60-year-old garage stands test of time by moving with the times
S&B Motors say website is key to avoid business ‘just treading water
A long-established family-run garage in Watford is celebrating 60 years in business with plans for expansion.
Over the last three years, S&B Motors, a Bosch Car Service centre, has seen a 20 percent increase in turnover following investment in staff, main dealer equipment, training, and a specialist website from Garage Services Online (GSO).
Six years earlier, the garage had also transitioned from outdated paper-based admin procedures to a Techman garage management system (GMS).
Now, with the GMS and website working together to identify and attract S&B’s ideal customer, profits have also increased enabling the garage to plan its expansion.
Owner, Natalie Morton-Boyce, said: “Getting the website and GMS was revolutionary for us.
“Within two weeks of the website going live, the telephone and email enquiries increased dramatically. It’s even more amazing when you consider there are four garages on this road, and another four less than a mile away.
“We get up to 10 email enquiries and 15 calls a day via the website and convert around half. It keeps our seven ramps booked up three weeks in advance.
“The GMS system showed us where we had inefficiencies and gave us a different approach to pricing.
“We realised that the value of our service encompasses all the extra benefits we provide to the customer. Things like convenience, expertise, timesaving, problem-solving, and ultimately, the positive impact we have on their life or business.
“The GMS also highlighted our most lucrative work. We fed this information back to GSO and they built the website to specifically attract those jobs. Between both systems, we’re working smarter and future-proofing the business.”
S&B is still renowned for its “good old-fashioned customer service”; a reputation earned and passed down by Natalie’s grandfather and father. It’s something she and co-owner, Sean Regan, are fiercely protective of. The key, they say, is knowing when to say no.
“Just because you have the skills to do every job, doesn’t mean you should,” continued Natalie.
“If you’re not making the right profit, you’re just treading water. That’s something I don’t want to do with this great legacy that been passed down to us.
“Technology is changing so quickly, and we intend to embrace it all whilst combining it with the technical skills, quality of work, and first-class customer service that my father instilled in us.
“S&B Motors has stood the test of time, and by partnering with specialists like GSO, I’m also ensuring it moves with the times too. Our online presence is key to us being here for another 60 years.”