THE NATIONAL COLLISION REPAIR WORKSHOPS
at Automechanika Canada present

BUSY BUT BROKE

Successful alternative profitability models in collision
repair in Canada

In the very tough and volatile Canadian marketplace, body shop owners are tense and concerned about their future.  There are alternatives to the traditional business model that has body shops scrambling to achieve 3 to 5 percent profitability.

Speakers will include:
•  An Ontario collision repair shop manager will discuss how his facility is able to maintain a positive working relationship with insurers without the benefit of DRPs and is able to achieve two to three million dollars in annual sales with a door rate of $76.00 per hour.
•  A U.S. shop owner with a 28,000 square foot shop will discuss how he has increased his profits by continuing his relationship with two one million dollar insurance companies after discontinuing their DRP program.
•  Shop owners, including a banner franchise operator with significant DRP work, are eager to discuss alternative methods for shop profitability.

We will also discuss:
•  How a group of Canadian shops have decreased their DRPs from twelve to two companies, but were able to increase their door rate to $57.00 per hour.
•  How shop owners are taking on a "CASH ONLY" policy, having the insurance company paying the customer directly. In the case of a customer pay job the customer will have the option of using the shop's consumer credit program.
•  How a multi shop owner that discontinued his relationship with a franchise after five years has increased his profits by returning to independent.
•  How a shop in Central Canada that was doing $3.2 million dollars in DRP sales is now doing $1.2 million dollars without DRPs but with an increase in profit.
•  How Canadian shop owners are insisting on their posted door rate, at times receiving the difference between their invoice and an insurance payment from the customer.

Also featured at the workshop:
•  The difference in shops conversion to low-VOC products in Canada and the European Union.
•  Shops that make most of their money by NOT repairing vehicles. The fees debate, are they bandits or just standing tough in their marketplace?
•  Why so many shops and insurers are ending up in court. Why can't we just get along?
•  Insurance impacts on a shop, from auto renewal rate increases to rebate regulations.

The National Collision Repair Workshop on alternative profitability will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2007, once in the morning and again in the afternoon at Automechanika Canada / CarFixWorld located at the International Centre on Airport Road in Toronto.

Cost:
Morning or Afternoon Session $99.00 plus GST per person, includes one VIP pass for the show ($35.00 value) as well as an invitation to the Beer and BBQ event on Thursday evening. 

(SEE HEADLINES)

NATA presents FREE Career Day Forum at Automechanika Canada / CarFixWORLD

Canada’s Largest Automotive Apprenticeship & Job Fair

On Friday, September 28, 2007 the National Automotive Trades Association (NATA) will be proud to welcome thousands of young people attending Automechanika Canada / CarFixWorld Motive Power Career Day at the International Centre on Airport Road in Mississauga (10:00 am to 3:00 pm).

Focused on apprentices and senior students that are interested in motive power repair.
A jam-packed day filled with:

�� Recruitment Opportunities
�� In Person Employer Interviews
�� 6-Minute Interviews
�� Celebrities
�� Competitions
�� Workshops, Speakers
�� Overhaulin’/Demos
�� Product Demos
�� Prizes and much more!

Featuring:

�� CASTROL’s Solstice racer, as well as the builder
�� apprenticesearch.com’s race car
�� Smokin’ Joe’s Avenger Pro Modified racer
�� Pit Stop tire change competition and tire changing race
�� Dozens of exhibitors and suppliers
�� Air bag detonation demo
�� Special stage events
�� Canada Skills Ontario presentations
�� Guest speakers - how to become an apprentice in any auto repair trade

Enter to Win for yourself:
One $ 50.00 parts voucher courtesy of Standard Auto Wreckers
OR
One of two $100.00 parts vouchers courtesy of Standard Auto Wreckers

Enter to Win for your school:
A vehicle for your school’s auto lab
$ 400.00 parts voucher, courtesy of Standard Auto Wreckers
Frame dimensioning and estimating software, courtesy of Mitchell International

Here to help you: Apprenticeship Staff, College Staff, OYAP, Co-Op, Job Connect, as well as many others.

For more information on NATA’s Career Day contact 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com
Exhibitor Information: www.automechanikaCanada.com
Want to understand apprenticeship?
Log on to www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/tcu/apprentices/aboutapprenticeship.html

(SEE HEADLINES)

BUSINESS REGULATION AND COMPLIANCE CHANGES
TO BECOME LAW

Ontario's Regulatory Modernization Act Will Make Life Easier For Legitimate Collision Shops

May 17, 2007

The Regulatory Modernization Act, 2006, Bill 69, has been passed by the Ontario Legislature and received Royal Assent today. The act, which comes into force eight months from today, will improve the way regulatory ministries deal with Ontario's businesses and other organizations and assist them in improving their compliance capabilities.  The collision repair and auto body industry was the first sector group to become involved with the compliance and improvement strategies covered in the act.

The act will enable the province's regulatory ministries and their associated delegated administrative authorities and agencies to share information and better work together. As a result of this improved cooperation, regulatory ministries will be able to reduce duplication in compliance activities and target enforcement efforts where they count.

With the collision repair sector regulated by different ministries and up to 110 regulations, greater cooperation among the regulators will mean improved service to Ontario's car and truck repair shops and will help collision repair businesses meet their regulatory compliance obligations.  The plan to modernize Ontario's regulatory compliance  includes: 

Developing strategies that would recognize businesses with exceptional records of compliance--while targeting enforcement efforts at businesses that commit serious, repeat violations

Implementing a small business compliance improvement strategy that includes compliance support toolkits for small businesses to help them understand provincial laws and to assist them in meeting their compliance requirements.

Allowing regulatory ministries to share and use specific compliance-related information for specified regulatory compliance purposes under designated legislation

Authorizing field staff to notify another ministry if they observe something that is likely to be relevant to a statute administered or enforced by that other ministry

Authorizing ministers responsible for designated legislation to create special teams of field staff from different ministries to work together on specific compliance projects, such as targeting serious, repeat violators or assisting small businesses in meeting their compliance requirements

Authorizing ministers to publish information under designated legislation about an organization's compliance record as a deterrent to future violations

Authorizing prosecutors to request that a court consider relevant prior convictions under any provincial law in sentencing of a defendant (e.g., corporation, director, officer, owner) regarding a regulatory conviction

Requiring the court to provide reasons when it decides that a prior conviction raised by a prosecutor does not justify a more severe penalty. The legislation will not allow for "fishing expeditions" in which field staff conduct inspections under statutes they are not authorized to administer or enforce.

The small business compliance and improvement strategy is underway with a pilot project focused on the auto body repair sector:

In June 2006, the Auto Body Repair Compliance Information Centre ( www.serviceontario.ca/autobody ) that provides the important information the auto body shop owners need to meet for their compliance requirements was launched in co-operation with industry groups like the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association (HARA) and www.ciia.com

On this web site, auto body shop owners now have easy access to regulatory requirements applicable to their sector from across appropriate provincial ministries and their associated regulators; government forms they need; and key government contacts, among other things

Early indications show that the CIC has been a great success. The site received more than 75,000 hits in the first three months after the Ontario government announced it in June.   The site can also be located on the front page of the collision repair industry web site at www.ciia.com .  Another helpful collision repair web site for compliance assistance is www.autobodyhelp.ca

"This Act will now allow inspectors to concentrate on shops that need help and provide tools to assist, rather than continued inspections of shops that are "good" players in the industry, it will recognize the compliant facilities and provide streamlined inspections. This helps provide for a level-playing field in the industry with less time spent by shop owners handling the wide range of different ministry inspections, as was the problem in the past" said John Norris of the collision repair trade association.  

Effective May 4, 2007 , the Ontario Ministry of the Environment has made changes to the Recertification Requirement in Ontario's Refrigerants Regulation, O. Reg. 189/94 . Yes, the training overkill has finally come to an end. recertification courses are no longer required for technicians wishing to renew their Ozone Depletion Prevention (ODP) Cards.

Note: The revised Regulation stipulates that technicians "who have never been certified", and those "whose cards have already expired", (see date on card,) are still required to complete the ODP Card course and examination. Technicians obtaining the required passing grade of 75% will thereafter receive a new card that's valid for 5 years from the examination date - following this time they will be required to renew their cards again.

Technicians with cards that bear an expiry date beyond May 4, 2007 will not be required to undergo the training and re-examination procedure to maintain their ODP certification. Prior to the expiration date on their cards they will, however, be required to contact HRAI to obtain a renewal application. This must be filled out and returned to HRAI with the renewal fee of $50.00 + GST . That's all that need be done, but technicians must ensure they apply in a timely manner. We recommend 45 days be allowed for the renewal process.

"Click Here" to view Official Notice of Regulation Change from MOE.

"Click Here" for Renewal Letter and Form to download and print.

If you have any questions regarding the changes to the Refrigerants Regulation, please contact Frances Ricci at the AARO offices:
1-800-268-5400.

(SEE HEADLINES)

TORONTO POLICE OFFICERS ACCUSED OF FAVORING CERTAIN TOW TRUCKS

May 15, 2007

Four Metro Toronto police officers are accused of using certain tow trucks, without the driver's permission involving over 100 crashed  vehicles in the west end 14 division.  The events took place between January 2005 and the summer of 2006
.
In some cases, damaged vehicles were towed from accident scenes on an officer's order, even when the owner wanted to use a different tow company, says the notice of hearings concerning the internal Police Act charges.

According to the hearing notices, dozens of vehicles were wrongly deemed unsafe and unnecessarily towed.  No motive stated or suggested in the documents and no tow truck company named.

The majority of the incidents described in the documents stem from about 90 road accidents involving almost 100 drivers on streets like Dundas Street West, Bloor Street West, Dufferin Street, Lansdowne Street and Ossington Avenue.

Howard Moscoe, chairman of Toronto licensing and standards committee, declined to comment but did say speaking generally,"  Tow truck drivers in this city make most of their money making illegal deliveries for garages...and they will do anything to get the vehicle to their preferred garages."

(SEE HEADLINES)

May 15, 2007

A spot check if a large car-recycling yard in Laval, north of Montreal, has led police to what they are calling the biggest ever stolen-car operation in Canada.    Laval police say the operation began last Tuesday afternoon after police doing a routine check of serial numbers discovered three stolen vehicles. Investigators expect to spend some time checking out more than 700 vehicles, which include SUV's, and cars like Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar and BMW. Police said a similar number of vehicles may have already been dismantled because engines and other parts were scattered over the lot. The 39-year-old owner of the business was arrested and will be charged with possessing stolen goods. 

(SEE HEADLINES)

Meet New Suppliers: Automechanika Canada
Has International Flavor

May 11, 2007

Companies in every automotive aftermarket field are coming from across Canada, the United States and all over the world to the inaugural Automechanika Canada automotive trade show. More than 75 companies are already assigned space at the International Centre for the September 26-28 event.

One distinctive aspect of the exhibitor list is the international representation. Automechanika Canada has confirmed pavilions for Italy, Germany, Taiwan, the UK and China.

Another significant new feature of this year's event is the sponsorship and exhibition pavilion of the Ontario Tire Dealers Association. Lending its high profile to the aftermarket event, the OTDA has brought their previously freestanding show within Automechanika Canada. Occupying more than 7500 sq. ft of space the OTDA will showcase tires, wheels, products and services not usually seen in combination with the other aftermarket products.

Successful elements of last year's CarFixWORLD will be carried over to Automechanika Canada. NATA, the National Automotive Trades Association, for example, will sponsor Career Day on Friday September 28th again this year.

Wakefield Canada, the marketer/distributor of Castrol lubricants in Canada is sponsoring the returning Pit Stop Challenge. Last year at CarFixWORLD, the Challenge was a major focus of Career Day, and a great deal of fun for those competitive industry guys who wanted to compete against their workmates. Many of the most popular speakers like Craig Van Batenburg, Mike Cleary and Dennis DesRosiers will be back at Automechanika Canada in addition to a line-up of experts and stars from the industry.

Everyone who attended last year's CarFixWORLD event was delighted with the powerhouse line-up of feature guests and seminars. Automechanika will be adding guest presenters from all aspects of the automotive world on a continuous basis.

Visit www.AutomechanikaCanada.ca for the most recent list of exhibitors and sponsors.

(SEE HEADLINES)

Helping the Collision Repair & Auto Refinish Industry in:
Hamilton-Wentworth · Halton · Brant · Niagara Peninsula

The 38th Anniversary HARA Annual Golden Horseshoe Golf Tournament Is Fast Approaching

NEW LOCATION!

DECREASE IN COST!

On Tuesday, June 26, 2007 , Flamborough Hills Golf Club will be the new location for an enjoyable day of golf.

This is our invitation to you to participate in this exciting event.

We encourage you to invite friends, family and associates to join your foursome.

Your registration form is enclosed. Please fill it out at your earliest convenience
and fax back to our office at (905) 545-3440. You may also contact Michelle
directly at 1-866-309-4272, register on-line at www.ciia.com or e-mail your request to info@ciia.com . Please ensure that we receive your registration and paymentby June 1, 2007.

The cost of the day's event is $135.00 (GST included), with an 11:00 am start.
Golf carts, an evening reception and a terrific steak dinner are included.

Our search for great door prizes is on. If you wish to donate one, please call
(905) 545-3388 or toll free1-866-309-4272.

We'd also like to remind you that sponsors for this event are welcomed and
greatly appreciated.

We look forward to seeing you on June 26th!

PRE-PAYMENT IS MANDATORY

"To represent the best interests of the industry, providing opportunities for
the growth for environmentally sound, profitable businesses, having trained professionals serving the public"
P.O. Box 47594, Centre Mall, Hamilton, Ontario L8H 7S7
Phone: (905) 545-3388 Toll Free: 1-866-309-4272 Fax: (905) 545-3440
E-Mail: info@ciia.com Web: www.ciia.com and www.autobodyhelp.ca

(SEE HEADLINES)

TECHNICIAN LICENSING EQUIVALENCY OPTIONS AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCATION COLLISION REPAIR ASSOCIATION

A number of workers in the autobody and collision damage repair trade have been employed in the trade in excess of the 7000 hours required for a licensed technician. However, they are not registered technicians.

Traditionally the only way to become a licensed technician would be to complete an in-class learning portion of 720 hours for training as a registered apprentice and an approximate time of three years working with a qualified technician, before challenging the qualification exam. An alternative equivalency process is also available. Your local Association has introduced a complementary package.

Included in the package:

•  Process for trades equivalency including application page

•  Curriculum of competencies required

•  Pre-license training class information

•  Fee information for license exam

If you require further information please do not hesitate to contact your local Collision Repair Association at
1-866-309-4272 or e-mail info@ciia.com

(SEE HEADLINES)

By John Norris, Executive Director, HARA

The Collision Industry Information and Assistance (www.ciia.com) web site, operated by the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association, handles over 10,000 hits a day. The phone lines often field 30 calls a day and at least 60 emails. Over 400 shops call regularly for environmental help with training, certification assistance, wage incentive information, hiring questions and inquiries from insurance contact lists to manuals on how to market to brokers all the way to requests for guest speakers at their local schools to getting a fax number to send copies of abusive towing invoices.

This is how a professional collision repair trade association works.

Individual association mandates may be different but their passion and vision should be clear and consistent: Help shops, serve the interests of repairers, represent them and provide opportunities to move member interests forward.

Let's face it -- it's a tough marketplace our there and many shops are struggling to stay profitable. They need more help right now and should recognize that although their voice may not be strong individually, their association's voice can be loud, active and successful.

Why then are there so few shop members in their trade associations? One reason is lack of communications. And it goes both ways. Some repairers only hear from their trade association when once a year an invoice shows up on the fax machine. Good professional associations communicate by holding regular neighborhood style meetings or surveys to gain better incite into shop needs -- yet often shops don't show up at meetings or respond to the very associations trying to help them.

Perhaps, shops haven't yet realized the practical benefits of membership in an active association. Can shop concerns be addressed? What's in it for a shop to be a member?

GAUGE YOUR REPRESENTATION

You should always ask yourself the two basic association membership questions:

What can you do for me now and what can you do for the industry in the future?

Most professional associations can provide you their answers quickly and the better associations have so many answers that it often has grown to a list of advantages for the shop.

For instance right now, do they provide services such as benefit programs, garage insurance, uniform and product discounts, office and stationary products discounts, forms, brochures, posters, manuals, training courses, available tax credits or grants that you can use right now to cut your immediate costs and put more money in your till?

What about down the road? Can they prove to you that they are handling the meetings and writing the letters and building the necessary support with media, insurers, suppliers or government? Does the association have the respect and trust it requires to solve your issues? For instance, can they show you or post on their web site or newsletters the meeting presentations or script or news releases showing their successes in addressing your concerns.

TOUGH SCHEDULE

Many professional associations struggle with the daily frustration that they are taking time away from working on needed industry projects that can help shops and instead, are out trying to raise funds to continue on with their good work- from the very shops they are trying to help. If shops better supported their professional trade associations with their membership dues, because of their recognized value for the industry, associations could solve your industry issues quicker.

If your professional trade association is working that hard for you, you should be working hard for them. Their membership dues are fair and you should not only pay their invoice when it arrives, but be calling them to ask to become a more active member. Volunteer to be school speaker, a letter writer or employer/mentor for young students interested in working in our trade on the association's behalf. Only through your help in adding to the
common strength can your professional association make your voice, join with other voices, and become stronger, more effective and listened to where it counts.

John Norris is Executive Director of HARA, the largest local collision repair and auto refinish industry trade association in North America, operating from Hamilton, Ontario. The association also co-chairs the Environmental Compliance Assistance program with government to reduce costs, improve compliance and provide easier help tools for shops at www.autobodyhelp.ca and 1-866-309-4272.

HARA's mandate and industry objectives and their successes in meeting those objectives are featured at: http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/hara.html

(courtesy of BODYSHOP magazine)


(SEE HEADLINES)

WARNING ISSUED - COLLISION REPAIR SHOPS DO NOT
NEED TO PAY A FEE TO ACCESS CREDITS

www.ciia.com says solicitation asking for $500 per apprentice is not required

April 3, 2007

The Collision Industry Information Assistance (www.ciia.com) web site is warning shops that attempts to convince them to use a company to obtain dollars owing to them in apprenticeship credits is not needed.

Tony Nigro of www.ciia.com advises that a number of shops have been contacted recently and told that for a 25% contingency fee or $500 per apprentice per year, a private company will obtain a cheque owing to them for apprentice credits.

"The incentives and credits available to hire and retain apprentices are often not known to shops. Receiving a call from a company who will handle that credit for you is inviting, but the fees are not. Shops can easily fill out and send in the forms themselves, without paying contingency fees or a large percentage of the monies owning to them, said Mr. Nigro, President of the Hamilton district Autobody Repair Association (HARA)

Starting May 18, 2004, an apprenticeship credit was available for employers who would be eligible to receive a refundable tax credit of 25 per cent on salaries for apprentices paid after May 18, 2004. Smaller businesses - those with payrolls under $400,000 - would be eligible for a tax credit of up to 30 per cent on salaries for apprentices. For additional details on the tax credit: www.trd.fin.gov.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/cma_3_42486_1.html .

In addition, the 2004 Budget also included a new $1,000 Apprenticeship Scholarship and $2,000 Employer signing bonus initiative to encourage employers in the trades to register new apprentices in sectors where there is a high demand. This initiative will assist employers to hire and register as apprentices young people under 25 years of age who have left school prior to completing the minimum academic requirements for apprenticeship registration. Youth applicants must first complete their academic upgrading in order to become registered apprentices.

A package to assist collision shop owners in obtaining their credits themselves is available at 1-866-309-4272 or e-mail at info@ciia.com

For more information on how to become a collision repair apprentice see: http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/stepstoapp.html

For warnings on solicitation for environmental fee scam please see:
http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/march05.html#scam

For warning on scams and outrageous fees see:
http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/february06.html

(SEE HEADLINES)

AUTOMECHANIKA
CANADA

SEPTEMBER 26-28, 2007
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA

When would you be most likely to attend a trade show and/or conference program at the International Centre in Toronto, Canada?

Please check all that apply:

Wednesday
10am - 5pm 
12pm - 4pm 
4pm - 8pm 

Thursday
10am - 5pm 
12pm - 4pm 
4pm - 8pm 

Friday
10 - 3 
11 - 4 

Saturday
10 - 5 

(SEE HEADLINES)

Messe Frankfurt, the producer of eleven Automechanika automotive trade shows around the globe, is teaming up with CarFixWORLD to make Canada number twelve. With over 250 exhibitors and 4,000 attendees anticipated, Automechanika Canada is destined to be our country's largest aftermarket trade show.

To be held September 26-28 at Toronto's International Centre, the show has to be considered a giant leap forward for the Business Information Group (BIG). The publisher of SSGM and other automotive industry magazines, BIG realized that many players in the Canadian aftermarket - suppliers and retailers alike - wanted a comprehensive trade show.

"BIG's intuition and knowledge of the industry encouraged them to bankroll the inaugural CarFixWORLD event held last fall. To leverage that initial success into a partnership with Messe Frankfurt, and roll out Automechanika Canada a mere year later, well... I think that's praiseworthy to say the least," observed HARA President Tony Nigro. HARA ( the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association), was the prime organizer of the Career Day event at last year's CarFixWORLD show with almost 3000 interested students attending and learning. For more information on Career Day, see: http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/november06.html#2600

Anyone inclined to go "ho, hum" concerning the joint Messe Frankfurt/BIG announcement is missing its significance, according to Burkimsher. This puts the city of Toronto and the Canadian aftermarket on an international stage with Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, Moscow, Rome, Shanghai, St. Petersburg and, of course, Frankfurt, where the Automechanika brand had its beginning, he said.

The 2006 Automechanika show in Frankfurt attracted an astounding 165,000 visitors, 40 percent of them from outside Germany. These attendees included a significant increase in top decision makers from previous years. In addition, 96 percent of all visitors were satisfied with the exhibits and product groups at the show. This growth and satisfaction is a trend throughout all the Automechanika shows worldwide, confirming a positive outlook for the future of the industry.

Automechanika Canada will cover the entire spectrum of the aftermarket:

Featured product groups will include parts & systems, accessories & tuning, repair & maintenance, service station & car wash and tires & wheels. Additional programs will include conference sessions featuring product innovation and technical training, career opportunities for apprentices and students, product demonstrations, and industry displays. The three-day event will offer exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their products to thousands of service and repair shop owners, technicians, installers, jobbers, media, and industry professionals.

Discussions are underway with the Ontario affiliates of NATA - the National Automotive Trades Association to again manage the 'Career Day' student activities at the show. AARO and HARA, the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association, are the current Ontario-based members of NATA, a national affiliation of 'grassroots' service provider organizations.

For further information, visit www.AutomechanikaCanada.ca

(SEE HEADLINES)

Top Ten Steps To A Safer And More Profitable Shop (20 pages)

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Autobody Profitability Workbook (82 pages)

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Issues Facing The Canadian Collision Repair Industry (39 pages)

NOTE: To view these files you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. This Reader is free and you can download it from the Adobe Website