Have You Missed Tomorrow? By Richard R. Vensel Our industry is changing faster than ever before, and while most of us have been working harder and longer hours than ever we don’t seem to be catch- ing up. The use of the computer has taken most small shops by surprise, but it’s never too late to learn. Remember when the fax machine first came out? Most small rebuilders never thought they would have a need for one. Today even one-man shops have fax machines and use them every day. Today, not tomorrow, you can get on the Internet and find almost any- thing you need. In many cases you’ll find more information about a part, product or company than you would from their catalog. We are now seeing some major suppliers in other industries no longer offering catalogs or flyers. When these suppliers are asked why, they say they can supply much more up-to-date in- formation on the Internet. There is probably no real benefit today for small shops to have a web sight unless it’s attached to a local area you could service. To get an idea of this, try looking up repair shops on the Internet. You will not believe the num- ber of sights. Another web sight that will give you an idea of what is out there is www.accessmagazine.com. This site is consumer friendly and of value to the do-it-yourselfer as well as the do- it-forme car owner. Communication between you, your supplier and sources of technical help is vital in today’s rebuilding indus- try. Do not wait or plan to play catch up because it may not work. Richard Vensel is owner of Vensel Enter- prises, Crystal Lake, IL. DECEMBER, 1999 Page 1 of 1