CMC Bridgenorth

[tim wood]

I hope I’m wrong but I see today on PistonHeads that CMC have closed with immediate effect.

I’m not a customer but is this a sign of the times ?

[Heuer]

Yes, CMC has gone into voluntary receivership. Remaining assets to be sold off, convoy of trucks recovering cars, thirty people made redundant. Primary cause was a large increase in rental on their premises which made continuing untenable.

[richard btype]

When I heard the news I was both shocked and saddened that such a successful workforce of highly skilled people should come to this. The body of their work with such interesting projects made them one of the stand out companies bar none.

I attended a couple of their seminars over the years and to watch a tig welding demonstration was to watch a master at work. It was very clever and good marketing the way they brought projects to life some of my favourites were 9600 HP, the Lindner/Nocker light weight, no 15 Scottish motor show Etype, the Michelotti Xk 120, the Aston Martin Bulldog to name but so very few. I do hope all those guys will move on to finding successful endeavours, their indisputable pedigree should certainly be a big help...

[Gfhug]

What a b****y shame. Let’s hope the workers find somewhere rewarding to go. Greedy landlords destroy another company. I trust they don’t own the buildings Barratt’s are in

Geoff

[malcolm]

Not necessarily the landlords. The business rate increases mean rents have to rise if sub letting. Blame the government. I always do!

[mgcjag]

I doubt very much its just a rent increase....time will tell when the accounts are released....CMC had changed over the later years moveing away from Jag to any other make and also into servicing, ceramic polishing, etc and more car sales.....cost of restoration is very much exceeding the value now.....cars for restoration are now dropping in price as taking on a full restoration will leave you out of pocket....ok if your doing your own DIY job for your own reason and dont mind spending more than the car is worth but commercially it's getting very difficult.....Steve

[Gfhug]

Steve, I’m sure you’re right, a rent increase can’t be the only problem for them. I wonder if Smallman, who are also in Bridgnorth, will pick up any of their employees and business. I know nothing of them, does anyone?

Geoff

[RICHOT]

Very sad

[AshM]

At the risk of swimming ‘against the flow’ - I thought they were awful.

Bringing my car out of hibernation a good few years ago they were charged with making it safely road-worthy.

£4,000 of work and many many problems afterwards. I would not trust them to wash my car.

Only two places my car would ever go now.

But I respect we all have different back stories and experiences. Also, I have no malice with very skilled individuals who now need to find new work.

[Gfhug]

Ash, I’ve no direct association with them, so your comments are very interesting and instructive. I can guess where one of your two places are and agree with that. ATB Geoff

[SD1]

Asset's of CMC to be auctioned off early April

https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auct ... 1000c74944

[politeperson]

That is an awful lot of stuff.

[angelw]

Steve Wrote:

I doubt very much its just a rent increase.

Hello Steve,
If the UK is anything like the state of Victoria, Australia, then I can well imagine that could be the case. Land tax has been introduced even on primary residences, if your're conducting a business from home, even if its eBay sales that could be conducted from the boot of one's car.

I know of one well established Jaguar used parts business that closed shop due to new owners of the premises increasing the rent by AUD 26K on top of what was already a staggering amount.

Businesses have closed, and have had to sell the property because they can't afford to pay the land tax.

Regards,
Bill

[mgcjag]

Hi Bill...yes rent increase will be a big factor....but the premises is huge....far too big in my opinion for a car restoration service.....just in the auction of their equipment there is a dozen car lifts.....you need a lot of business through the door to keep them in business....on top of that they had their own machine shop....trim shop and paint shop, car sales and car storage.....as I mentioned they even resorted to service and repairs of non classics.....a stretch to far I think.....Steve

[Gfhug]

There’s a lot of useful equipment being sold off and I’m tempted to buy a few bits. The only problem is there no space in my garage for them
And getting it home would be another problem

Come on Steve, are you tempted for anything?

[mgcjag]

There is viewing the day befor the auction and quite high commission to be added....I might pop in for a look as its close to me....but mostly a lot of big items....Steve