them spending more money, more often. "

Very, very true!

Edited October 20, 2008 by Padtwo

[imprezyou]

Over the years dealing with clients ( customers ) they have always been put first by myself and thats why I have always done so well at what I do ..not being big headed but the client is the most important part of running a buissness .

No customer NO BUISSNESS !!!

[Scooby Hoo?]

You might consider the possibility of offering good quality second hand parts, to cater for the less well healed members and perhaps breaking facilities.

Method statement and aim:-

To be as caring and good as RCM.

Have the magic of ZAK.

And love the cars you service more than there owners.

Finally BE HONEST without exception and keep the customers informed.

Edited October 20, 2008 by Scooby Hoo?

[spannaz]

You might consider the possibility of offering good quality second hand parts, to cater for the less well healed members and perhaps breaking facilities.

damn good point that, as there are customers that would need this sort or parts source to keep cars on the road. When I worked for a main dealer (Suzuki) we used a local specialist breakers to source good used parts and to say it was a massive success would be an understatment. Some parts like a cv were not avaialable and you had to buy a shaft costing over £300, now you price that and the customer would not bother having the service done nor the c/v but go elsewhere, offer them the reduced cost of used parts and you instantly have a trust being built. Why, because you are trying to save them money, not rip them off like so many dealers do! I lost count of the customers that would walk in, give me their credit card, tell me to "do whatever needs doing, i trust you" and pick the keys up from the petrol station! Now that kind of trust is what keeps people coming back, an more importantly telling others!

Sound like you got an open mind and the right attitude to make it work, and you'll get my support if you do,

[imprezyou]

With the sort of money we are playing with here......not all being mine most of it put in my care by a very good friend I will give the buissness 100% and that includes my customers to !!!! all your points are taken on board so now the hard work begins , this is a mamouth task on a huge scale so let the fun begin and hopefully see some of your guys by the summer fingers crossed .

All the best to kent scoobies and you will all have the 1st invite

[prodrive tony]

I'd like a garage that does all its bolts up