Two Gloucestershire garages have seen bookings increase by 400% after using a specialist with aftermarket understanding to help in its website design.
Gotherington Cross Garage and GX Landrovers, two family-run garage brands which operate side by side, had struggled to get an effective online presence for 13 years. The business had constantly changed website providers, with none seemingly able to understand how the independent repair sector worked.
However, the breakthrough for Gotherington Cross and GX Landrovers came when they found Garage Services Online. The company recommended two websites, one for each brand.
This would maximise the organic search potential of each brand’s very different customer bases. The Gotherington Cross Garage site works on all makes and models, and its neighbour, GX Landrovers, specialises in Land Rover and Jaguar.
Increased work for Gotherington Cross and GX Landrovers
Within two days of both websites going live, the garages saw a dramatic increase in enquiries. Four months later, bookings are up across the two sites by as much as 400%.
Chloe Pinchin, whose parents opened the business 25 years ago, said: “We were inundated with enquiries. It was fantastic. The crucial thing was, they were all for work we wanted to book. There were no time wasters.
“Before the websites for Gotherington Cross and GX Landrovers were launched, Garage Services Online explained it can sometimes take a while for them to index and that we might not see an immediate change. We did though, it was the family’s best Christmas present ever!
“Then, the bookings really started to come in. I remember one Monday earlier this year. I was covering reception, and it was the first time that we made 50 bookings in one day. Before getting the right online presence, the most we had ever booked in a day was 10 jobs.
“We wish we had found Garage Services Online sooner. We wasted so much time and money with previous website providers whose intentions were good, but that was about it. I am now free to work on the business which, thanks largely to them, is future-proofed.”
Busy year ahead
With the extra cash flow generated by the increased and profitable workload, the business has invested in a new MOT ramp and is rolling out EV and hybrid training for all its technicians at Gotherington Cross Garage and GX Landrovers.
Chloe concluded: “The websites have had a massive impact on what were already two very busy and reputable garages. It is like having a few extra members of staff who work 24 hours a day.
“The next step is for us to offer an online booking facility on the Gotherington Cross and GX Landrovers websites. We will do this with a plug-in that links to our Garage Hive garage management system.”
