Despite the challenges of operating in one of the country’s most competitive markets, AAJ Automotive Paint Supplies, in the Punchbowl suburb of Sydney, is carving a healthy niche for itself. Owner, Joe Yaghi, says that setting up the business as a Protec Select Distributor was an easy choice.
When most people think of an MG they picture a sleek, two door British sports car with wire wheels and a canvas roof but the company also made some stylish saloons, such as this rather rare 1949 MGY example which was restored by Neil Wakeman. The car had been last registered in 1970 when Neil acquired it in 2009 and spent three years returning it to its former glory.
If the mid-2012 launch of a lean and focused range of primers and clearcoats hasn’t already done the trick, Steve Palanechka, Protec Refinish National Sales Manager, is adamant that the release of the Paraglaze Tinter System will make the market sit up and take notice. Given that this completes Protec’s world-class refinish line-up, Steve believes even the most hardened sceptic will be reassessing their perception of the company. Collision repairers have already recognised the overwhelming advantage.
When the local Protec R&D Team set out to comprehensively update the company’s refinish product line-up, it seems it really ‘hit the sweet spot’ with exactly what customers wanted. Despite being on the market for only a relatively short period of time, the Carmaster and Paraglaze product ranges have already attracted a wealth of positive feedback and a legion of fans. Putting the focus on high efficiency formulations that maximise paint shop productivity and profitability has certainly paid off, according to Protec National Sales Manager, Steve Palanechka.
When a business can trace its history back well over a century and it’s heading into the fifth generation of family operation you can guarantee plenty of attention has been paid to the finer details of customer service. Indeed, it’s a company policy of “customer first, second and third” that helps make Gilbert Motors a classic, long-lived, family owned, local business in every sense of the word.
Take a close look at the canopy of the next ute you see – chances are the badge will say Flexiglass. That’s not surprising when you consider that company founder, Harry Robins, made his first canopy using a steam bent timber frame and sheet metal panels in 1949 and designed the first ever fibreglass canopy in 1956. Today, Flexiglass is synonymous with the ‘Tradesmans’ canopy but one of the keys to the company’s ongoing success is the wide range of canopies it produces to provide security for utility vehicles, yet allow easy access to the cargo area.
