Paint and Panel: The Edge

This week's key takeaway: How being curious and looking after people will lead to your success   Episode intro: Our guest this week was the superstar of Paint & Panel Live, Mr David Shepherd. His keynote address wowed everybody in the room, so we thought we'd get him on the show to give you the chance to learn from one of the best.   David started in the industry as a panel beater in the UK, befor...

This week's key takeaway: How to achieve more in 2024   Episode intro: We're kicking off 2024 with something a bit different… a little spot of business coaching from someone outside of collision repair. David Carlin is the other half of presenter-Ben's coaching business, Max My Profit, and he's an expert on goal setting and long-term planning.   Now is the best time to get your team together, make...

This week's key takeaway: Wrapping up 2023 with Sam Street and our Hall of Famers   Episode intro: It's that time of the year again… it's time for Paint & Panel's roundup of 2023. It's been an eventful year of high demand, more cars on the road and not enough parts to go around.   We welcome back two industry-friends of the show who are both Paint & Panel Awards Hall of Famers. Robin Taylor (Perfo...

This week's key takeaway: Modernise your repair processes with the cloud-based LINQ platform   Episode intro: Isn't it great when new tech can help us do things better? In this episode you'll hear how the PPG LINQ system is an absolute game-changer for mixing paint. We welcome back a good friend of the show, John Hristias (Sales Director, PPG Refinish), and one of his delighted customers, Lewis Ri...

This week's key takeaway: How Worldskills Australia is driving excellence in the industry   Episode intro: Our industry has no future unless we nurture young talent. In this episode we shine a light on the excellent work of Worldskills Australia, who are changing the game for some of our best apprentices. By winning local and national competitions, the best in Australia are given the chance to tra...

This week's key takeaway: Driving performance, productivity and profitability - with Robin Taylor   Episode intro: If you can't measure your business effectively, you're not going to improve. On the show this week is Robin Taylor from Axalta: a man who is helping businesses across the country measure their paint costs. Paint is something that can catch people out - sometimes a body shop will only...

This week's key takeaway: The benefits of hiring a virtual estimator - with Jim Damatopoulos   Episode intro: How would you feel about saving 40% and paying no payroll tax or super on your estimator? Jim Damatopoulos is just about to tell you how. Jim has joined forces with one of our previous guests, Ash Jardine, to offer a virtual estimator service that is already changing the game for innovativ...

This week's key takeaway: Creating sustainability in the collision repair industry - with Kirsten Dodd   Episode intro: Our environmental impact is becoming more important by the day. Business owners are increasingly aware of their responsibility, and so too are the customers. That's why we spoke to Kirsten Dodd (BASF's Product Launch Manager) about the brand-new products that are using rigorous E...

This week's key takeaway: Give your business a clear advantage, with Novus Glass   Episode intro: How much do you really know about windscreen repair? We're going to dissect this all-important part of the collision-repair mix with our esteemed guest, Stuart Faid (Regional VP of Fix Network Australia). Stuart introduces us to Fix Network's sister brand, Novus Glass, and tells us the interesting sto...

This week's key takeaway: How the QLD MTA is helping to future proof the industry   Episode intro: Editor Sam is out and about with her recorder once again, this time to the impressive Motor Trade's Association HQ in Queensland for a nice chat with Rod Camm (Group CEO).   Rod is a real innovator who works tirelessly to tackle the age-old problems in our industry, such as recruitment and the educat...

This week's key takeaway: Exploring Bold Strategies with Ben Chesterfield   Episode intro: This week we give you one heck of a success story from Ben Chesterfield: the man who took the bold move to diversify and jump into hail repair. Seeing as our theme for Paint & Panel L!ve this year is Bold Strategies and Total Hail Solutions are a sponsor, Sam Street paid him a visit and asked him how he pull...

This week's key takeaway: The Women in Collision Awards, with George Manos & Keira Dyer   Episode intro: It's that time of the year again - the time when we celebrate the contribution of women in our industry with the Women in Collision Awards. We speak to two people from our platinum event sponsors, IAG. George Manos (industry risk and governance manager) and Keira Dyer (manager of motor assessin...

This week's key takeaway: Upskill your team to future proof your business   Episode intro: We cannot overstate the importance of training to your business and the industry as a whole. Complaining about a skills shortage is all well and good, but what are you doing about it?    This week, we're speaking to I-CAR's Jason Trewin (COO) and Gary Wood (Senior Training Specialist) about their increasingl...

This week's key takeaway: A deep dive into the world of body filler - with James Lawson   Episode intro: This week we give you the lowdown on an essential-but-often-misunderstood aspect of our process; body filler. There is much more to body filler than meets the eye. If you don't apply your bog correctly, it can have disastrous consequences for both the shop and the vehicle owner.   Editor Sam ge...

This week's key takeaway: Celebrating 25 years of the Bathurst 1000 with Steve Normoyle   Episode intro: We've got something a bit different on the show this week: a trip down memory lane about the world-famous Aussie institution, the Bathurst 1000. Our guest Steve Normoyle has covered the Bathurst for three decades. As one of Australia's most eminent motorsport enthusiasts, Steve has just publish...

This week's key takeaway: 3M's global strategy to help collision repairers   Episode intro: Editor Sam went out to the 3M training facility in Blacktown to give you the lowdown on the extensive training on offer at 3M.    Our guests Justin Myers (3M automotive aftermarket division manager) and James Lawson (collision repair specialist educator) talk us through the groundbreaking initiatives on off...

This week's key takeaway: A natural extension of the customer journey with NDRA   Episode intro: Editor Sam speaks to David Butcher and John Dawson from Paint & Panel Live-sponsors, NDRA. As you will find out, the National Debt Recovery Authority does more than simply recover debt. It acts as a vital go-between to ensure customers and repairers receive fair and reasonable rates from insurers.   Yo...

This week's key takeaway: Customer loyalty is your key to success - with Sudeep Aikar   Episode intro: We've got a great story for you on this week's episode. Sudeep Aikar only came to this country eight months ago, but he's already making waves in Western Australia. The production manager/estimator at Reneew Collision Repair was recruited by our former guests Ash Jardine and Aaron Scagliotta, hav...

This week's key takeaway: The Bodyshop Awards Judges Wrap Up Episode intro: With the Bodyshop Awards coming up, this is your chance to gain an insight into how a judge's mind works.   We'd like to give a big shout out to the judges who give up their time, unpaid. They really do it for the love. In this episode you'll be hearing from:   Steve Lozenkovski (General Manager, Bears Group) https://www.l...

This week's key takeaway: Introducing the Australian Collision Industry Alliance - with Rob Bartlett Episode intro: How do you get young people into the collision repair industry? It's a constant battle, but there are people out there doing a sterling job in making it happen. We speak to Rob Bartlett, founding director of the Australian Collision Industry Alliance.   The ACIA is a new and exciting...

This week's key takeaway: Could you benefit from standing back? - with Steve Lozenkovski   Episode intro: A lot of business owners think about taking a break, but hardly any do. This week we hear from someone who's taken himself out of the hamster wheel and empowered others in his business into the bargain.   Steve Lozenkovski built up the family business to six sites and sold it off to AMA. Now h...

This week's key takeaway: Embracing Innovation and Supporting the Industry - with Steve O'Brien   Episode intro: It's coming around to that time of year again - the time when we start thinking about the Paint & Panel Bodyshop Awards.   We've got our old mate Steve O'Brien from iBodyshop on the show this week. iBodyshop are sponsoring the awards once again this year, so we pick Steve's brains about...

This week's key takeaway: From Panelbeater to TAFE Teacher, Cameron Killen shares his story   Episode intro: Do you ever wonder why it's so difficult to find apprentices and keep hold of them? In the show this week, we've got a brilliant first-hand insight from a recent apprentice, Cameron Killen.   Cameron started at Killen's Collision Repairs in Armadale, but is now at the other side of the fenc...

This week's key takeaway: Don't get caught out with your WHS system with Gary Willcox   Episode intro: Are you really on top of your WHS? Can you be 100% sure you and your team are covered if the worst happens?   We don't get returning guests very often but Gary Willcox is definitely a worthy exception! His health & safety product, Monit, helps panel shops all over Australia; and Gary himself is a...

This week's key takeaway:  Amy Miles shares how family values and integrity always pays in the long run   Episode intro: What an entertaining conversation we had with Amy Miles, Company Director at Valley Radiator Service. Amy presides over one of the few businesses in Oz that can still repair parts, thanks in no small part to her foreman who has been in the business since it opened in 1978! Amy t...