Business Spotlight: A Driving Force for Community

Kirk’s Collision Center owner and founder Kyle Kirk’s passion for auto mechanics sparked while working on a 1963 Willys truck with his father in junior high. For Kirk, that project instilled a sense of pride and fulfillment that doesn’t exist in every industry .

“I’ve chased that feeling ever since. Back then, it was finishing a project,” Kirk says. “Now it’s more about seeing our customers relieved to be back on the road and have some degree of normalcy put back into their lives.”

After receiving technical education at Nashville Auto-Diesel College in 2004, Kirk began pursuing a career in collision repair. He returned to Missouri and opened Kirk’s Collision Center to serve the Republic community.

“This is a job where you can take something that has been mangled, that the customer thinks will never be the same, and you can turn it back and fix it,” Kirk says. “At the end of the day, you feel like you actually accomplished something, and sitting behind a desk, you just don’t get that.”  

Kirk aimed to create a space that feels welcoming, not only in its outward appearance but also as a positive reflection of the morale the staff embodies. Since becoming a business owner, Kirk says he prioritized his employees because he believes that helping others solve their problems begins with a solid foundation within the team.  

Many technicians at the shop have been in the industry for over 20 years; collectively, the staff shares more than a century of experience.

“Our employee retention is a big part of what we do to build a big crew that stays together and works cohesively,” says Kevin Thuro, chief financial officer at Kirk’s Collision. “And that’s because of the way that they’re treated. Kyle builds a business model that supports people and their families and keeps people around.”

Meeting modern challenges
“We want to fix the car right for the customer, not the insurance company,” Kirk says. “Insurance companies serve a purpose, but they want to do it as cheaply as possible, where we have the tools to go back and say, ‘Well, we really need to fix it the right way, not the cheap way.’”

As an independent repair shop, Kirk’s Collision does not participate in a direct repair program, in which independent automotive businesses partner with insurance companies to consolidate the claim process, allowing the repair shop to only meet standardized procedures, saving them time and paperwork. Although it requires additional work on their end, the team at Kirk’s Collision wants to ensure everything is done thoroughly.

To make matters easier for clients, their insurance providers and the auto shop itself, Kirk’s Collision is actively working to become a certified original equipment manufacturer business. This certification enables it to perform repairs that meet factory standards on numerous vehicle makes and models without voiding warranties while conveniently staying updated on the latest technologies, parts and procedures.

“In today’s world, your customers are so much more cognizant of everything that’s happening, so having those certifications is just another level of assurance to the customer,” Thuro says. “With vehicles now and all the new technology that’s on them, it’s more important. The last 10 years have changed more than the previous 50 years of advancement, and we have to stay on top of all those procedures for every vehicle that comes in here so that it can be repaired properly and, more importantly, put together correctly.”

At Kirk’s Collision, while it has taken years of investment to become General Motors and OEM certified, a key facet of obtaining those statuses is maintaining quality equipment and standard technology.

At the local level, some franchise dealerships have yet to invest the money, tools and training to become GM-certified, whereas Kirk’s is staying one step ahead of the game.

“Kyle was approached not too terribly long ago by one of those big-box stores about coming in and partnering with them, or taking over for us, and they made the statement, ‘I just want to take this business to the next level,’” Thuro says.

“Kyle looked at them and said, ‘Why can’t we do that?’”

Community partners
Throughout his first decade in business, Kirk often had to prioritize company finances, build a solid team and lay the groundwork for future success. Now that the collision center has grown into what it is today, Kirk says he and his staff have numerous opportunities to give back to the community that supported him from the beginning.

During the recent holiday season, Kirk’s Collision ramped up small giveaways that provided families with essentials. In addition to sponsoring businesses that disperse free meals and to maintaining partnerships with The Pregnancy Center, Ozark Food Harvest’s Community Kitchen and more, Kirk’s Collision also organizes its own annual giveaway for local families.

“We’re getting ready to give away our sixth car to a family here in Republic through People Helping People,” Kirk says. “We’ll buy a wrecked car, fix it and bring other community businesses together so we can provide paid insurance for a year, brand-new tires, a remote start, tinted windows, free oil changes for a year and free tire rotations. We’re giving somebody a whole package because if they don’t have a car, they can’t afford it or insurance – we want to give them a leg up.”

Looking out for you
What’s most important to Kirk’s Collision has been connecting community members with solutions while building lasting relationships.

“Choose your shop wisely and do your research. We’ve done several re-repairs from the big-box stores that couldn’t get it right and finally gave up and said, ‘This is the best we can do,’” Thuro says. 

If Kirk’s floor mechanics or store management are dissatisfied with the extent of a repair, he said they remain up-wfront with customers to deliver quality work that meets high standards.

“Most people aren’t excited to come in here,” Kirk says. “The amount of people who come up with a smile on their face because they know where they’re coming makes us feel pretty good because they know this stressful situation is about ready to be taken care of.”