(Photos courtesy of Korte's Collision)
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At Korte's Collision, the husband and wife team of Matt and Lisa Korte are still surprised by their five-year success story.
Matt can still remember handwriting estimates in the early days. And Lisa recalls balancing the books with their four-year-old
son building Legos at their feet. Their tag-team approach to running a business and a family keeps them much too busy to realize
their success.
"The reason we've been able to work this out is that we both are doing what we are passionate about. We respect each other,
and are best friends. She loves to work the numbers and I prefer to run the shop," Matt Korte says.
SNAPSHOP
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At the age of 43, Matt confesses his passion is not really about cars, but the constant drive to deliver 100-percent satisfaction.
Prior to his ownership of the shop, Korte, who has received extensive I-CAR training, spent 20 years as a collision technician.
His background in auto body repair was cemented through his schooling at Motech Autobody.
For now, their one location sits on a main street in the city of Dearborn Heights, Mich. Matt and Lisa have plenty of property
to expand the facility if necessary. The current building could grow to five or six times its current capacity, should demand
necessitate. Korte's goal to expand for the time being involves building on their current ways of reaching out to their customers. "We
know how to repair a car safely and correctly. Part of the package includes detailing the interior, cleaning the exterior,
arranging all personal belongings in a neat and respectful manner," he says.
Linda and Matt Korte are a husband and wife team at Korte's Collision. In the past five years, they have come a long way from
the early days of handwriting estimates and balancing the books with their four-year-old son building Legos at their feet.
Their success is due to the fact that they're doing what they are passionate about, especially delivering 100-percent satisfaction.
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Korte has been known to go to people's homes to do estimates, pick up or drop off customers and help with rental cars if needed.
"My philosophy is, that if we do a good job and take care of the customer they will refer our services to their friends and
family," he explains. For instance, at his shop, when a customer came to him after being in an accident and only had $700
to work with, Korte found a way to take care of her needs. Korte adds, "I always want to put myself in their shoes. Everybody
is tight on money and I want do the best I can."
LOCAL PUBLICITY
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Such an approach is not always the most profitable, but lets the customers know he has their best interest in mind. Adds
Lisa Korte, "I have had to get very creative at cutting down the expenses but I believe Matt's business ethics will pay off
in the long run."
Although the Kortes don't deny economic times are trying, there's still room for creativity in keeping the business above
water. "Lisa has done a great job thinking of ways to get us recognized with minimal costs, such as sponsoring car washes
for the local soccer teams and high schools," Matt Korte says.
