The Fender Bender Finance programme has grown to include the Ceramic Pro product offering into its range of finance possibilities. Fender Bender Finance is targeted at the uninsured driver or those who cannot afford their excess. It is an option to finance a short-term unsecured loan from Nedbank to get their vehicle repaired safely at a reputable body shop. Loans range from R2 000 and R300 000 and can be repaid over 6 to 72 months, depending on what the applicant can afford.
To maintain the best workmanship quality and work ethics, Fender Bender Finance has partnered with the Collision Repair Association of South Africa (CRA) and its members.
Lein Schutz, Chief Operations Officer of Ceramic Pro South Africa, is excited about this new partnership and turn of events. “We have Ceramic Pro branches nationwide, including Gauteng, Bloemfontein, Durban, and Cape Town. We are also introducing our Ceramic Pro package options to the body shop industry. It is a natural progression to offer this multi-layered, clear, liquid nano-ceramic coating as a protective option on a client’s car as an add-on in the business or an added extra after the car has been repaired.”
When Ceramic Pro is cured, it transforms into a flexible glass shield on the surface with three times the hardness and self-cleaning properties. It is UV, scratch, corrosion, and temperature resistant.
Ceramic Pro has a measured hardness of 9H, whereas a normal clear coat is between 2H and 4H. This becomes a sacrificial layer against scratches protecting the original factory paint layer and always leaving your vehicle looking brand new and spectacular. Light polishing removes any small scratches, and it doesn’t fade or age as it has UV protection.
“This added revenue stream is a great way for a body shop to generate additional income by adding this to its portfolio of services. We already have several body shops involved in our Ceramic Pro body shop package roll-out and are happy to introduce an extra finance option with Fender Bender Finance to give all our clients the choice to use Ceramic Pro to protect their vehicle value” Schutz says.
With people holding onto their cars for longer, this is a great refurbishment option that takes little time but delivers a “good as new” look for the owner and offers the body shop a unique selling point in their market.
Panel Beater Directory, The Platform Of Choice
Fender Bender Finance recognises the exposure the Panel Beater Directory has with the body shop industry and that the public is looking for reputable repairers for their damaged vehicles. That is why Fender Bender Finance has decided to use its various platforms to create brand awareness for its finance programme.
The Panel Beater Directory has various platforms covering the different needs of its readers and users. It is linked to Lightstone CSI, making it great for a prospective client to find the best body shop for them in the area.
They boast a listing of 1 900 body shops – many of which now have a presence on the internet, thanks to help from the Panel Beater Directory. The site receives 1 500 unique visits a day, so what they are doing is clearly working.
“As a small business, we pride ourselves in uplifting honest and ethical business practices as well as great workmanship, all while trying to promote the body shop network in South Africa to the greater public. Promoting a financial solution such as Fender Bender that enables repairs to the benefit of both panel shops and customers is truly motivating!” says Thys Cronje, CEO of the Panel Beater Directory.
He says, “Another example of how the company has been working for the financial benefit of the industry over the past eight years, is the development of a business-to-business portal. At no extra costs to members, we facilitate the members’ network to upload and trade excess spares, parts, and equipment in a secure environment among themselves. This gets jobs done quicker and unlocks cashflow tied up in stores.”
All those involved in this initiative are excited to see how this new synergy will play out and they look forward to growing together in business.
