1 Cannon has its own customer van shuttle. 2 John Jongkind inspects an engine installation. 3 Shop Foreman Eric Smith works
on ball joints. 4 Tech Skip Sorville works in the alignment bay. Notice the large window that allows customers to watch their
vehicle being serviced.
Looking back on your childhood, you might remember an institution known as a neighborhood shop. Out front, there usually were
several gas pumps. Inside, the shop worked on everything. If you had a car and a problem, they had a solution. The people
performing all these repairs were much more than just technicians. They were your friends, your neighbors. Because the shop
had been around for decades, it had the trust of everyone.
5 Cannon strives to be a shop that is clean, efficient and friendly.
Fortunately, some of these shops still exist — though usually minus the gas pumps. Take Cannon's Automotive of LaPorte, IN,
which has been around for more than 30 years. The philosophy that sustains Cannon's is the same one that drove the old neighborhood
shop: Do everything and strive to be the best always.
SHOP TALK
When owner John Cannon opened his business in 1971, he actually wanted a shop like no other. Neighborhood shops of the era
did have some shortfalls: Typically, they couldn't afford or didn't have access to the same equipment and training as a dealer
facility, leaving them to struggle with some repairs.
Cannon envisioned a fully modern facility featuring state-of-the-art diagnostics, highly trained ASE-certified technicians
and a friendly staff. The neighborly atmosphere would remain (Cannon refers to the shop as "my house"), and in the years that
followed, he built that shop.
6 The Cannon's team: Back row, from left, are John Cannon, Josh Thompson, Toby Majors, John Jongkind, Skip Sorville and Eric
Smith. Front row, from left, are Willie Fulton, Crystal Mullins, Tiffini Thomson, Georgene Lewartowski, Suzan Wade and Andy
Kermin. 7 Cannon main lifts and work bay area.
Today, Cannon's employs three ASE-certified master technicians, three general service technicians, three part-time clean-up
workers, three service "presenters" and a financial manager. Training for this group is intense and ongoing. The shop holds
weekly business development meetings covering procedures, time management, new tools and methods of improvement. Another monthly
meeting covers issues such as gross profit margins, goals and safety.
Tim Sramcik began writing for Motor Age's sister publication ABRN nearly 10 years ago, although he joined the staff full time in January 2008 as editor-in-chief. He has produced numerous news, technical and feature articles covering virtually every aspect of the collision repair market. In 2004 the American Society of Business Publication Editors recognized his work with two awards.
Articles by Tim Sramcik
post a comment
Dental Lab Products | E-NewsletterShare This Page:
