16-PAGE SPECIAL
AUGUST 8, 2010
2. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL.
AUGUST 8, 2010
SUCCESS in the business world often comes to those who see a potential niche and have the courage to follow through. That was what Dereck Foster and Hugh Blades did in 1990 when they resolved to start their own venture. The two entrepreneurs are currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of the initiative which all Barbadians know as Automotive Art and they continue looking at bringing better products and service to the marketplace. Reflecting on how they started, executive chairman Foster said: “Hugh and I used to work for the same company prior to starting Automotive Art, and our friendship even before we became business partners was always strong.” They saw an opportunity to do what the company for which they worked did, but “in a different way, a larger way and [also] to go into new things”. The idea developed from their knowledge of the business and when “the opportunity came for us to start” the entrepreneurs found a partner in Harris Paints. “They came with us and we got it off the ground,” Foster recalled. He said the support which Automotive Art received from individuals like Ralph Johnson and the late Andrew Phillips, was invaluable. According to Blades, who now serves as chief executive officer of Marshall Trading, Harris Paints brought manufacturing expertise to the table, “we brought the retail side and it was a really good blend at the time”. Twenty years on, Automotive Art still maintains ties with Harris Paints – ties which reach to level of the board of directors. Noting that the partnership was still going strong, Foster said there were never any major disagreements between the two sides. Confirming his business partner’s statement, Blades said “We always got along very well and the relationship continues.” Automotive Art’s first business location was on the outskirts of Bridgetown at Tweedside Road, St Michael, but that was for approximately six months. It relocated to Wildey and a space which was a fraction of what the venture currently occupies. “From day one we focused on paint and shortly thereafter the automotive rims, tools and accessories started to come in. I would say within months of our starting up the idea
certainly embraced it from day one”. During those early days, no task was beneath either of them and according to Foster 20 years on “we still feel that way”. Blades recalled an occasion when a container of solvents was coming and “I forgot to tell everybody” and since “Dereck and I were usually the last to leave” when the customs officers arrived, it fell to them to handle the job – 80 drums in the shipment. “Dereck drove the forklift and I was inside the container pushing the drums.” And they complemented each other well. Blades said his initial focus revolved around the day-to-day activity, while his partner focused more on moving the organisation forward. Another key factor in the company’s success was the ability to recruit excellent CO-FOUNDER Hugh Blades (right) listening intently as his longtime business partner and staff including chief executive officer Doug Armstrong and Glenn Camacho who friend Dereck Foster reflects on the early years of Automotive Art. (RC) oversees the United States operation. “We might have been the founders but the reality is we have a slew of people in this company, who helped to build it [and] we look at it as a team effort,” declared Foster. Such has been the success of the organisation that the name Automotive Art is known in several territories across the region where franchises and distributorships have been established. Tracing those developments, Foster said: “First we started exporting our paint.We used to have a factory here and we exported to come because they wanted their cars to was to make it bigger by adding new to some of the other islands” (to distributors look nice and they would buy a set of wheels”. starting around 1992) “but the real franchising categories.Things expanded hugely when we A willingness to embrace new technology bought Barbados Tyre Centre and merged it ... did not take place until 2001”. over the years, helped Automotive Art to That’s when we went to a new level.” According to Foster, Automotive Art maintain its status as market leader. And what was the competition like does business in 26 territories and “about half No surprise, according to Foster, who early on? of them are branded Automotive Art According to Foster: “When we started in noted that: “The company was founded on franchises, the others are distributors”. the paint business [it] was a dirty business, all using technology as a competitive advantage.” He said, too, that Automotive Art Technology played a role in the type of the recently established a presence in Mexico, the stores that sold paint were behind the paint Automotive Art carried as well as in “So we are continuing to grow.” counter operations, very messy but we the computerised mixing process and “we changed that, we put in a supermarket-like layout, everyone had uniforms but more importantly, everybody was properly trained.” That apart, 20 years ago there were at least 12 different enterprises selling automotive paint to the public, “today they are really only two”. Noting how the business had grown, Blades traced its evolution from a vendor of paints to the place where “anybody who wanted to buy anything for their car would come... and I remember when we first started to bring in wheels it was only the hotshots who would buy, but then bank managers and ladies started
Team work key in success story
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TO REMAIN a market leader, the prudent business executive knows there can be little time for resting on one’s laurels and for this reason Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Art, Doug Armstrong cannot afford to lose focus. It is his role to ensure that the company, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, maintains its status as the largest auto-care retailer in the Caribbean. Armstrong joined the Automotive Art family in 1992 as sales and marketing manager and progressed over an 18-year career to his current executive position. Outlining his responsibilities Armstrong noted that: “We are living in some fairly tumultuous times so the biggest challenge now is to manage the company effectively and efficiently while we go through this current economic challenge.” While he does that, Armstrong must also keep an eye on the corporate blueprint aimed at maximising Automotive CEO of Automotive Art, Doug Armstrong is Art’s market share and ensuring focused on sustaining the company’s growth. (RC) future growth. “You have the day-to-day priorities of of that outlet was the change brought to the making sure the business is run profitably mixing and sale of automotive paints which in while keeping people employed during these dark times, but you still have to make decisions most retail outlets across Barbados, at the time had been “very dirty” and not on investment for the future and charting a professionally run. course forward.” “We brought a more supermarket-type Asked where he hoped to take the organisation in the next 10 years or more, the format to the overall business and what we are looking to do at Welches is to basically CEO said as far as Barbados was concerned he noted that the market here was now “quite recreate that but using today’s raw materials. In terms of the layout and visual merchandising mature”. In the circumstances, “I don’t think in terms the store should be spectacular. It will certainly be the benchmark in the automotive business of growing the business, there is really much for Barbados and in retailing generally, it will more we can do here, barring tweaking set some serious standards in the industry.” current operations.” Recognising how much development was Citing the construction of the new store at Welches, St Thomas, Armstrong identified it as occurring in St Philip, Automotive Art established a presence at Six Roads to cater to an example of the tweaking he had in mind. “That’s a new investment we are making, in motorists from that parish and surrounding areas. a state-of-the-art store for Barbados.” Giving his assessment, the CEO expressed Declaring “we are bit ahead of the curve, in extreme satisfaction with the performance of the Welches area” Armstrong noted that the that outlet. area around the store would eventually see a “St Philip has developed a great deal over significant amount of development “in the near the last few years – new projects, new term” and Automotive Art was poised to construction and new residents moving into be a part of it with its new flagship store. the area, so the store has done very well in a Noting the difficult economic times which short space of time.” the country was facing, he said it felt really Given that complacency has no place in a great to launch a project which could provide successful business strategy, reviews of employment for Barbadian artisans. He said Welches, scheduled to open in the Automotive Art’s product lines and second half of November, would raise the bar services occur “every other week at our sales with the “retail format” planned for the store, meetings” with managers and sales staff. The sessions examine new ideas, even though floor space would be “roughly” the same size as the Wildey, St Michael outlet. suggestions from customers while prioritising “what we want to bring” to the market. “When we opened Wildey ... at the time, Focusing on Automotive Art’s that store was state-of-the art and we network of franchises and distributors, definitely raised the bar.” According to the CEO one of the hallmarks Armstrong said effort is made to ensure that
CEO holds global vision the same standards applied in Barbados are followed everywhere else. To keep everyone in the know “we also do franchise conferences every two years where we bring everyone to a central location ... next year will be here in Barbados”. The next major challenge for the company is the United States (US) market. According to Armstrong “we are there already, we have an operation there and that is the future for the company”. He said of all the projects which Automotive Art might have under consideration “the US would be the single largest opportunity we have to geometrically grow the business in the near term”.
Time and resources have been invested and results are beginning to show the CEO noted. As far as the future was concerned “our vision is global”. He said the company had done an acceptable job in exploiting the potential of the region and was taking aim at Central and South America in a serious way. “We have already started to supply products to Mexico and Belize and I am hoping that initiative will continue to travel south.” Automotive Art has also made inroads in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana and “we are hoping to find further opportunities in South America” said Armstrong.
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LOYAL, dependable and long-serving employees should always be listed among the most prized assets of any successful company and there are three individuals at Automotive Art who definitely fit the bill. Linley Quintyne, Brenda Beckles and Orville Clarke, joined the organisation from inception and 20 years on, none have any regrets about working with Automotive Art for the past two decades. Chances are if they could do it all over again, they would. Reflecting on how it started , technical manager Orville Clarke said he was involved even before the doors opened to the public. “We came over from the previous company” just like Dereck Foster and Hugh Blades, founders of Automotive Art. The product lines were similar so Clarke and his colleagues were on familiar ground from the outset and making the decision to join the new venture was an easy one for him – no pressure whatsoever. He joined Automotive Art at the original Tweedside Road location “as a technical representative” and there were times when he worked the cash register, too. As technical representative Clarke “graduated from mixing paint” to more technical tasks including advising customers on how to get the best from the products which they purchased from Automotive Art. Asked to reflect on the early days of the organisation he said: “In those days there were so few of us and we were so very close and it was like a family atmosphere. Even with the public, it was always a friendly interaction between customers and staff and it made working a happy experience.” As technical manager travel is “a big part” of his job and he has visited several of the other countries over the past 17 years. Clarke’s colleague, Quintyne, has reached supervisory level in the retail section having joined Automotive Art “as a paint mixer”.
AUGUST 8, 2010
10 years, including his initial year with Automotive Art’s predecessor but he said: “I am not really out of it completely.” If there is a staff shortage on a given day, he assists. Reflecting on his 20 years, he said leaving to take up another job never really crossed his mind because problems on the job hardly ever arose and he has also had the opportunity to travel to some of the other Automotive Art territories. As the third member of the long-serving trio, Beckles was truly a surprise, given that for so long she has worked in what would have been deemed a man’s world two decades ago. She went to work with Automotive Art’s predecessor because she needed a job to help support the home, and when the opportunity came to be a part of something new, Beckles accepted even though the only position available was that of a maid. Working as a maid did not discourage her from wanting to learn more about the paint shop and ”I would always go and help the men doing the cash and stuff like that, it was just a few of us and we lived like a family.” Twenty years on, Beckles is warehouse supervisor at Automotive Art’s Lower Estate, St Michael, bond. Giving insight into her approach to the job she said: “Even though I came here as a maid, I LONG SERVICE EMPLOYEES: (From left) Orville Clarke, Brenda Beckles, Hugh have worked in other areas – in office Blades, Linley Quintyne and Dereck Foster accepting 20th anniversary longstanding positions as well – but my aim was, no matter awards. (GP) the position, I would give of my best.” “My training began when I came to the According to him, he started paint mixing The warehouse supervisor insisted that company and when you had no background in starting out as a maid “is no crime” and in her knowing very little about the skill but he was colour mixing it was more of a challenge,” he able to rely on more experienced people like book “it’s not how you start but rather how said. “Orville” who were there “helping me and you finish”. In those days paint mixers would identify showing me how to do certain things”. She also viewed her employment at the basic tints required to create a colour “and Automotive Art as “an opportunity to The paint mixing process of 20 years ago they would leave you on your own, come back learn new things” because even though she required an experienced eye to determine later to see how you were progressing and how close the mixed formula was to the was “in a man’s world, it was always intriguing help you with the finishing touches”. original unlike today where computerisation to watch her colleagues work and learn Quintyne worked as a paint mixer for over from them.” ensures a much higher level of accuracy.
Long service, prized assets
AUGUST 8, 2010
BATTERY SALES VAN: Philip Bryan.
SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 5
(GP)
IN EVERY COMPANY, like most things in life, challenges arise.The way that these challenges are approached defines who you are and what you stand for. These challenges can either be approached by finding a solution to the problem, or by turning the challenge into an opportunity. While these situations arise in all divisions of the company, this approach is fundamental to those teams and departments that work away from the stores and offices;
Beyond our physical stores Distribution, Wholesale and the Battery Sales Van. As the product range and depth in Automotive Art grew, so too did the need for a dedicated team to manage the day to day logistics and flow of getting products out to where they needed to be, whether it is to Automotive Art’s own stores, or to the multitude of resellers of brands represented by the company.That inventory control and logistics team is led by Mark Kelawan. “The Bond Guys” as they are
DISTRIBUTION TEAM – Front row (from left) Brenda Beckles, Umar Dyer, Wendy Nurse, Dario Haynes, Icerline Greene, and Mark Kelawan. Back Row (from left) Michael Clarke, Junior Barrow, Neil Parris, and Anthony Jessamy (GP)
WHOLESALE TEAM – From left: Alvin Blades, Justin Harrison, Ivor Trotman, and David Neblett. (GP)
fondly referred to, operate out of a warehousing facility in Lower Estate, St Michael, and control the receiving of shipments of products into Barbados, the stocking, categorising, and subsequent delivery to all corners of the island including Automotive Art’s own stores. Products selling in our stores are one thing, but Automotive Art also realised early on the need to get into the marketplace and service our customers who have their own operations.This includes hardware stores, automotive garages, painters and body shops, automotive dealers and so on.This initiated the need for a wholesale department; a dedicated team of brand managers, who act as ‘on-the-road’ ambassadors for Automotive Art, build relationships with customers, and work to grow their business with Automotive Art products and services. Automotive Art has four such brand managers responsible for each product category they operate in. David “Blitz” Neblett is the brand manager for tyres, both commercial and passenger and works to develop and entrench the company’s tyre brands across institutional and commercial customer groups islandwide. Paints and ancillaries, the core product line, is managed by Ivor Trotman, a former sales
representative who has built strong ties within the painter and body shop community. The fun side of the automotive business lies within chemicals, waxes, polishes, accessories and rims, which falls under the stewardship of brand manger Justin Harrison.The newest brand manager, Alvin Blades, a former sales representative at Automotive Art’s Welches store, spends most of his days on commercial sites and hardware stores developing his tools and commercial equipment brands, and the newest and fastest growing product category in Automotive Art, the safety portfolio, which includes products such as safety boots and respiratory equipment. Many customers would be familiar with Automotive Art’s battery van, which drives the highways and byways of Barbados servicing retailers, commercial fleets and the marine industry with batteries. Philip Bryan is the lead sales representative in this division, and has done a great job in developing the company’s battery portfolio. His job is important, as most people never enjoy a dead battery, but with the ability to have a roving battery sales van the driving public of Barbados can rest assured that almost every corner of the island sells PowerMaster batteries.
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A MAJOR success factor for Automotive Art is opening and operating locations that are convenient to customers. The nature of Automotive Art’s business model does not require the best location, but having a location that is easy to navigate to. When Dereck and Hugh conceptualised Automotive Art they needed space to make their dream a reality.That WELCHES SERVICE CENTRE: Front row (from left): came through renting a small Ricardo Phillips, Sean Corbin, Renee Dawson portion of a warehouse facility, WELCHES RETAIL – Foreground: Diana Thorpe. and Chad Todd. in Wildey, from Harris Paints. Second row (from left): Mitchell Waithe, Dave Green, Francina Mendes, Alicia King, Back row (from left): Anderson Bullen, Then as business grew more Stacey-Ann Harvey, Crystal Browne and Kenrick Baptiste. James Hutchinson, Rodney Stoute (GP) and more retail space was Back Row (from left): Paul Ashby, Ryan Archer, Leroy Hall and Shawn Power. (GP) required and Automotive In 1993 the company opened its second Art expanded throughout the warehouse retail facility in Black Rock.This was a small facility until a large retail store and tyre centre store in the same complex as Carlton was opened in 1995. Shift to present day Supermarket, and even opened on Sundays for where Automotive Art still operates in added convenience to customers in the area. Wildey, with this location as the Flagship store. Over the course of the next five years, The Wildey location not only houses the demand eventually outgrew this location and largest Automotive Art store of all the company moved the store to its current throughout the region, but also the adjacent location in Welches, St Thomas, in 1998 to the building which now is occupied by the building then known as ‘Farm Fresh Produce’. Automotive Art parent company, This proved very successful as Welches Art Holdings Inc. offers a unique location for servicing the Wildey is home to the largest staff count parishes to the North of Barbados.Welches is in Barbados, with over 40 of the staff calling managed by Kenrick Baptiste, while the retail it their home away from home. store is supervised by Shawn Power, with the Automotive Art,Wildey, offers not Service Bay falling under the watch of Sean only retail but also a full service centre Corbin and Fabian Bispham.This location will catering to tyres, batteries, wheel also soon be home to a new store that is sure alignments and mechanical services. to be an impressive addition to the landscape, Also at Wildey are other departments both inside and out. such as the Inventory team, Accounts, The company’s insatiable thirst for growth Wholesale, Human Resources, IT, and then saw perhaps its most aggressive strategy Maintenance all under the strategic eye of realised when management focused its efforts Mark Hamilton, the general manager of onto the export and manufacturing division. Automotive Art Barbados.The The paint factory in Barbados had a turbulent retail store is managed day to day by life, moved several times to facilitate the ever Trevor Goodman with Linley Quintyne as expanding retail and service operations.The the retail store supervisor, while the WILDEY RETAIL STAFF: Front row: Heather Mitchell (left) and Sabina Grant. factory started in the back of the main Wildey Service Centre is operated by supervisors Second row (from left): Marcia Pilgrim, Linley Quintyne, Keisha Wiltshire, facility, was shifted around and repositioned Rhett Watson and Ryan Morris. Matthew Edwards, Mark Gay and Natalie Rochester. several times, moved to the old Tyre Centre But along the way to 20 years of success, Third Row (from left): Rennea Phillips, Corey Lewis, Xavier Bradshaw, facility (behind McEnearney on Wildey road), Automotive Art has applied its business Roemell Campbell, Gregory Clarke, David Best and Trevor Goodman. • Continued on next page. model to other locations. Back row: Shawn Jones. (GP)
Positioned for greatness
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TECHNICAL GROUP – Orville Clarke (left) and Peter Padmore. (GP) • From Page 6.
WILDEY SERVICE CENTRE – Front row (from left):
Richard Davis, Lomae Walhrust, Corey James, moved back to Wildey when that facility was Anderson Sheppard, and Chadley Husbands. sold to McEnearney and finally by 1999 had Middle row, (from left): Jermaine Jones, Dwayne Mitchell, settled at a new location just off the Flemming Hanson, Barnard Pinder, Damien Downey, Spring Garden Highway. Kemar Holder, Owen Gibson and Rhett Watson. A far cry from their humble beginnings, Back row (from left): Jamal Thorpe, Automotive Art paint products are now Russell Yearwood, Bently Mullin, Richard Quintyne, Lester manufactured with partners in the Leacock, Roger Walcott, Jamar Bascombe Netherlands, Spain, Canada and the United and Ravi Deane. (GP) States while other private label partners are located in Taiwan, Korea and China. In addition to capitalising on the efficiencies in these Roads location appeals to both the residents markets, the most efficient supply chain logistics are of St Philip and St John, as well as those looking to then applied to the products in order for the customer shop away from the hustle and bustle. Six Roads is to have access to first world products at affordable prices complimented by a staff of six and managed by in every territory. Vivian Clarke, they consider themselves family Looking to expand further in the local market, a decision more than co-workers and the atmosphere there was made to join forces with Harris Paints and a purpose built certainly promotes this. Automotive Art store was constructed, adjoined to the The company’s thirst for growth is far from quenched. Harris Paints store in St Philip. It was clear that St Philip was an Automotive Art continues to look for avenues to expand emerging parish on the cusp of expansion and Automotive and by doing so, will add value to their offering time and time Art took the opportunity to open a “small” store in 2003. again.With only 20 years under their belt and so much already Fully equipped with retail operations and a service bay, the Six accomplished, the next 20 should be a great ride!
SIX ROADS STAFF – Front row (from left): Vivian Clarke, Julia Rogers, Suzette Griffith and Joycelin Perry. Back Row (from left): Nicholas Yearwood, Adrian Layne, Kristian Robinson and Romell Callender. (GP)
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Thinking outside the ‘pedal’ box WHEN the franchise era of Automotive Art started back in 1999, talks regarding creatively streamlining the execution of marketing projects also began.With brand guidelines inclusive of the use of the logo one can easily get the picture that creativity and advertising are a fundamental part of the triumphs of Automotive Art. Probing for fresh and radical ways to promote the company through design and production, Automotive Art decided to create an in-house Marketing and Advertising Department.This would allow Automotive Art the freedom to design campaigns specific to what the company strategies are for any given period, while embracing each market’s nuances. The department was formed in 2002 and over the last eight years has grown exponentially, to become a fully sustainable
MARKETING DEPARTMENT – From left: Jonathon Hart, Kerry-Ann Patrick, Christina Warren, Philip Arthur, Lester Best. (GP)
entity for the Automotive Art group. Jonathon Hart sits in the drvier’s seat of this department leading an eclectic group of creative and strategic minds including marketing coordinator Christina Warren, marketing assistants Philip Arthur and KerryAnn Patrick, and marketing analyst Lester Best. Working with state-of-the-art equipment and a knowledge bank to rival most advertising agencies, the department continues to grow and work with the franchisees on serving them in the most efficient and economical way. This centralisation affords the franchisees the ability to have senior strategic thinkers at their disposal, and with the new age of online and mobile marketing strategies now cementing itself in the Caribbean business world, the benefits of this department are now paying immense dividends to all who participate in them.
Strong from the inside out WHEN CUSTOMERS come to Automotive Art they are greeted by sales or customer service representatives, colour matching technicians, and service bay technicians, but few know about the behind the scenes staff that work to keep Automotive Art running like a well oiled machine. Automotive Art works as a fully integrated organisation due to departments such as the Accounts Department, IT, Human Resources, Purchasing and Maintenance.These teams of individuals play a crucial role in supporting the everyday operations which have allowed Automotive Art to be successful over the past 20 years.
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MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY TEAM Anson Griffith (left) and Bob Spencer (GP) GROUP ACCOUNTS – Front (from left): Jania Jones, Sharian Bellamy, Jenea King, Tiffany Clarke, Theresa Foster and Ryan Haynes Back (from left): Ingrid Kinch, Neils Brathwaite, Ronnie Mascoll and Andrew Eastmond (GP)
GROUP IT – From left: Marcus Beck, Hughie Walker and George Hinkson. (GP)
GROUP HUMAN RESOURCES – From left: Timmi Bryant, Sheana Layne, Cathy Harper and Samia Moseley (GP) IT
In this ever changing world technology is a factor that can make an organisation sink or swim and that factor is imperative in a retail Accounts environment. From point of Led by the Financial sale terminals, e-mail access, Controller Ronnie Mascoll, the dedicated servers, and websites Accounts Department is made to name a few, the IT up of six other employees who Department of Automotive work to secure payments, pay Art works on the cutting edge bills and follow up with of technology to give all creditors.This department is a employees access to any tools centralised unit out of the daily needed to function on a daycustomer’s eyes, but most of to-day basis.With a decorated them are well known by others IT professional in Hughie in the industry. Walker, leading a team of
exuberant administrators, there mediums between employees and management at is no task that cannot be Automotive Art to fine measured and completed. tune that special cohesiveness needed to keep the company Human Resources It is truly “a labour of love” with the Human Resources Department at Automotive Art, as they play the parental like roles with employees at the company, working to guarantee satisfaction levels are 100 per cent with each and every staff member. Catherine Harper, the office manager, spends most of her days, alongside Timmi Bryant, Sheana Layne and Samia Mosley, as the
PURCHASING ADMINISTRATION GROUP – From left: Shontelle Padmore, Arlene Gibson, Celina Fenty, and Julianne Hutson. (GP) successful and dynamic. Purchasing Where would Automotive Art be without any products on the shelves to sell? This daunting
and ever changing task takes both skill and vision to make sure that innovations and new products that fit the model of Automotive Art are able to make it onto the shelves while keeping a steady flow of
the hot ticket items. Shontelle Padmore and Arlene Gibson, purchasing assistants, work with Purchasing Manager Julianne Hutson, filtering through the numerous products categories of
Automotive Art to keep the customers happy. Maintenance and Security Not to be taken lightly, Bob Spencer and Anson Griffith, have the gargantuan task of maintaining Automotive Art’s largest assets which
allows every staff member the opportunity to work in a comfortable and safe environment. From the buildings to grounds and vehicles to machinery, the maintenance department works daily on any project that comes up needing their attention.
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AUGUST 8, 2010
Building Caribbean bridges with cyan and magenta CYAN AND MAGENTA, two colours that when placed together mean only one thing in Barbados, Automotive Art.Whether it is rally cars, buildings, company vehicles, products, advertising, or even uniforms, Automotive Art’s brand presence is significant in Barbados. Over the years the company has invested significantly in building its brand equity across the region, and its signature colours are now present across 29 countries across the region, including Central and North America. In the early years, overseas expansion was achieved by establishing distributors in nearby Caribbean markets for automotive paint which was manufactured in Barbados at the time.The success of Automotive Art’s one-stop retail store concept and increasing demand from existing distributors and investors to open branded stores provided the momentum for the company to develop a structured business franchise format and pursue growth through franchising. This arrangement provided franchisees with the opportunity to open Automotive Art retail outlets and purchase directly from the manufacturer while enjoying group savings, a wider product range, quality standards, a strong brand and benefits of marketing, training, computer systems and ongoing support. In 1999 the company’s distributors were offered the opportunity to convert to franchise concept and thereafter expansion began by partnering with investors in other Caribbean markets and the opening of Automotive Art franchise stores.Today the company has franchises in Antigua, Barbados, Grand Cayman, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts, St Lucia, and Suriname with a couple more in the works. In addition the company has distributors in Aruba, Bermuda, Belize, Curacao, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Martinique, St Maarten, Mexico, Montserrat, St Vincent,Trinidad,Tortola, Puerto Rico and Dominica Republic. At all of these locations you will either find the Automotive Art Professional Refinish branded products or the familiar Cyan and Magenta Automotive Art retail outlets. This concept of franchising was initially conceived by group chairman Dereck Foster, who has always been an advocate of rapid expansion strategies. Having taken over from Glenn Camacho who developed the business format from concept through to fruition, the support for the franchise group is now driven by Chris Maloney, vicepresident of Finance and Franchising, through leading a structurally sound group of professionals who make up the franchising department, namely, Anita DaCosta, director of Franchise Training and Employee Development, and Lionel Baksh, field auditor. Along with the marketing department, additional support for both the franchise group and distributors for the Professional Vehicle Refinish Products are worked on by the Technical Department at Automotive Art.This department works on growing, training, evaluating, reviewing and assisting with problem areas in each market with the automotive paint sector.The dedicated gents who have taken up this mantle are Orville Clarke, technical manager, and Peter Padmore, technical representative. Focusing on the future saw Automotive Art’s Professional Vehicle Refinish Products take a further step into uncharted territory when the product range was launched in the United States in November of 2008.This launch took place at NACE, the acronym for International Autobody Congress & Exposition – the World’s Premier Collision Repair Event. It was here that Automotive Art went truly international and to date Automotive Art Professional Vehicle Refinish Products can be found spread across the United States as far as Ohio and New York.
FRANCHISE TEAM: (From left) Chris Maloney, Anita DaCosta, and Lionel Baksh. (GP)
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Mission: North America ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED back in 2002 to manage logistics into the Caribbean, Automotive Art’s United States (US) operations have successfully grown in delivering on this function. Today, however, they have their eyes set on an even bigger prize; that of developing distribution in North America for the company’s private label line of automotive paint products. Automotive Art’s president for US Operations, Glenn Camacho, said while the logistics function for Central and South American customers remains as a core function, the geometric opportunities to growth will come from North America. According to Camacho: “Our timing for entering the US market is very good because the recession has created a mentality among jobbers and body shops that they should be considering other alternatives available in the market in order to enhance competitiveness and profitability.” He went onto say that whereas previously many customers were very entrenched with their suppliers, and were not willing to consider other product options, today the company
has made many in-roads in various geographic areas because customers are willing to try new and different products lines that will enhance their business results. While the company has met with some success in territories like New York, Texas and Florida, there is still much work to do. Camacho shared that they really only started soliciting the US market in 2008 at the NACE (National Autobody Congress and Exposition) show in Las Vegas, but that the interest in the brand had grown, and distribution opportunities continued to grow. He said while growing the customer base remained job No. 1, the company was also focused on developing its automotive paint product line in the area of water borne and low VOC (volatile organic compound) refinishes. “These emerging technologies are very important to our future viability in the US because we will have to meet these environmental standards in many states moving forward, and our Caribbean customers will also benefit from these green initiatives” Supporting Glenn in his mission in the US is a team of 11 staff who function in the areas of sales, technical
LOGICAR STAFF – (Front row, from left) Ian Ross, Evelyn Brenner, Morella Moreno, Vonda Gutierrez and Carlos Correa. (Back row, from left) Luis Abad, Glenn Camacho, Alberto Martinez, Jerry Anderson, Sean Reese and Claudio Sarmiento (GP) support, office administration, logistics and warehousing. He credits the success that the company has met with having
“Our vision is firmly fixed a reliable and cohesive team on our North American who function well under opportunity, and we look pressure, and who take the service of customers to heart. forward to enhancing our
contribution to the growth and development of the Group in the years to come,” Camacho said.
s n o i t a l u t a r Cong rt A e v i t o m o t u A to th
20
on your
Anniversary ccess
tinued su and we wish you con
Warrens, St. Michael. Tel: 417-7777 www.simpson-motors.com
12. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL.
HIRE FOR ATTITUDE, Train for Skill – this is the mantra of the employment philosophy at Automotive Art. Nothing is more exciting and fulfilling as when our employees exhibit true leadership qualities and excel within the company. There are several employees at Automotive Art whose talent, dedication and commitment have earned them recognition and reward. Following are profiles of five individuals who have demonstrated what can be achieved with the right attitude. Catherine Harper joined the Automotive Art team as an inventory control assistant on February 1, 1996. Not content to remain as an assistant, Harper’s hard work and ability to quickly master Automotive Art’s inventory control system gave her the opportunity for promotion to the position of inventory control CATHERINE HARPER officer in May 1997. This was just the beginning of (GP) her road to success within the Automotive Art family. After holding the inventory control officer position for five years, she was further promoted to office manager in April 2002. During her years at Automotive Art, Harper has been a remarkable employee who shows loyalty and willingness to succeed, and is an inspiration to many. Marcia Pilgrim was hired on February 7, 2005, for the temporary position of a general worker. A few short months later, she was promoted to merchandiser/inventory worker. With this promotion, she showed great initiative and that she was not afraid to work hard to ensure all daily activities were done in the most productive and efficient way. It was clear from her work in inventory that Pilgrim was a very valued member of the Automotive Art family. Having dedicated five years of hard work and commitment to her job, in April 2010, Pilgrim was promoted to sales representative, a position she currently holds. Her time in inventory and merchandising makes her a very MARCIA PILGRIM knowledgeable sales representative, (GP) who is capable of helping customers with anything on the sales floor. Pilgrim continues to work hard and shows true dedication to her job and the company. Kenrick Baptiste joined the Automotive Art team in 2001 as a sales representative, and immediately showed that he was effective in selling and servicing customers, and was determined to succeed at Automotive Art. Baptiste is a strong sales person and showed good initiative on the sales floor, while always looking for ways to better the company. In April 2004, he was promoted to senior customer service representative in the Wildey Service Centre. Baptiste’s commitment and KENRICK BAPTISTE (GP) will to succeed led to another promotion to acting retail store supervisor in September 2005, and by December 2005, he was officially appointed to the position. In September 1, 2006, he was again promoted, this time to retail store manager of the Welches location and was then transferred to Automotive Art Wildey in March 2008. Baptiste has moved back to managing the Welches location and waits in anticipation for the new state-of-the-art facility set to open in November 2010. Trevor Goodman joined the Automotive Art team as a sales representative in September, 2006. A short five months after he was hired, Goodman was promoted to service centre advisor in January 2007. By April 2007, he was once again promoted to service centre coordinator and by June was promoted to acting service centre supervisor. After his continuous hard work by January of 2008, he was confirmed in the position of service centre supervisor in Wildey. November 2008 saw yet another TREVOR GOODMAN promotion come his way in the (GP) form of retail store supervisor of
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Tools for success:
Talent, dedication, commitment Wildey and then in May this year, Goodman was promoted to retail store manager. Trevor Goodman is a classic example of how hard work and dedication to your job can easily pay off. Julianne Hutson, joined Automotive Art on September 1, 2002 as purchasing assistant in the purchasing department. From inception, she demonstrated that her JULIANNE HUTSON (GP) focus was on efficiency and that she possessed strong organisational skills, therefore in January 2003,
she was promoted to executive administrative assistant. Hutson took advantage of in-house training courses and, equipped with new skills, she was then promoted to purchasing assistant in December 2004 and in May 2008, to senior purchasing assistant – a position which saw her working closely with the purchasing manager and the customs in-house team. She demonstrated that she is very committed to the success of our organisation, has a sound understanding of our culture, and clearly appreciates the importance of consistently going the extra mile. In February, this year, Hutson accepted a new challenge in our purchasing department with a promotion to assistant purchasing manager with the goal of procuring the best quality products and innovations for the Barbados market.
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SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 13
Training and development a priceless investment THE TWO GREATEST ASSETS of any organisation should be its customers and its employees. Automotive Art goes through a meticulous recruiting process to ensure that the right people match the company’s culture and understand the overall objectives of management. However it doesn’t stop there as significant resources are devoted to training and development to help grow employees into something more. Automotive Art promotes a culture of learning among its staff. Given its commitment to this philosophy, the company allocates time and financial resources to training its staff. Management also accepts risk and failure as natural parts of the process by which it develops its people. Over the years Automotive Art has spent considerable time and money molding the training and development section of the company through extensive and expensive courses that aid in developing every level of employee, giving each person the tools to excel within the company. Whether you are in sales, administration or even management there are courses within the training and development portfolio at Automotive Art to help you succeed. No training program could be more beneficial than the customer satisfaction and human relations training. When customers come to Automotive Art they come not only because of the products but because of
the service. Automotive Art staffers need to be able to provide service above and beyond the norm, while showing empathy towards the customer in order to ensure that everyone leaves feeling they got what they needed.The training offered at Automotive Art gives staff the tools they need to become the best at what they do and to go even further. At Automotive Art the training and development of every employee is refined by Anita DaCosta. Her passion for customer service and years of experience in retail sales are the key qualities that aid her in delivering the courses that are taught at Automotive Art. DaCosta takes pride in continuing her own education and development in sales, customer service, and leadership so that she can continue to be the best steward available to nurture the future of Automotive Art and impart knowledge to other employees. The training for the core of Automotive Art, the paint and ancillaries, comes under the technical eyes of Orville Clarke and Peter Padmore.With a lifetime of knowledge and skill between them, they have been with Automotive Art from the early days and have mastered the refinish products that make the company stand out.These two gentlemen are entrusted with delivering the hands on training in both colour matching and other paint courses.
ORVILLE CLARKE (second left) demonstrating sanding techniques to participants in a recently held Glasurit Refinish Course. (GP)
ANITA DACOSTA (standing) going through a Franchise Operations Course with supervisory staff at Automotive Art. (GP)
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14. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL.
AUTOMOTIVE ART, a leading sponsor of both drivers and events of motorsport in the Caribbean took their passion for the sport one step further by launching a Caribbean motorsport website earlier this year. This one-of-a-kind Caribbean website, www.klutchcaribbean.co m, allows fans, drivers,
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Caribbean website aims to enhance motorsport for all co-drivers, and marshals to all congregate in one place to post and view photos and videos of motorsports events throughout the region. According to Jonathon
Hart, marketing manager at Automotive Art: “The goal of Klutch is to become the leading resource for motorsport in the Caribbean region and through Social
Networking create a virtual space for the ease of viewing, reading, reviewing, and uploading regional motorsport with some very generous multimedia.” The website was launched footage of the Simpson
New Welches store to raise standard of retailing DRIVE just two minutes north of Warrens along highway 2A, and you will see Automotive Art’s next generation retail store being constructed right next to its current location in Welches. This new store promises to raise the standard of retailing as we currently know it in Barbados, and reinforce Automotive Art’s position as the premiere destination store in Barbados for automotive aftermarket products. Doug Armstrong, chief executive officer (CEO) of Art Holdings, the parent company of Automotive Art, explains that the Welches location has been a strong contributor to Automotive Art’s growth over the years, and what with the sub-urban sprawl that is Warrens moving north, as well as the retail development plans in the area, the time to invest in a new store in Welches is now. “We want to be ahead of the curve in terms of ensuring our Welches location will meet the growing demand
DOUG ARMSTRONG, CEO of Art Holdings, the parent company of Automotive Art, believes the Welches store will help redefine the retail experience in Barbados. (GP)
many years ago when we opened our Wildey branch. It was a whole new approach to selling automotive aftermarket products and services, and revolutionised the business of car products at the time. “We have gone all out.The opportunity of building a new store comes only once in many years, and we saw this as an opportunity to build a flagship store for the region; a benchmark that we can apply in the future development of new stores across the territories where we currently compete.” for automotive products and services strategic sense to the company’s The new store and service centre in the area; this is why we are investing sponsoring them. is roughly 14 000 square feet, has eight Apart from strategically positioning service bays for tyres and batteries, now,” Armstrong said. the company ahead of the He continued by saying he was and will employ roughly 30 people in development curve for the area, proud that the company was in a the operation. Its store hours will give Armstrong said that the Welches position to make this investment at a customers the opportunity to shop location has provided a canvas on time when the country needed ‘after hours’, and will be from 8 a.m. to development projects such as this, and which the company intended to paint a 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and Saturday’s hoped Automotive Art’s example state-of-the-art destination store that from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. would encourage other companies to will redefine the retail experience in The company hopes to be able to Barbados. dust off their projects and prudently open its state-of-the-art new store by “We achieved this type of notoriety the end of November this year. invest in new developments that make
Motors Suzuki SX4 WRC being tested in England by local driving ace Sean Gill, the week before Rally Barbados 2010.This footage worked as an excellent launch platform and has since seen the Klutch website grow to over 500 members in less than a month. Another credit to the early success of the website is the inclusion of RallyMaxx TV on Klutch. Klutch Caribbean is the exclusive area to view all RallyMaxx TV content from events and this pairing has been extremely beneficial for both parties in positioning their brands as tried, trusted and timely resources in delivering regional motorsport footage to fans across the region. “Moving forward,” Jonathon says, “Our intention is for Klutch Caribbean to promote the advancement of motorsport in the region through multimedia content delivered by the social networking of Caribbean motorsport fans.”
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AUTOMOTIVE ART has always been a leader in the after-market automotive industry, and over the years has shown a strong commitment to developing and offering innovative products and solutions to its customers, and in so doing push its markets to new levels. Many of these innovative products help customers tackle problems in easier, more innovative and cost effective ways, and ultimately showcase how a company must keep evolving and embrace technology. With that said, Automotive Art is in the process of developing and launching various new and innovative products that will revolutionise many of their markets.
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Innovation in automotive products MEGUIAR’S Professional Headlight Repair System. (GP)
• Meguiars Professional Headlight Repair System The newest product to be launched in the Automotive Art arsenal is the new Meguiar’s Professional Headlight Repair System. The new product, targeted for professional users such as car dealerships, detailers, and rent-a-car fleets, is in fact a kit that contains a series of products designed to repair moderate to heavily damaged headlights, as well as solve isolated defects in the painted surfaces of automobiles. The products in the kit include a mini DA sander and polisher for applying highly efficient Unigrit Sanding and Finishing Discs for defect removal and scratch refinement in the headlights. These air tools are also used to apply an ultra-cut compound and ultra-finishing polish using soft buff
car using an aerosol can which matches the vehicles colour exactly. The fact that this can now be done from an aerosol can means that painters will not have to take the time and effort to mix paint in their spray guns to touch up cars, or car owners themselves can do their own touch ups at their convenience. Costume designers, interior designers and architects will now have the benefit of choosing from thousands of colours, in solid and metallic finishes, which will allow them to bring their design concepts to life.Their creative inspirations as they pertain to colour, can now be realized from a can in the palm of their hand. So whether you are painting a bicycle or a car, a costume or some trim around the home, AEROBASE available exclusively from Automotive Art Wildey, is the right product for the job!
• PowerMaster maintenance free batteries foam and wool pads which, working in conjunction with one another, restores crystal clear clarity to your headlight lens, or leaves a high gloss surface when used on a painted surface. The results are truly astounding! The kit, when applied to headlight lenses badly damaged by the elements, leaves headlights crystal clear, like they have now left the showroom.There is no other product currently on the market that can deliver such high quality results to such badly damaged headlight
lenses. Customers interested in finding out which dealerships, garages or detailers can offer this high quality solution can contact Ivor Trotman, brand manager for automotive refinishes, at 230-7775.
• Aerobase In the area of paint finishes, another great new product recently launched in the market is AEROBASE.This innovative product now allows automotive paints mixed in any color to be loaded into aerosol cans right in Automotive
AEROBASE allows automotive paints mixed in any color to be loaded into aerosol cans right in Automotive Art’s paint room. (GP) Art’s paint room.This means that now more than 45 000 colours are available for customers to choose from, rather than just the few standard colours available on the shelves. This is a great solution for car owners and body shop painters who just want to touch up spots on the
Automotive Art now stocks maintenance free vehicle batteries made from trusted brand, PowerMaster.With these batteries we can save the customer a lot of time and trouble because they never have to worry about topping it up with battery water. A maintenance-free battery, similar in design to a conventional automotive battery, is really just a heavier-duty version of the same arrangement. Many of the components have thicker construction, and different, more durable materials are typically used.
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