AUTOINC. ONLINE - Shop Profile

Gary Sebok's family has been in the collision repair industry for more than 45 years. Gary's father, John, originally opened in 1953 as McNally's Body Shop, which was located within McNally Buick-Chevrolet in Flushing, Mich. The shop operated as an independent within a dealership structure.

In 1987, Gary took over the body shop as president. Nine years later, Gary made the decision to separate from the dealership. He relocated the business a short distance and changed the name to Sebok Motors Corp. He also became a complete automotive repair facility, offering both collision and mechanical repairs. According to Sebok, he has retained 80 percent of his customers from the dealership.

The relocation of the shop gave Sebok the opportunity to create a state-of-the-art automotive repair facility. He worked with architects and designers to build a facility that reflects his personality and dedication to providing the best possible service to his customers. His vision of a new automotive repair facility was achieved. Reception

New way of business
When customers enter the 16,000-square-foot facility, they are greeted by a brightly colored building, piped in music and a waiting area that is decorated like a 1960s coffee shop. Sebok is conscious of customer comfort and has provided padded chairs, a television, a kitchenette and a relaxed atmosphere for customers to enjoy while having their vehicles repaired. He has even moved the air compressors to a separate building to reduce noise and the shop floors are regularly power washed to remove dust and dirt. Cleanliness and safety are a top priority to Sebok.

Sebok designed the shop with one thought in mind: He wanted to create a repair facility that would demonstrate the professionalism of the industry. "There is a stigma of what people think a so-called body shop is - dirty and dusty; and I wanted my business to be a facility that meets the high standards of today's expensive vehicles," said Sebok.

Customers can inspect their vehicles with technicians in the well-lit inspection bay. This enables the technicians to show the customer the damage that will be repaired, as well as show off the completed product following repairs. Each vehicle that is repaired is audited at least three separate times and is cleaned inside and out by the staff before it is returned to the owner. Open communication between the shop and its customers has built the good-sized repeat customer base.

Sebok Motors also provides its customers with an indoor estimating bay, an enclosed lot, rental cars, and early and late drop-off services. Another part of the business is the used car lot located adjacent to the main building. The lot will accommodate approximately 40 vehicles. By offering all these services, Sebok Motors maintains its concept of "one-stop shopping."

Technology and staff
Sebok has installed high technology machines, including laser alignment equipment, computerized paint matching systems and digital imaging technology. "We have up to 15 variants of the same color of paint which enables us to match a vehicle's paint to have the same sparkle and depth it had from the factory," said Sebok.

Sebok has begun using the digital imaging technology that is available. He hopes that by using the technology, it will eventually eliminate the need for insurance estimators to come to the shop, thus speeding up the repair process. "Digital imaging has become a valuable tool for us," contends Sebok.

Sebok Motors currently has 13 employees. The staff is made up of four Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) trained technicians, two painters and one painter's helper, two detail specialists, a parts person, a receptionist, an office manager, a body shop manager, and one state-certified mechanical technician. "We have an outstanding staff, dedicated to our customers and the business," said Sebok. To be as efficient as possible, Sebok Motors has developed complete job de- scriptions for every employee and regularly schedules on- going training.

Sebok is as concerned about his employees' comfort as he is about his customers'. The staff has a nice breakroom with the same padded chairs and amenities found in the waiting area. The uniforms at Sebok Motors reflect the relaxed, comfortable atmosphere it strives to achieve. Employees wear golf shirts with the business logo and pleated pants. To increase employee and customer cleanliness and safety, Sebok has installed a high-powered air ventilation system which exceeds federal and industry standards.

The shop uses portable cellular phones to keep management personnel at the customers' disposal. "If a manager is on the lot or in the shop, they can still take a call from a customer without having the customer wait while they return inside," said Sebok.

Association involvement
Sebok Motors has been an ASA member since 1990. "I joined ASA to exchange experiences and knowledge with other industry members in the area. By sharing experiences, each business grows and increases business. We also advance our industry," said Sebok. He has served as president of the ASA-Genesee County chapter and regularly attends association meetings and the ASA-sponsored International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE).

When Sebok first decided to move his business, he used the information he had received at NACE to assist him. "NACE has always been a useful event for me. The training is well worth attending, as is the trade show."

Community participation
Sebok Motors is a member of the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce. As a lifelong member of the community, Sebok has served on the Flushing City Council and the Flushing city planning board. He also works with several local community organizations. "The community has been very receptive and supportive," said Sebok.

Shop Stats

Name: Sebok Motors Corp.
Location: Flushing, Mich.
Square Footage: 16,000
No. of Employees: 13
Work orders per week: 37
Motto: “The Best of the Best. ”
E-mail address: sebokmotors@compuserve.com
On business:“Our goal at Sebok's is customer satisfaction, quality lifetime guarantees and, most of all, repeat customers.” - Gary Sebok, president, Sebok Motors Corp.

Envisioning and Building a State-of-the-Art Repair Facility

Shop Stats