June 2020

have been very flexible and accommodating in the current situation. Barretts, a multi-brand franchised dealer in Canterbury, have been helpful as well. They are running with a skeleton staff, all their actual dealerships are closed, but their parts hub is active. I have managed to get parts from there as well. So far, the only ones I couldn’t get hold of that I needed was Mercedes-Benz. Let’s say 70% of our parts supply is still there. The biggest issue for us is making sure I am at the garage to receive parts when they arrive.” When we spoke to Karl, there was a lot of talk about exit strategies. We wondered if Bull Lane Garage has plan for a full reopening? Staggered? Full re-opening? What’s the thinking we asked: “I’m all for having plans,” said Karl, sagely, “but this thing is changing all the time. It changes so much. The plans and thoughts we had at the beginning of this, they are different now because the goalposts moved. There is constant change so I don’t make any set plans. I have ideas and I adjust them as we go. Our exit plan is that I will stay definitely closed for another three weeks, just operating as I am, following the government guidelines.” Responsibility Looking at how the business is playing its part in the national effort, Karl commented: “Finances have a bearing and I can’t risk losing the company, but I would rather reduce the company and do my part in not spreading this. The more people do stay at home, the quicker we can come out of it. If we work hard now, it will pay off in the long run. The more people go to work, the longer this is going to drag out, and the more long-term financial damage it will have. I am all for making sacrifices, big sacrifices short term in order for us to get on track. “I think we will be prepared to fully re-open when the government lifts the lockdown. We will probably stagger it slightly, it depends on how much work there is. I’ve got a list of customers waiting for work, but it is non-essential. As soon as we are ready to go back, I can fill the diary for about two weeks. Rather than have two weeks mad rush and then go quiet again, I would rather spread that out, operating with reduced staff or hours. “The most important thing for us now is that now we have done our cash- flow forecasts, making adjustments where we can, saving money where we can, that is pretty much in place now. It is more for us about making sure we have all the correct safety measures and procedures in place, which we were using before we closed – wiping cars down, seat covers, key drop-off, all that kind of thing. We need to get some concrete systems in place that everyone needs to be fully aware of before we even think about opening the doors again. That is my next plan, business-wise. “ Beneficial While we are all stuck in our silos, technology means communication is still possible, and Karl has taken full advantage of this: “One of the things for garages that have been very beneficial through this have been the various support groups. Bull Lane Garage is one of about 50 businesses have completed John Batten’s business development course recently. He has been absolutely amazing through this. We have been having multiple group webinars week every week, which he structured, it has been amazing. “Then there are those on social media, particularly Facebook. There are generic ones for businesses and COVID-19, but the best one for me is the Automotive Support Group, set up by Andy Savva, Andrew Crook, James Dillon, David Massey and Tom Denton. This has been very helpful, giving business owners the opportunity to discuss ideas and legislation that is coming out, assistance in getting grants, etc. That has been a lifesaver for a lot of garages.” Karl added: “Between all of them they have all gone that extra mile and given their time. I believe they have made a huge difference.” Decision Mike Field is Director at Fields Car Centre, based in Woking. When Aftermarket spoke to Mike in late March, they had just decided to close up. “It was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make. We have tried to keep it open, but looking at what the government had been saying, and the likelihood of this getting quite serious, we made the decision that we would close. “On parts availability, all the franchised dealers where we are have shut, the local tyre centre has shut. We were concerned. It is all very well getting key worker cars in, but if you get a car on the ramp and you can’t get a part, it will be stuck there. On this basis, we made the decision to shut. “The decision was one that we were all led to. It was not that I sat down and made it, or my senior colleagues did. We were regularly talking about it, and we were laying out the situation to the guys, getting their feedback, and everybody was supportive of it. There are always those who will say ‘I want to be off for three weeks,’ but most mechanics want to work. They want to get on. They don’t want to be sitting at home.” Mike said recent events had really brought the business together: “The most important thing in the whole of this crisis last week, and probably more in the coming weeks while we close, is the relationship with the staff. They are scared, they are worried, they are anxious. They are asking questions about pay – questions I can’t give answers to at the moment. We have reassured all our staff that thankfully the business is in a very strong financial position. We have always been careful with money, and we have always had a contingency fund for something like this, so I am not over-concerned on that side of things.” External support is important too: “I 10 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2020 BIG ISSUE www.aftermarketonline.net The most important thing in the whole of the crisis is the relationship with the staff ”