Bodywork, Headline, Portrait of the bodywork industry
DRIVEN BY DREAMS: THE DUMAS BROTHERS’ JOURNEY TO OWNING AT PAC
(Article published in L’Automobile Collision magazine, February 2024)
By Kassy Vaudry
Growing up at the heart of Pièces de Carrosserie BMC, selling auto parts has long been a way of life for Alexandre and Maxime Dumas. Inspired by the business of their uncle and his associate, the two brothers always dreamed of joining forces and acquiring At Pac Pièces de Carrosserie.
After building a relationship of trust between the two families, and following lengthy discussions and negotiations, a sales agreement was reached between owner Dolorès Richardson and the young entrepreneurs. As a result, on April 26, 2021, Alexandre and Maxime officially acquired 100% ownership of the company.
Rapid Return on Investment
The many phases involved in acquiring the company enabled the duo to gain additional knowledge and develop a solid business plan. After their takeover, they began by cleaning up the warehouse. They then proceeded to reorganize warehousing structures, improve purchasing strategies and establish an inventory consisting mainly of C.A.P.A. (Certified Automotive Parts Association) certified parts.
Maxime handles marketing, industrial relations and sales, while Alexandre is in charge of operations, administration and human resources. This complementary combination reflects the business model of their uncle and his partner, and makes the most of each other’s strengths.
Their Business Vision
Alexandre and Maxime first set out to change the way employees approached customers, given the crucial role they play. They wanted to establish a friendly, supportive relationship with their customers, putting each of their requests at the forefront. They then set about explaining to warehouse employees the reality of collision repairers, a shared knowledge that emphasizes the importance of accuracy and the good condition of parts sold to body shops.
The second step involved modernizing the company’s IT system, a major, time-consuming and costly undertaking. They changed their management, invoicing, parts ordering, accounting and inventory management systems, redesigned their website and created a transactional site for online purchases. To achieve this, they worked closely with LIDD, who adapted the system to their company’s needs.
At Pac for Atlantic-Pacific
The founder of At Pac Pièces de Carrosserie had the ambition of establishing a warehouse in each of the Canadian provinces, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. A desire that is now part of the current owners’ future goals.
The full episode of this podcast is available on the Spotlight Carrosserie YouTube page.
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