Success Story - Barry Sydor

"It’s a good feeling to go to the various local antique car shows and see seven or eight of the cars you worked on", said the owner of the body shop.

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Barry Sydor brought 22 years of experience in the auto body profession when he established Karmel Auto Restoration in Andrew, Alberta.

Originally from Bruce, Alberta, Barry met his wife Darlene in Hilliard, Alberta during a ball tournament. During 19 years of marriage they have two beautiful twin daughters, Karissa and Melissa, after which their business has been named.

Barry’s reputation for quality and professional work followed him from Vegreville and K & M Auto near Mundare and then to Andrew.  Because the couple were impressed by what Andrew School had to offer their children, decided to buy the building which previously housed an auto body business.

The Lamont-Two Hills Business Development Corporation (BDC) offered the Sydors an opportunity to become entrepreneurs.  "The no down payment and the Self Employment program offered, helped me set-up the business," Barry said.   "The BDC assisted Darlene in taking a bookkeeping course and two computer courses.  She is responsible for the company books," he advised.

"Barry was unemployed when he came to our office.  We were able to help him secure funds to purchase his building and funds to operate for the first few months.   Next, we helped Barry and Darlene to understand their own financial statements.   When they studied their figures, they were able to come up with a couple of business decisions that improved their cash flow," said BDC General Manager, Bernice Sambor.

The couple are extremely community-minded.  Both are active members of different clubs such as the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and Fire Department.  Barry coaches Minor Ball, and Darlene is involved in the Andrew 4-H Multi-Club.

Karmel encompasses 6,000 square feet of space on the end of Main Street, permitting expansion when Barry is ready to do so.  Although he doesn’t utilize all the space, the area he presently works in has housed up to 15 vehicles at once, all being worked on at different stages.  If you peeked into his shop today, you would see automobiles in various stages of completion aging from 1940 to 1989.

Most of us think of a auto body shop pretty much after your car has been damaged in a vehicle accident, but there is so much more to it.

Barry’s shop provides services such as sheet metal repair, replacement parts (used, new or jobber), sand-blasting, rubber repair, fiber glass, painting, specialty work such as detailing, and more.  It’s amazing how dust free the environment must be to perform a first class paint job.

"Replacing panels is the part of the business I most enjoy.  It’s challenging to be absolutely precise," he said.

The demands of operating this type of business doesn’t permit Barry to spend much time in the paint booth.  "Telephone inquiries, writing-up quotes and public relations in general, keeps me out of the paint booth.  Once you start a painting task you can’t open the door to take a call until the entire job is completed.   Open the door, and the dust vacuum stops the air flow and you’ve got dust in the paint," he explained.

Karmel employs two full time individuals.  Insurance work constitutes 40% of the revenue, while working on antique autos brings in 30%.  The balance percentage is general work performed.

"A good paint job, if taken care of, will last for years."  This body shop guarantees its work.  "It takes one customer to complain to three people and business is lost.  I make good on my jobs." he advised.

Today small town body shops are being faced with an expense alternative to obtain more business.  It’s called becoming a "preferred" shop which basically means a new body shop must be prepared to invest thousands of dollars to be connected to an insurance company that will send business to a "preferred" body shop.   Even though an insurance company can refer a customer to a "preferred" shop, the customer is in no way obligated to choose that "preferred" shop.

Barry’s not short of work.  He has customers booked into spring for all kinds of vehicle body work.

What can go wrong in this type of business?  Well, Barry related a story of his earlier days when a farmer brought in a tractor to be repainted.  The implement was a "Farmall" brand which has the two smaller tires in the front.  Barry was setting up the tractor to be painted when it just fell over.  "I got the tractor standing up again, called the customer to tell him what happened.  I replaced the radiator which was damaged during the upset, and both of us walked away happy".

That was the only vehicle this body man ever had fall over. Once is enough, right?

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