We were lucky to catch up with Zach Knoll recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Zach thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

I had just started my paintless dent repair company in the heart of winter, which is generally one of the slower seasons in the industry but I was determined. At that time, my main advertising was the old fashioned approach of going from business to business (car dealerships primarily) and introducing myself and my company. After a few weeks of doing this and with minimal results, I was getting nervous. My worries and doubts were only growing. I wasn’t sure if I could succeed but thankfully my wife was unwavering and gave me the encouragement I needed to hang in there. After those first few weeks, my persistence finally paid off and a local car dealership gave me a shot and let me repair one of their vehicles. After I tackled that first job, it seemed like the business phone started to ring more and more with each passing month as I continued to put myself out there. I still look back in amazement at how far the business has come from the beginning and I am so thankful that my wife encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream.

Zach, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always been a car enthusiast. I grew up helping my Grandpa change tires at his tire shop and helping my dad restore classic mustangs. It was my passion for cars that led me into the Autobody Industry. I graduated from Lake Superior College in 2014 with my diploma in Autobody Technology. Upon graduating I worked as an autobody man and painter in a local body shop for the next 7 years. Over that time, I learned about Paintless Dent Repair. It amazed me that vehicle dents could be fixed without the need for bondo, paint or other harsh chemicals. I wanted to become part of this specialized industry.

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is still a relatively new and upcoming part of the autobody industry. With that being said, a large part of the public is unaware of PDR and the benefits it has compared to a conventional vehicle repair. Paintless Dent Repair can be used to repair vehicles in a fraction of the time that a conventional repair would take and is a cost effective way to maintain your vehicle’s value. Most Paintless Dent Repairs can be completed in hours, without the use of chemicals. Of course, PDR does have limitations and not all dents can be repaired with this method. If you have a dent in your vehicle and want to know if it can be repaired with this specialty, I would encourage you to reach out to your local PDR technician and they will help guide you to the best solution for your vehicle.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe that honesty and integrity greatly helped build my reputation as a business. I do not think that you can maintain a successful business without those two qualities.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I used to firmly believe that social media was unnecessary and a waste of precious time, but now, as a business owner, I have learned how important of a tool it actually is. Social media is such an easy way to not only stay connected with your customers, but also helps you network with other business owners. It’s kind of like the modern day daily newspaper and it plays a vital role in our current society. It definitely keeps you connected with friends, businesses, and current events!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zdentrepair.com
• Instagram: zdr_mn
• Facebook: ZDR Paintless Dent Repair