By Ashley Reyes
Restylers, technicians, installers and business owners in the Midwest recently received expert product training direct from manufacturers in the first-ever PRO Installer Training. Hosted by the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) and held as part of the council’s General Membership Meeting, the two-day Installer Training was open to all PRO members at no cost, and included in-depth, hands-on instructions from specialists from Katzkin, Llumar, Brandmotion and Auto Additions.
“Many shop owners are interested in expanding to other products or services, but may not quite understand them,” said Josh Poulson, PRO chair and owner of Auto Additions. “By hearing direct from manufacturers and connecting with them in real life, technicians received top quality training. It was the best way for them to discover new products, and to better understand products they already work with.”
In addition to training sessions, presenting manufacturers met with participants in a casual environment and educated attending restylers about their specific brands. Held at Auto Additions Inc. in Ohio, the event provided local restylers with an opportunity to learn from one another and discover different ways of working with dealers.
“The event helped our members get out and see how things could be done a differently,” added Poulson. “Because the event was local, it was easy and affordable for company owners to invest in their technicians and give them the opportunity to network with other shops.”
PRO plans to host similar events as a way to help member companies grow their teams and retain employees for a lower cost and higher ROI.
“This event was huge value-add for being a member of PRO,” said Colby McLaughlin, PRO chair-elect and president of Trim Illusion. “If you’re a restyler, you could have brought your entire staff for training on a handful of potential new revenue opportunities and it only costed your $50 annual dues. Being a member pays for itself.”
To learn more about the SEMA Professional Restylers Organization, visit www.sema.org/pro.