Pro-Align, the exclusive UK distributor of Hunter alignment equipment, has been in contact recently with the owner of one independent garage which is reaping the benefits of regular wheel alignment work. Read on to find how this workshop is keeping their business like their customer’s tyres: pointing forward.
Meet Pat Coyne, owner of Coyne Tyres, a garage which goes far beyond tyre-fitting to include brakes, shocks, batteries and wheel alignments. If time is anything to go by, Coyne Tyres’ 40 years in business would suggest that they know a thing or two about serving the local community.
Pat’s customers include a mix of individual car owners as well as commercial operators. Importantly, they have a very loyal and discerning customer base whilst also attracting new customers due to the reputation they have built over the years.
Talking to the team at Pro-Align, Pat highlighted how busy the business currently is, how well they’re performing. Customers, he argues, are choosing to go to him because of the quality of the work and the quicker turnaround times compared to other areas in the industry, which often have longer wait times.
There are however challenges and one of the major ones facing the business is the supply chain issues, particularly with deliveries of parts and tyres. Wrongly delivered parts or missing orders create delays and customer dissatisfaction.
Alignment
Pat has been using a Hunter wheel aligner since 2019 and acknowledged that it has been very successful for his business.
Product reliability and backup service are of the utmost importance to him and his business: “Ever since we had the unit installed, we have had very few issues. The revenue from alignment is very important to our business so we can’t afford to have significant downtime.”
“The ‘Red and Green’ reports are very useful” says Pat “it allows us to talk to the customers and help them understand the importance of carrying out an alignment check and where necessary the relevant adjustment. The accuracy of the aligner is second to none and once the technicians are trained they find it really easy to use” Pat also went on to highlight the speed of the quick check facility as being just one of the useful features.
The business performs approximately 10 alignments per day, six days per week. This is therefore a major contributor to the revenue and profitability of the business.
Importantly, offering the alignment service also leads to additional services being offered such as track rod end replacement and other mechanical work identified during the alignment process.
Get trained up first
Pat emphasised the importance of training staff before purchasing alignment equipment. He suggested sending technicians to Pro-Align’s training facility to ensure they are well-prepared to use the equipment effectively.
When selecting alignment equipment, Pat advises looking for reliable backup service and support. He believes strong support from the supplier is crucial. The Hunter Aligner with the Pro-Align Service is exactly what his business wanted.
“There is no doubt, that alignment is a very important part of our business” Pat concluded. “It allows us to have meaningful conversations with our customers about tyre replacement and any other work that might need to be carried out.”
Pat’s business showcases the importance of choosing the right equipment, in this case Hunter; a reliable service partner Pro-Align, who offer effective training and reliable backup service.
