Have you ever been in a situation that just made you physcially ill.  Increase heart rate, sick, pit feeling in your stomach, but you knew that morally you did have the high ground.  Welp that happened to me today and in the end I really didn't feel great even though I knew I was doing the right thing, also i can't make Tim do work he doesn't want to!   More to the point, I've learned something and its a lesson I will not relive again.  So thank you to the universe for making me uncomfortable, it's okay, check mate. I always want to do right by our customers but not at the risk of our business, so I need to be more outspoken about saying NO.  And thats the part I'm most frustrated with myself, but next time,, it will be a  polite no...  Stay honest people.

Its been odd, the year has flown by, we have settled in with our new booth, then the market changed.  Used vehicles, really started to trickle, and there are lots of reasons for that.  Interest rates, new cars picking back up after COVID etc.  So loads of people are wanting to sell their car but dont really want to put any money into fixing those things that they used to want to do, because it doesn't add the value it once did.  We get it, and we kindly adjusted too.  We have been so fortunate to work with some local companies to move from doing used vehicle (which of course we still do some) but we have been able to move into more custom engineering work, 4x4 accessories, bullbars etc. Its been a journey and we have learned a lot.  Our focus however has not changed that Tim does great work, we don't cut corners, and usually that at our own detriment as we aren't the most expensive but we aren't the cheapest.  I feel the market is is full of those that are okay with doing bad work for the cheapest amount possible and we aren't looking to roll in the mud.  I know I have had a growing amount of conversations around pricing, and its okay, we aren't going to be everything to everyone.  I think our customers are looking for more bang for their buck, and we are here for them.   

This year so far has been a bit of reflextion too, we have our middle child who is now in year 12, ATAR classes x 5!  And our youngest is starting his first year of High School.  Its crazy when  you are ordering your last school photos for your kids, or sitting in on their last school Christmas concert,( that can also be a relief ), or getting them a senior jacket.  It makes Mum life, running a business, doing TAFE classes myself and helping out my former work place out, a crazy time.  But thats life, better than wondering whats going on in the latest reality TV show! I'm currently just running my own reality and I'm okay with that.  

So, coming soon, we will have a fully down draft booth.  What is that you say?! Well currently Tim has been making the magic happen in an amazing booth he has constructed himself with about forest of wood, 2000 screws and bolts and construction sheeting.  It's a semi down draft, meaning it pulls air from the top front of the booth through a filter and out the back bottom through a filter.  He has done such an amazing job with what we could manage when we opened.  But now, we are going to get all fancy and purchase a new state of the art booth, it will be fully contained with a baking cycle so jobs, no matter the time of year will be processed the same and oh so much faster!  Meaning we can do more high-quality work without having to wait for hours watching the paint dry, literally!  Ill post some photos but its going to be amazing!

Well hello!
I can't believe that we are nearly two years into this journey.  I offically full time here at Detailed Panel and Paint.  And we are thankfully busy, and Im also thankful that i really do enjoy the work, its hard but flexible at times and bonus even after 15 years of marriage I still do enjoy being around my husband so working with him isn't as bad as i would have thought! Ha!
Thanks again to everyone for the support! :) 

So I'm originally from the Midwest of the US, and in March its basketball frenzie time, referred to as March Madness.  I feel that as we come out/into this time in WA life, if feels like its either going to be a great start to our 1 year anniversary as a business or its going to be madness!  We have had some amazing clients the last 12 months and a really strong relationship to businesses close to us.  We have supported each other and had some laughs too.  Im thankful for Tim, for all his hard work.  He puts up with my "part time" work at the shop, and allows me to still do my other work, as well as cares for our 3 boys.  I've learned a lot from Tim over the last year. Buffing cars, knowing when to do more and learning when less really is more.  Brush touching, sanding, putting my head around the amount of tape and plastic sheets we go through! He has put up with my mistakes, and I put up with his cursing and getting frustrated in the shop.  >.<  I would like to note that we are now only 18 days since an injury in the shop.  Tim decided he needed a hole in his forearm.  Only one stitch but like with many things, if Tim is going to do something he does it great the first time.