Midwest CARSTAR shops take advantage of downtime to improve facilities, help community

Online estimates, vehicle pick-up or delivery and increased sanitization throughout the repair process are just a few of the new standards put in place across the industry since Covid-19 first hit

Charlotte, N.C.—Online estimates, vehicle pick-up or delivery and increased sanitization throughout the repair process are just a few of the new standards put in place across the industry since Covid-19 first hit. CARSTAR owners throughout the Midwest have implemented many of those, as well as others.

Making time for community work

CARSTAR McAbee, in Topeka, Kan., decided to take on a local passion project by assisting with the body and paint work for a 1999 Silverado, which was in memory of a couple’s son who was killed in a motorcycle accident. This job was done free of charge, so it would have been difficult to complete during normal business operations. However, the team at CARSTAR McAbee was able to put together an finished product and deliver the vehicle on the two-year anniversary of his accident, which was an emotional exchange.

**CARSTAR Custom 77, in Midlothian, Ill., repainted its entire shop floor.**

Refinishing facilities

CARSTAR Rapid City in South Dakota painted its garage doors, digitized its workflow process, and created custom CARSTAR half-stars for the shop walls, thanks to its owner’s woodworking skills. CARSTAR Yorkville in Illinois added LED lights throughout its facility to not only provide better visibility but also save on its energy usage. CARSTAR Custom 77, in Midlothian, Ill., repainted its entire shop floor. CARSTAR Liss Auto Body, in Crown Point, Ind., decided to repaint its wash bay. CARSTAR Danrich, of Homer Glen, Ill., repainted its shop walls, re-organized its parts room and repainted shelving to CARSTAR colors.

**CARSTAR Yorkville in Illinois added LED lights throughout its facility to not only provide better visibility but also save on its energy usage.**

Adding safety guards

Several facilities have provided personal protective equipment for the staff, or installed new barriers to protect both staff and customers, such as CARSTAR West-Hill, in Hillside, Ill., which added a sneeze guard to its reception desk. CARSTAR Crystal, of Lenexa, Kan., created a safe drop-off zone for keys with hand sanitizer close by.