Touch Up Guys Celebrate at 20th Anniversary National Conference

Written on the 18 November 2011 by Touch Up Guys - Peter Darnell

It was a case of fellowship, learning, celebrations and fun when Touch Up Guys Franchisees from all over Australia and New Zealand came together at the fabulous five star Crowne Plaza Hotel in Surfers Paradise for their annual conference held on the last weekend of October.

The 2011 conference was particularly special as it marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of Touch Up Guys, Australia's market leader in mobile paint and bumper repairs.

Founded by Fred Hawken in 1991 as a single 'man in a van', Touch Up Guys has grown into a dynamic network of over 130 successful operators across Australia, New Zealand and more recently the USA.

Fred identified a need in the marketplace with car dealerships and private customers who were unhappy with the high cost and inconvenience of losing their vehicles for days at a time to panel shops for minor repairs. By establishing Touch Up Guys he became the pioneer of what is today referred to as the cosmetic collision industry. He attributes the phenomenal success of Touch Up Guys to steadfastly maintaining the core values of quality, convenience, service and fair pricing.

Fred also believes that the reason Touch Up Guys has attained and maintained market dominance is because of their focus on technology and product development and the wide range of services they offer. Unlike competitors who simply repair dull paintwork or bodywork scratches with coloured polishes, Touch Up Guys offers a complete mobile touch up and spray painting system with an ability to match over 55,000 automotive colours at the customer's home or workplace.

Touch Up Guys also specialise in cutting, buffing and polishing paintwork, the repair of torn, dented, scraped or scratched bumper bars, stone chips and scratches on bodywork, kerb damaged alloy wheels, faded and yellowing headlights and torn vinyl. They can also supply and install rust prevention and paint protection systems and reversing sensors that are colour matched to the rear bumper bar. It's this one stop vehicle repair and touch up service that has made Touch Up Guys so popular with both commercial and private clients and the market leader that it is today.

At the 20th Anniversary National Conference, Touch Up Guys Franchisees were briefed on the latest in new product development, introduced to a wide range of new technology that is set to drive the business further ahead in coming years and participated in a wide range of technical, marketing and service related workshops.
At the Gala Dinner on the Saturday evening, which had a fun masquerade theme, delegates were treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner and enjoyed live music from an excellent band playing hits form the 70s, 80s and 90s. It was a wonderful opportunity for Franchisees and their wives and partners from all over Australia and New Zealand to network together, share the fellowship of a common vision and to relax and have fun.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the annual awards for excellence. General Manger Paul Hawken had the honour of presenting the 2011 awards but with so much talent in the Touch Up Guys network it was difficult to pick winners. Everyone agreed however that those who got the 'gongs' were well deserved recipients.

The winners of the 2011 awards for excellence were:

Franchisee of the Year:   Bruce & Amanda Brady - Touch Up Guys Brisbane East
Outstanding Achievement: Neil Buckley - Touch Up Guys Northcote (NZ)
Team Player of the Year: Michael Rae - Touch Up Guys Blacktown
Newcomer of the Year:   Ayhan Akbulut - Touch Up Guys Melbourne City
Trainee of the Year:  Adrian Armstrong Touch Up Guys Indooroopilly
Special Recognition:   Darren White - Touch Up Guys Toorak

On the Sunday following the Gala Dinner, Franchisees were welcomed to the Touch Up Guys National Training Centre at Burleigh Heads for a half day workshop where they had the opportunity to get 'hands on' with a variety of new products.

Everyone agree that the 2011 20th Anniversary National Conference was the best ever and Franchisees departed relaxed and recharged with a kitbag a new ideas to take their business further forward over the coming year.

For more information on how you can become a part of the successful Touch Up Guys Franchise network, Click here.