Derby garage shares strategy for attracting new business
The owner of award-winning Stoney Cross Garage has described what lies behind its success and how the power of being online has helped it get to where it is today.
Julian Hazeldine says when he took over the Derbyshire garage, he knew that being online was key to making it work. In fact, his belief in the power of the internet to get the business going was so strong, he paid for the website with his own money until the garage could afford to take over the monthly subscription cost.
It’s a strategy that paid off. Stoney Cross is the current holder of the Servicesure Autocentre of the Year award, and its five ramps are constantly booked up three weeks in advance.
He said: “The impact the website has had on the business is massive. When I took over the garage it was only small. Most of the customers were friends of the previous owners so it was like starting from scratch.
“Even all those years ago, I knew a website was key to not just establishing the garage, but to its continual growth and ongoing success.
“Servicesure recommended Garage Services Online and we’ve never looked back. They are outstanding, both in terms of customer service and being specialists in independent garage websites. We rank at the top of a Google search for most of our services.
“Repeat customers make up around 60 percent of the business and the website consistently generates the other 40 percent.
“We get up to 20 online enquiries every week via the website. People also say they call us after reading our Google reviews and being directed to a very professional website. It’s easy to navigate and just sells the garage services for us. Customers love it.”
Jim Lang, managing director at Garage Services Online, said: “When I took the initial call from Julian years ago, Stoney Cross was a very different garage to the one it is today.
“It’s been wonderful to watch the business evolve, and the website has grown with it. It’s an online mirror of the professional, award-winning garage on the ground. And that’s the secret behind a seamless experience for the customer.”