Surviving and Thriving: Seasonal Challenges for Bodyshops

As the seasons change, so do the number of cars on the road, and the likelihood of them getting into accidents.

For body and collision repair shops, these changes have a huge effect on the number of customers that come through the door each season. Knowing how to anticipate, and manage these seasonal changes is critical to staying flexible, efficient and profitable throughout the year.

For most body shops, winter is the best time of the year. Full of snowbirds in warmer areas, and fender benders from icy roads in the north. This means that summers typically come with fewer cars and accidents, sometimes causing a 20% or larger swing in customers depending on your area!

This seasonal shift in customer number is a natural part of many businesses, and a common headache for collision repair and bodyshops.

Making sure you have the right tools to capture all the customers possible during the booming winters, and manage staff training/tasks in the slower summers is critical to ensuring each year is a successful one for your shop. Ensuring you and your tools can capitalize on the good times while keeping staff engaged and growing during the slow times is the best way to take the reins and manage the yearly flux of seasonal changes in the collision repair industry.

What tools or techniques does your shop utilize to manage the changing business needs of the season?

Feel free to share your insights and learn from others in the comments.