How did Prestige European Auto Care adapt their shop operations during COVID-19 to maintain safety?

To limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone safe, several changes were implemented: - Enforced six-foot distancing in the spacious shop - Work dispatched digitally via Tekmetric, allowing everyone to see assignments from their workspace - Parts table set up by the gate for contactless drop-offs - Switched to touchless payment processing with Tekmerchant, enabling text-to-pay for customers - Installed a cell-phone locker for guest pickups, with codes texted to customers for secure, contactless retrieval - Provided hand sanitizer boxes with the shop logo and thank you notes in every serviced car

Prestige European Kept the Wheels Turning at a Critical Moment

Eric Rutherford transformed Prestige European Auto Care from a small BMW and Audi repair shop into a $1.5 million business by partnering with Mike Difato and empowering new leadership, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, they swiftly adapted operations to safely continue serving essential workers while fostering team transparency and using downtime for shop improvements.

Eric Rutherford began his career in auto repair at a BMW dealership at 19. After 15 years working on Audis and BMWs, he purchased what is now Prestige European Auto Care. Initially, Eric realized he was too tied to the shop, prompting a shift in mindset after a friend remarked, “You don’t own a business, you own a job.” To grow, Eric partnered with Mike Difato and restructured the business, leveraging innovative tools to empower the team. Over five years, the shop grew from $300,000 to $1.5 million in annual revenue.

Recently, Prestige European faced challenges due to COVID-19, requiring rapid adjustments to business practices. The team acted quickly to continue serving customers safely.

Why Auto Repair is Essential

Auto repair remained crucial during the pandemic, supporting not only emergency vehicles but also those of essential workers like plumbers, grocery store employees, pharmacists, nurses, and doctors. Prestige European recognized the importance of being there for these essential businesses and their families.

A Chance to Let New Leaders Flourish

In January, the head service advisor was promoted to shop manager and the lead tech to shop foreman. Eric and Mike stepped back, allowing the new leaders to take charge and make decisions. Metrics were set, and as long as they were met, Eric limited his involvement to weekly meetings. This approach allowed the new leaders to grow and make key decisions for the shop.

Planning Together as a Team

The team was encouraged to share concerns and suggestions. Transparency was prioritized, especially during uncertain times. As April began, Eric ensured the team knew the plan: with two weeks of cars to work on, additional shop projects like painting, landscaping, and pressure washing were scheduled to improve the shop during downtime.

We're going to use this time to make our shop better.

How We Changed for the Better

To limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone safe, several changes were implemented:

Enforced six-foot distancing in the spacious shop
Work dispatched digitally via Tekmetric, allowing everyone to see assignments from their workspace
Parts table set up by the gate for contactless drop-offs
Switched to touchless payment processing with Tekmerchant, enabling text-to-pay for customers
Installed a cell-phone locker for guest pickups, with codes texted to customers for secure, contactless retrieval
Provided hand sanitizer boxes with the shop logo and thank you notes in every serviced car

Eric credits the team, shop management system, vendors, and guests for helping the business stay operational during challenging times.

For more information about Prestige European Auto Service, visit PrestigeEuropean.com.