OT: Is a 'themed' shop necessary to a (potential) customer??

[Terry,NJ]

I'm sure that whatever you come up with will be fine. The two things that will make your business a success are timely service and a good price. Best Of luck with it!
Terry

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by CarlG

On the outside, make it look like a 30's Ford dealership, complete with the red brick facing. (kinda like the Museum).

Carl i also wish your son much luck. above all other things being honest and standing by his work is the most important....

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

OK, thanks for your thoughts. A question is 'would you as a customer be willing to pay for that'?

Why I ask is, a themed interior and exterior will likely add 10% to the total price of construction. In other words, that comes in at $80k - $100k of additional expense. So if I am to add that amount into my overhead, that probably equates to $1,000 to $2,000 extra cost per car we restore just to cover those architectural & decor costs. If that is the case, is the extra costs in restoring your car still worth the ambience?

I would think you could do real well impressing customers with a "themed" waiting area and "spartan" actual working area. This would be the best of both worlds and should not increase the price that much over a plane jane shop.

[J Franklin]

We are saying a modest retro facade (shape and a few cornices maybe), and a few uncluttered items for display.

[gwhite]

I don't give a crap what the building looks like. On the few occasions I look for a shop, I'm looking to purchase quality work by qualified craftsmen - not a Disneyland experience in automotive Neverland. Actually, I'll take it a step further; I probably would be less likely to trust a "themed" shop over a well-maintained & simple one...somebody's gotta pay for all that glitter....

[CarlG]

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Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

I see a difference between servicing modern cars (I am assuming your son is servicing modern cars), and the restoration of antiques.

But the core values as stated apply equally to both.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by CarlG

But the core values as stated apply equally to both.

YES absolutely, when one enters an establishment he/she should get the feeling, right off, that they can do the job that they are there to have done.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by forever4

Alaska is a little far for me to travel for service work, but he has my respect and best wishes.

If you are ever up this way and want a remote start installed, ...

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

Carl i also wish your son much luck. above all other things being honest and standing by his work is the most important....

It's a small town, and his reputation has followed him...just because of those reasons.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by forever4

Alaska is a little far for me to travel for service work, but he has my respect and best wishes.

Vince, with you being a GM 'executive' and all, do you even keep a new vehicle long enough where it needs the oil changed??

[flatford39]

Business is about reputation, referrals and networking. I think we all have seen Flop's shop. It isn't very pretty but the work that comes out of there is. I would have no problem hiring him or referring him.

Keep it simple and make the investment in your employees and give them the tools and atmosphere to attain top quality work.

[gweilbaker]

I think Vince nailed it, is it a restoration shop or a museum? Impress your customers with the work, have the finish area accessible but at a distance. Maybe an area that examples the restro process with cast-off pieces making your customers informed.

[pooch]

A glass counter filled with broken parts and NOS parts and a few old signs and parts hanging from the walls and a window that looks out into the workshop to see the goings on would comfort me more than.....

An affluent huge entry showroom counter and office , that has obviously been paid for by all the previous suckers who have ventured in the door.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by forever4

Maybe heated seats and heated mirrors and heated windshield washer system.

Actually, he added heated seats to his offerings just last week!

[Mikeinnj]

"A question is 'would you as a customer be willing to pay for that'?"

ABSOLUTELY NOT ! You want a showplace, you pay for it. It's yours, not mine.

The concept really turns me off. What people want when paying someone to work for them is honesty, integrity,value and craftsmanship.

I have a friend who placed his roadster in the hands of a "restoration shop" in Maine. He ended up suing the guy who had the car for two years, and was still not finished and performed poor workmanship . He won the case and took the car to another restoration shop in Massachusetts and they finished the job to his satisfaction. A few years later the "restored" engine threw a rod and now the car sits idle in the owners garage. Total spent on the "Restoration".....nearly eighty thousand dollars, for a Model A that is worth about 25K tops.

[chl]

a woman with good architecture and a nice smile welcoming customers to your shop and the guys won't care what's on the walls.

[700rpm]

Brent, I suspect you know the answer to your question, but thanks for asking. For me and most guys I think decisions come down to good work and the reputation earned by that. I may never see your shop, but if I had the money for a total restoration, I'd send the job to you with confidence regardless. Make the shop what you need to do your job efficiently and professionally. If it has some charm, fine. But that ain't necessary.

[Gunmetal blue2]

In my line of thinking if the place is clean comes first. Now to see thing that are in the process of being done, helps to show the costumers what kind of work is being done [quilty of work]. and yes you need something to get them to what to stop to see what kind of work that you do.

[Mountain Dew]

I think a showroom is a good idea. It does not have to be just completed cars on display. You're a restoration shop. Potential customers are interested in your process of restoring. Why not display some works in progress. All restorations get put on hold for various reasons like budget constraints, waiting on parts, workload etc. It wouldn't be more trouble to wheel a project from a workbay to the showroom and back when work is ready to resume.

[BlueSunoco]

Clean clean clean. Well lit. Simple not a a lot of stuff on display. keep it to a minimum.

When I walk into a shop that looks like a museum w/ tons of automobilia I turn and walk out as I ain't payin' for all THAT. Nice to look at. Let the other guy pay.

[ronn]

" Absolutely not. When I see all the expensive decorations some places have, it just looks like I am paying for the owners hobby and he is flaunting it. "

a good business person will agree with this statement-when I want something done professionally, it has nothing to do with "glitter". I would be less then impressed with a "theme".

there is no need to strive to impress with decoration-let your work speak for itself with a clean, efficient shop and most importantly-word of mouth.....