General News
14 October, 2020
Curdie Car Care celebrate 20 years in business
CURDIE Car Care owners Trevor and Sue Clarke are celebrating a special milestone this week.
CURDIE Car Care owners Trevor and Sue Clarke are celebrating a special milestone this week.
Friday will mark 20 years of operation for the Cobden business.
Mr Clarke said they were proud to reach the business milestone.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s been 20 years,” he said.
“It’s crept up very quick.”
The business was originally located in Curdie Street in 2000, before moving to the Silvester Street location about 12 months later.
Mr Clarke said he had worked at the factory in the garage as well as driving milk tankers seasonally before starting the business.
“Only in the last six or seven years have they put on people full-time,” he said.
“I wanted some certainty and to work for myself so started the business.”
Over the years, Mr Clarke said he had hired three apprentices.
“The first one travelled from Warrnambool and worked here for 11 years,” he said.
“The second one, Andrew, is still with us after 15 years.
“The third, we had to let go due to decline from COVID-19.”
Mr Clarke said the impacts from COVID-19 had been a low-point for the business.
“Business has just dropped so dramatically,” he said.
“Even if we come out of lock down fully, I’m loathe to put someone on again, not having certainty.”
The positives have outweighed the negatives for the family owned business.
“Our customer base has grown to be quite large now,” Mr Clarke said.
“We’ve noticed people coming from further away which is good.
“Being a local and working with locals and people being loyal, have all been positives.”
The shopfront will be receiving a makeover as part of the Corangamite Shire faÇade fund and to help mark the occasion.
Mr Clarke thanked the community for its support over the 20 years.
“Thank you to all our customers past, present and future,” he said.
“Coming out of lock down, when people get back on the road they do need to be thinking about servicing their cars.”
