Shop View: Prestige Auto Service
Total Transformation
In the last two years, Prestige European Auto Service has changed drastically. The building, which was purchased by owners Eric Rutherford and Mike Difato 10 years ago, underwent a massive remodel at the end of 2018 into 2019, which has helped sales rise from $70,000 per month to $120,000.
Massive Mural
One of the most notable changes to the outside was the addition of a colorful mural to the side of the building that faces a busy street. A local artist painted the mural to look like the inside of an engine. Rutherford and Difato say the mural was a nod to the artsy home of the shop, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Indoor Improvement
Originally, the building had a small office and a customer area that Rutherford and Difato say was not “professional.” On top of that, if customers had to use the restroom, they had to go through the shop floor and use the same bathroom that the staff used. The indoor renovation, which tripled the size of the customer waiting area, updated the service advisors’ office and added a customer bathroom, made the entire area more appealing.
Equipping Excellence
One area that the owners invested heavily in was equipment. One of the pieces of equipment that was purchased was Hunter’s Quick Check, because the two want to be able to get input quickly to their customers and best advise them on what they need.
Another way the shop makes sure that the customers are being served correctly is by paying techs .5 hours to do digital inspections. The customer isn’t charged for this service, but this extra incentive ensures that technicians do it each and every time.
SHOP STATS: Prestige European Auto Service Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Operator: Eric Rutherford and Mike Difato Average Monthly Car Count: 130 Staff Size: 9 (4 in the front, 5 in the back) Shop Size: 6,000 sq. ft. Annual Revenue: $1.3 million
