Client Focus

Bunbury Automotive

Bunbury Automotive has been named the 2008 Most Improved Service Centre for Repco Authorised Service Centres in Australia.

For owners Terry and Denise Pyke, the award comes just five years after the company received the WA Repco Outstanding Service Achievement Award in 2003.

So what motivates a company that achieves an “outstanding service” award to keep on improving?

Terry has been self employed since he was 20. He was a founding partner in a local car dealership and service centre before starting Bunbury Automotive Air Conditioning in the early 1990s.

With a knowing smile he recounts how it was a great idea, but reality soon kicked in with the realisation that consumers only wanted their air conditioning repaired when the weather was hot.

In 1996 the business name changed to Bunbury Automotive and Terry joined the nationwide Repco Authorised Service (RAS) network so he could offer complete car servicing facilities to customers.

Being part of the 350 businesses which make up the RAS network allows Bunbury Automotive to offer a nation-wide warranty on its work and to keep abreast of new developments in a rapidly changing industry.

Determined to make the most of his business potential, Terry began studying business management and attending all kinds of workshops to improve his credentials as a manager, from financial dynamics to public speaking.

He realises growth can only come through introducing new products and putting in systems that can be constantly monitored, evaluated and fine tuned to ensure that customers are receiving value for money.

Most recently Bunbury Automotive has introduced a new service which cleans air conditioning systems for optimal air quality in car interiors, and the company has become a remote service and parts facility for the Suzuki range of vehicles.

So this year’s ‘most improved’ award is recognition of the hard work Terry has put into  making his business bigger and better over many years – a process that continues.

AMD Chartered Accountants’ partner Cliff Anderson has been an integral part of this expansion process for more than 25 years.

“Cliff has been a financial mentor for us since the early 1980s,” Terry said.

“I’m not into speculating and his advice is ‘very safe’.”

Terry has several tips for business people who want to improve what they do.

“Presentation of both the workplace and staff members is of paramount importance in today’s competitive market,” Terry said.

“The success of any business is really about surrounding yourself with good people.

And finally, make use of the Small Business Centre Bunbury-Wellington which offers information, courses and training vouchers to business people who want to improve what they do and how they do it.

“You aren’t doing yourself or your business justice if you aren’t using the Small Business Centre,” he said.
Safe motoring!