Photo courtesy Platinum Collision Centers
SHOP: Platinum Collision Centers LOCATION: Corona, Calif. OWNER: Tom Gregg
SIZE: 16,088 square feet STAFF: 9 AVERAGE MONTHLY CAR COUNT: 75 ANNUAL REVENUE: $1.5 million (projected)
After 17 years of working for someone else, Tom Gregg opened Platinum Collision Centers in July with the goal of creating a shop that puts the customer first. With nobody to answer to but himself, Gregg created his ideal shop in Corona, Calif., and put his years of experience to good use.
The shop provides a platinum VIP “concierge” program for its customers. For $9.95 per month, customers are given a long list of discounted or free service offerings—the savings totaling roughly $1,000. That includes a free windshield each year, free restoration on headlights, $100 off collision work, a free five-day rental, and other various items. The idea, Gregg says, is to keep customers thinking about his business year-round.
The shop utilizes a quality control checklist (QCC), which is where every technician’s work is checked by going down the list before the vehicle is returned to the customer. The sheet ensures that no steps in the process were skipped or forgotten and that each customer receives “platinum care.”
The production department is mapped out with tape and signage to keep everything organized. The entire team works together to keep it looking clean and well-maintained at all times. The layout was designed to keep vehicles flowing smoothly through the repair process from blueprinting, body, prep, paint and reassembly.
The name, Platinum Collision Centers, and the platinum logo of the shop, represent Gregg’s mission to give customers the very best, he says. He designed the logo himself, and has it all over the facility—including a display wall in the lobby with shelves for T-shirts featuring the shop logo that customers can purchase.
1) The name, Platinum Collision Centers, and the platinum logo of the shop, represent Gregg’s mission to give customers the very best, he says. He designed the logo himself, and has it all over the facility—including a display wall in the lobby with shelves for T-shirts featuring the shop logo that customers can purchase.
2) Everything in the check-in and estimating processes at Platinum Collision Centers is digital. As soon as a customer enters the shop, they are greeted and made to feel welcome—all while the staff uses CCC ONE on iPad tablets to document damage with photos, obtain claim numbers and then upload the customer and vehicle information into the shop’s CCC management system.
3) While customers wait, they can enjoy Apple TV or play Xbox while treating themselves to complimentary pastries, cookies, sodas, energy drinks, coffee and tea.
4) The shop uses Snap-on scan tools, has two prep stations and a 16.5-by-32-foot-long Thermo Air spray booth, which is larger than many shop booths. The extra space allows more parts to be worked on at once, making the paint process that much easier.
5) A large conference area allows for insurance adjusters to feel at home while they are at Platinum Collision. The shop also holds continued education classes for I-CAR and ASE, and hosts a number of other groups, as well, such as the California Autobody Association and BASF’s 20 Group meetings (Gregg serves as an ambassador).
6) Gregg’s shop helped paint the first-ever 3-D printed super car made for Divergent Microfactories. The shop worked on all the prep, body, surfacing and exterior painting for the car. The image of the vehicle is hanging in the shop.
7) The logo, prominently displayed throughout the shop, serves as a reminder to expect nothing less than the highest caliber of service at Platinum Collision.
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