Tucked away off the main road through Innisfail in Far North Queensland is Innisfail Pro Motors, a mechanic shop owned by Allan Jones and Brett Saunders. Motor Trader recently visited the workshop to ask them about their mechanic business.

Words: Lara Wilde, Pictures: Jess Donoghoe, Sweet Spot Photography

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Allan, what is your background in the Automotive industry?

AJ: I grew up in the southeast corner of Queensland beginning my mechanic apprenticeship at Eagers Holden in Brisbane in 1983. Working at a big dealership was an excellent way to learn about systems and processes to ensure a quality standard of work and consistency of customer service.

How did you come to be in Far North Queensland?

AJ: After I finished my apprenticeship, my mate and I decided to go traveling in an old bus to see a bit of the country. As we travelled, I took random jobs here and there at service stations. On our travels we made a point of visiting my relatives on the Atherton Tablelands. It was so lovely up here that before long I took a job at the local Holden Dealership in Innisfail.

How did you go from mechanic at the Holden dealership to co-owner of a workshop?

AJ: I spent four years working for Innisfail Holden and it was there that I met John Hoey who was also a mechanic at the dealership. In 1994, we decided to branch out on our own and open a mechanic shop called Innisfail Pro Motors in the garage at the Shell Service station in Innisfail. In 1997, we moved our business to our current location at 25 Cassowary St.

Your current business partner is Brett not John, how did Brett join the team?

AJ: In 2004, John decided that he wanted to take his career in a different direction. We listed his share in the business for sale for a while but selling half a business isn’t easy. Brett had begun his apprenticeship at Innisfail Holden in 1994 and I had always thought that he was an excellent tradesman, so I approached him about joining the Innisfail Pro Motors team. Rather than becoming an employee, Brett chose to buy John out in 2005, becoming a partner in the business. Brett bought into the business because he liked the challenge and the variety that being a part-owner of a small business provided compared to being a staff member of a much larger dealership. These days Brett is full time managing the workshop on the tools while I manage the office.

Brett, it seems like a very busy workshop, what are the core services you offer at Innisfail Pro Motors?

BS: We focus on basic servicing and repairs, providing roadworthy certificates, brake machining, and wheel alignments. We frequently work on small trucks, passenger vehicles, four-wheel drives, boat trailers, caravans, and horse floats. We are a Pedders stockist, and we also sell wholesale tyres.

Innisfail is a pretty small town. Do you have a good working relationship with other workshops in town?

BS: We are very proud of the working relationship we have with other workshops in Innisfail. They often refer customers, sending them to us to use our scan tools for diagnostics. We provide wheel alignments and brake machining for many local workshops on a regular basis. It is a great idea to get along with the other mechanics in your community as it can make your life much easier.

Who is in your team and how do you approach training?

BS: We have two trade-qualified mechanics in our team – Thomas Heard and Rodney Smith. We also have two apprentices – Zain McEwan and Ben Gerritsen. We frequently take on apprentices and we enjoy training young people to contribute to our industry. We stay on top of training and equipment upgrades to make sure that our workshop is up to date and performing with best practice. MTA Queensland is instrumental in staying up to date with the latest training and advancements in the industry.

How did Innisfail Pro Motors become a member of MTA Queensland and why?

BS: The first time the MTA Queensland rep came through our doors was when the shop opened in 1994 and we signed up as a member. Since then, our membership has been invaluable to receive support and thoroughly understand the HR changes, latest technical information, and information about industry best practice. It is great to know that if we ever need help, we can get advice from MTA Queensland with just a phone call.

Do you see many electric vehicles at Innisfail Pro Motors?

BS: We often service and do basic repairs on hybrid vehicles, but we rarely see any purely electric vehicles. We are keeping our staff up to date on the latest training in preparation for when an electric vehicle does arrive at the shop.

How did Covid impact business at Innisfail Pro Motors?

BS: Business increased during the first few months of Covid as people had extra time and money to work on cars. We changed our shop procedures also so that we could protect customers. This involved a thorough sanitation of vehicles inside before work began on them and after work was finished before customers collected them.

If you could give a younger you advice at the start of your career, what would it be?

BS: I would tell my younger self to slow down and think things through a bit more. Ask the right questions and take the time to listen to the whole answer.

AJ: I have two pieces of advice for a younger me. One: When I did my apprenticeship, a serviceman told me that when you work with one tradesman you will do it his way. When you work with the next tradesman you will do it their way. It will take many years of doing it someone else’s way before you will find your own way to do things. Two: A doctor goes to university for years to understand how the human body works and they are paid big dollars to fix the human body. The human body hasn’t changed. A mechanic does an apprenticeship for many years to understand how cars work and they are not paid big dollars to fix cars. Cars, unlike human bodies, change all the time and they advance frequently. Even though mechanics don’t get big dollars, we have to stay up to date and keep learning because cars are constantly evolving.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE INNISFAIL PRO MOTORS WEBSITE

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (August 2022)

18 August 2022