Gantry Repair Shop owner Justin Beasley talks mechanics and small business in the Highlands

Justin Beasley has been in the industry for over 35 years. He apprenticed at Wheeler Motors in Bowral before working for Allan Reekie Ford in Moss Vale and as a manager for the area's Holden Service Centre.

On the six-week anniversary of his new shop the Southern Highland News sat down with Mr Beasley to chat about small business; and choosing a trusted mechanic.

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"I'm a one man shop at the moment and going into business has been very scary," Mr Beasley said.

"Because it's new I've just been saying yes to everything - and now I have a workshop full of cars that don't go."

Tired of working the "dealership way" Mr Bealsey said taking the plunge to open his own shop was something he had wanted to do for years.

"I wanted to do things the way that I wanted to do things," he said.

"So I decided that the best way to do this would be to start my own business."

The difference was in the customer service and communication, according to Mr Beasley.

"I can talk to the person whose car it is I'm working on; as opposed to a service advisor does the reception and then the car goes out for service. That way can lead to misinterpretation in the communication," he said.

"It's all about the personal contact, so I'm the guy you talk to, I'm the guy that can understand if there's trouble."

For people wanting advice around choosing the right mechanic Mr Beasley said it was most important to find someone that you liked.

"It's a bit of a funny one because we all have personalities," Mr Beasley said.

"It's just finding someone you click with and someone you trust; someone that doesn't rip you off at every turn, and someone who has empathy when you have a problem."

He said saying 'yes' to everyone for fear of not having enough work was one of the the biggest challenges he had faced so far.

"But that's a really big mistake because you say 'yes' and people think that you're going to fix their car; only to have it end up sitting here for days and days," Mr Beasley said.

"So I've been juggling people around even putting some of them off because I just don't have room to do their work.

"I've gone from having nothing to just having too much to do," he said.

For a cashflow buffer for his new business Mr Beasley has also been working for the Goulburn NRMA on Saturdays and Sundays.

"You've just got to get up and work," he said.

Mr Beasley also gave advice to people looking to get longevity out of their motor investment.

"Just get it serviced when it's due," he said. "And if your car comes in for a service and it does have multiple problems, if you can't afford to fix them all at once then we can work together to prioritise what's most important."

He said life was tough and people were struggling.

"I know this because I'm struggling," Mr Beasley said. "And so I try to understand.

"I don't over service; and I don't do things that don't need to be done. I will suggest things that need to be done and then give people the option. And if they want to do that work great, but if not that's also fine, and we can do it the next time they're in."

At the moment Gantry Repair Shop is a one-man show. And this is how it will remain.

"I'm just going to stay on my own," Mr Beasley said.

"Because when you get big it just turns into an animal and you no longer have control. You no longer have people working for you; you work for them."

Instead, Mr Beasley's vision was for a "real and honest local business for local people".

"If you come here you won't get told any lies," he said.

"Face value on everything and if people do have trust issues then I can certainly put cars on hoists and let them have a look for themselves.

"People do - when they don't know you - they do question you. But if they give you enough of a chance they do in time let you prove that you are going to do the right thing by them," Mr Beasley said.

The Gantry Repair Shop's main focus is on vehicle maintenance and repair work.

"Give me a chance, give me a call, give me a go," Mr Beasley said.

"We're only a new business so there's no long wait at the moment and we can do things fairly quickly."

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