Somerville and District Panels, located in South-East Melbourne, is one of the latest independent repairers to join Fix Auto, rebranding itself as Fix Auto Sommerville. Owned and operated by Bill Kubeil on the Mornington Peninsula to the south-east of Melbourne, the business joined the brand in March just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard in Australia.
Despite the challenges this would have presented, Kubeil and his team remained focused on their transition plan and began a significant rebranding exercise. This included the demolition and reconstruction of several parts of the building, along with new offices and staff areas being created. The workshop was also reconfigured to optimise vehicle flow and efficiency.
“We always knew we wanted to change the way the business worked and how it looked – we knew it could be better, we just always seemed to be too busy to get it done,” said Kubeil. “Joining Fix Auto and having a sense of purpose and direction, along with the odd nudge now and then to stay focused, made all the difference.”
Fix Auto says the business has established a stellar reputation for the quality of work it delivers, from heavy non-drive-on 4×4 and trucks through to PDR.
“The work we take is a reflection of our approach to everything we do,” said Kubeil. “The big and complex jobs have never intimidated us – we have the skills and the equipment to take these on, so we do. The PDR work stems from my personal obsession with detail and getting things right. We focus on the tiniest details and treat the smallest blemish or ding as the biggest priority for every customer. We are relentless in our pursuit of returning a car back to a customer pristine.”
“It has been a pleasure to get to know Bill and the team during their transition,” said Stuart Faid, Vice President Asia and head of the Australian business. “Everyone has been energised by the re-imagining of the business and seeing that come to life in what is now Fix Auto Somerville. I was worried that the timing would dampen spirits as we battle with such uncertainty during the pandemic but I could not have been more wrong. If anything, it galvanised us all to make sure this happened and I am delighted with the result.”
“Bill is a very well-respected repairer in the area,” said Steve Taylor, State General Manager, Fix Auto. “Customers, suppliers and work providers all say the same thing – great guy, great business, great repairs. It’s an honour to have Bill join our network to build on his success to date. His passion for the industry and “all in” approach to the rebranding of his shop is just another example of why he is such a great fit for the network.”
Visit the Fix Auto Somerville website here.
