Second Fix & Go site opens
True to his word, fast repair pioneer and owner of four Fix Auto bodyshops, Steve Peart has spent just six weeks transforming a disused industrial unit adjoining his existing Fix Auto Pontypridd site, into the network’s second, state-of-the-art, express facility.
Following an investment of £200,000, this development marks the latest chapter of Fix Auto UK’s strategy to develop a national network of fast repair centres to complement its network of traditional bodyshops, with the capabilities to repair non-structurally damaged vehicles in under two days.
The move ensures that Steve Peart’s portfolio of vehicle repair centres – comprised of Fix Auto Cardiff (two sites), Fix Auto Pontypridd and the two new Fix & Go sites in Swansea and Pontypridd – will collectively complete around 1,100 repairs a month, creating the single largest repair network covering South Wales. His next move is to redevelop his existing fast repair centre close to Fix Auto Cardiff into the network’s third Fix & Go facility, which is on-track for completion during May.
Steve commented, ‘Following the opening ceremony at the first Fix & Go site in Swansea, I have been delighted and highly encouraged by the response to our new initiative. Not only has there has been a huge amount of interest from within the industry to understand what we are building, but the workshop team have also been totally transformed by the site move. Thanks to the changes in working environment and practices, we have seen significant improvements in efficiency, attitude and throughput from exactly the same people.
‘From a commercial perspective, in Swansea we have seen a significant upturn in walk-in customers which we attribute to both our location on a busy retail park alongside word-of-mouth referrals from customers who have been impressed by our speed of repair and our customer reception which provides them with total visibility of the repair process. This has been reflected through a 12 per cent increase in our customer service index in the first month alone. Our second Fix & Go centre will complement the Swansea site, as we continue to build a complete repair solution for South Wales.’
Ian Pugh, managing director of Fix Auto UK, said, ‘What Steve and his team have achieved in such a short space of time is terrific. There has been a real buzz about the Fix & Go concept both from our own franchisees, and also our insurer clients. While the network is embryonic, I am confident that we will see it spread across the country over the course of the next year.’
