Spectrum Auto Body, Belle Plaine
by Kaitlyn Gavidia
From working out of a trailer to celebrating his 10-year anniversary as owner of Spectrum Auto Body, Sam Brummund’s entrepreneurial spirit has evolved the business into a thriving fixture in Belle Plaine.
Hopping around different shops in his earlier years, Brummund always felt he brought more to the table than his employers. It was his desire for excellence and ability to offer services of the highest caliber that led him to build a mini body shop in a 10×10 trailer, which he equipped with an air compressor, generator and full mixing bank.
Offering mobile services and working in parking lots at dealerships, Brummund “crushed it” his first summer, so much so that he made enough money to open his first shop in Burnsville at age 26. Now 36 years old, he has been in the industry for 15 years. As a high school student, he recalls, “I always wanted a sweet car, but came to the question of, ‘How do I BUY one?’ I figured, ‘Well, I can work on them!’” Automotive repair was an obvious career path choice for Brummund, who had displayed a strong talent for mechanical repair from a young age, starting out working on his own bikes. Brummund’s high school had many technical classes, which helped him decide to ultimately focus on the trade; he has stuck with it ever since.
When he started in the business, he figured he’d be doing more than just auto body repair. “I had been doing dealership stuff, insurance and a little bit of custom work, so I thought that I’d be doing a broad ‘spectrum of things,’ but ultimately, I fell into collision work.” This is where the Spectrum brand was born as Brummund wanted to be more creative when naming his business as he wasn’t entirely in favor of naming it after himself. He then set out to create an eye-catching logo that accomplished the “resemblance to a franchise” that he was ultimately looking for.
Brummund rented a space in Burnsville where he worked with one other person. After six years, business grew exponentially, allowing him to raise enough money to transition the business to Belle Plaine.
When he took over the establishment, “it was obvious that no one had invested in renovations in a long time. I came in and put siding on, did a bunch of updates to make it look a lot nicer and built an addition in the back. It was a good transition from renting to owning the building. I like the small town over the metro that Burnsville was, and having a bigger team has been a tremendous help.” Including himself, six people make up the Spectrum team, with employees ranging from ages 20 to 72 years old! The business blends experience with fresh perspective, ensuring they cater to every customer with personalized care.
Mike Walter, a technician who had worked at the location before Brummond bought it, has proven to be instrumental to his team as “the master tech; he’s really good at everything. He’s kind of like the ‘dad over here.’ He has all the knowledge and helps a lot when it comes to decision making and advice.”
Bryan Kahle, the shop’s general manager handles “all the phone calls, estimates, billings and office duties.” Long-time friends from high school, the pair reconnected post-college after Brummund moved back to their hometown. Kahle has been with the team for three years now. “We grew up just 10 minutes away from Belle Plaine, which helps us bring in those local ties and expand our business to the surrounding areas.”
Central to Spectrum Auto Body is their commitment to honesty and reliability. In having worked at a lot of places, Brummond has experienced a variety of approaches when it comes to customer service. As a business owner, he looks to break stereotypes associated with auto body shops in aiming to provide transparent service from the moment a car enters the shop. By tailoring services to match a particular individual’s needs, he ensures that “someone who comes in and doesn’t know anything about their vehicle can have the process explained to them in a way that leaves them confident that their car is in good hands.”
As a smaller shop, the team offers “family service” by optimizing operational efficiency and customer convenience. To minimize the time clients are without their car, “we ensure all the paperwork is worked out and parts are on order before taking in the car. After determining the state of the vehicle, we decide whether it is necessary for it to be left that same day or if it can continue to be driven for a few days, if someone doesn’t have a rental. We have found that this helps with convenience and ease of the overall process.”
Fostering a skillful and knowledgeable team is important for Brummund in maintaining their reputation for excellence in Belle Plaine and its respective surrounding areas. By being selective when hiring new additions to his team, he has been fortunate to have people who “are naturally good at mechanics. I get really good help upfront from someone who is already highly skilled and possesses the knowledge.
“For us, it’s not just about certifications on paper, it’s about proving ourselves through word-of-mouth and consistently delivering high quality services,” he adds. This dedication to customer satisfaction is evident in stories like that of a frustrated Subaru owner who turned to Spectrum after a dealership failed to communicate progress for weeks. “We got her car fixed within a week,” he recalls. “It’s moments like these that reinforce the importance of our reputation and the trust our community places in us.”
Navigating the complexities of insurance dealings stands out as a significant challenge for Brummund. One of the primary issues he faces is the frustratingly slow response times from insurance companies. “Having to go through the website and the general emailing slows down the process.” He’d like to see legislative changes that would mandate faster responses from insurance companies. “There should be a law that requires insurers to reach out within two days,” he suggests. The prolonged delays not only impede Spectrum’s ability to serve their customers promptly, but also contributes to ongoing disputes and extended wait times before repairs can even commence.
Despite these challenges, he remains proactive in addressing industry issues through his involvement with AASP-MN, since he became a member this past spring. At the meetings he’s attended thus far, he recalls “having met good people and participated in great conversations. I liked what I saw, and I met other guys, some of whom own big shops with 30 employees, and I’m able to turn to them for advice. They’re not like competitors, but rather a great source of advice, and I can ask them questions like, ‘What do you use for this?’ and they are willing to provide support.” The networking aspect was definitely a factor for Brummund in joining, and he enjoys the community aspect of it all. “Getting to see the same people every week and the connectivity from body shops to tech colleges is pretty cool!”
Reflecting on his journey, he finds fulfillment in Spectrum’s role beyond repairs. “Auto body work isn’t just about fixing cars,” he believes. “It’s about providing peace of mind and reliable service to our neighbors.”
As Spectrum Auto Body celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer, Brummund and his team continue to deliver premium service with a personal touch. With each repair, they reaffirm their role as a trusted local business committed to excellence and lasting relationships within their community.
Want more? Check out the November 2024 issue of AASP-MN News!