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Utah Shop Thrives in Unique SettingPosted 2/12/1999By B.J. Johnson
At first glance, Stegen's Carcare Collision Center does not resemble the typical image of a collision repair facility. Stegen's is surrounded by beautifully landscaped foliage and antiques, including a horse-drawn sleigh and vintage gas pumps.
Stegen's Carcare Collision Center has provided quality collision repair for more than 30 years to the community of Ogden, Utah. The 12,000-square-foot facility offers customers a wide range of services including 24-hour towing. Stegen's is the only facility in Ogden to offer rim straightening. "By straightening rims, we receive quite a bit of business from the mechanical and alignment shops in town," said Stegen.
Stegen's has 25 stalls and employs a staff of 10. "I lucked out with the staff. They are all a real asset to the business. Two of the technicians have been with me for 20 years," said Stegen. He is proud to say that there is not much turnover of staff. Stegen pre-screens all prospective employees and trains them according to his business philosophy.
According to Stegen, he chose collision repair in 1962 because of his love of cars and repairing them. He began repairing vehicles in his garage after work. He quickly realized the potential for a successful collision repair business. Stegen attended Weber State College in Ogden for two years, taking courses on collision repair. As chief executive officer of Stegen's, Jim also oversees the day-to-day operations and, when needed, assists in repairs. The shop completes approximately 20 repairs per week with the majority of its customer base being repeat business.
Future plans for the business include constructing a third building and connecting all buildings. Stegen constructed all the buildings himself, with the exception of the original, much smaller, body shop. According to Stegen, he also plans to retire eventually. Stegen's son, Shane, has worked with his father since he was eight years old and will take over the business upon Stegen's retirement.
Shop StatsName: Stegen's Carcare Collision CenterLocation: Ogden, Utah Number of employees: 10 Square footage: 12,000 What do you enjoy most about your job?: “ Meeting and helping people.” - Jim Stegen
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Copyright (c) 1996-2008. Automotive Service Association. All rights reserved.
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"The landscaping and cleanliness of the business makes us unique," said Jim Stegen, owner. He says customers continually comment on the shop's decor and setting, and compare it to Knott's Berry Farm.
The shop is an Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) Gold Class facility and has been an ASA member since the early 1970s. Stegen's technicians have available the most up-to-date technology to repair collision-damaged vehicles. The shop has a barcode tracking system in place to better serve customers. The tracking system allows the front office to know exactly where, in the repair process, each vehicle is at all times. The information is entered into the computer system and is available to the front office every morning.
The front office is run by Christine, Jim's wife, and Verla Elwood (pictured). The two work part-time, on alternating days. This has proved to be very effective. "Christine and Verla keep the front office running smoothly and allow me to concentrate on other areas," said Stegen.
In addition to repeat business, Stegen's relies on various marketing techniques, including a local community newsletter. Stegen follows the philosophy of treating people the way that he would want to be treated. He attributes this way of doing business to the continued success of the business. Stegen also works closely with local mechanical repair facilities because he offers a variety of specialized services.
