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where we can’t even put the cars back on the road until the stuff is available,” Stockero said.

But that’s not the only hardship.

“You know, there’s not as many people in this industry that there was 25 years ago. There’s 10 of us leaving, and you might get one to replace,” Stockero said.

With the severe hiring struggles many small body shops are having, he fears many of them are on their way out of business.

And as Bend keeps growing, the situation is only getting worse.

“Everybody’s busy—there’s a lot more activity, a lot more cars around,” Crabtree pointed out.

Without parts and personnel, patience is the only avenue for many.

“We are at the mercy of the parts suppliers,” Stockero said.

In spite of the challenge, they’re taking it one day at a time.

“You’ve just got to do what you can and keep moving forward,” Crabtree said.

Crash Champions, LLC, one of the nation’s fastest growing independent collision repair companies, announced April 6 it has expanded its West Coast footprint.

The company has acquired Artistic Auto Body, consisting of two shops in the Portland, OR, Metro Area; Blackstone Collision, a single shop located in the Seattle Metro Area; and Len’s Auto Body, a single-shop collision center located in San Diego County.

The acquisition of Len’s adds a key location in Southern California, making the Golden State the company’s largest market based on shop count. The additions of Artistic and Blackstone represent further expansion into the Pacific Northwest market and follow the recent Spokane-area acquisitions of Ed’s Premier Auto Body, River City Body & Paint, Custom Body Collision Repair and Coachman Auto Body.

“What these collision centers all have in common is a dedication to high quality repair and customer service that serves as the foundation for everything they do,” said Matt Ebert, founder and CEO of Crash Champions. “While Crash Champions started out as a regional collision repair outfit in the Midwest, over the last few years we have grown into a truly national player with an extensive footprint that stretches from coast to coast. I look forward to welcoming these new shops and their respective teams into the Crash Champions family, and I am eager for us to continue providing vital collision repair services to our new neighbors in these communities.”

“This is terrific milestone for everyone at our organization,” said Len Verheyen, owner of Len’s Auto Body. “While we are becoming part of a larger national platform, we will be staying true to our local roots, as Crash has demonstrated a commitment to operate its locations with a community mindset rooted in operational excellence and friendly service. They have a corporate culture where the stated mission, vision and values aren’t just words on a page, they actually inform the company’s activities and daily operations. In combination with the additional resources, size and scale we gain, I am confident that this transaction will meaningfully enhance the experience we can provide our customers.”

“The past 40 years of building Artistic into what it is today has been an incredible experience, and it is only fitting that an owner and operator like Matt and his team at Crash Champions are the ones to take the reins to help continue that growth,” said Terry Mostul, owner of Artistic Auto Body. “It has been a privilege to help restore our customers’ peace of mind in difficult times through high-quality repairs and compassionate service, and I know that while the sign on the front will change, people will still find the same level of professionalism and repair excellence when they walk through the doors.”

For more information about Crash Champions, visit crashchampions.com. For those collision repair companies interested in selling their business, Crash has made it easy. Visit crashchampions.com/sell-yourshop to learn more.

Source: Crash Champions

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