Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruben ‘Jr’ Silva.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Silva’s Auto Collision Repair is a family owned and operated small business, that was founded after Ruben Sr. invested over a quarter-million dollars of his own money to start up the business. This included the property, the equipment, computers, and work wear.
Along with Ruben Sr., Moses and Jr are co-owners, heading any administrative decisions. We three are father and sons.
With 40 years of combined automotive repair experience through Moses and Ruben Sr. alone, this business is a second opportunity to make a name for ourselves and be able to provide for the first time within this family a form of generational wealth; as Moses and myself, Jr, are first-generation Americans.
My father initially had a body shop in the early 2000’s that did very well and coincidentally fairly close to our current location but unfortunately had to leave that behind as the landlord had to sell the property, leaving him without a shop.
My father worked for a close family friend shortly after for some years, and eventually moved up in the auto repair industry to work for Service King Collision Repair, with Moses right behind him, up until 2022 when the company sold out.
Seeing the decline in skilled help coming in and changes in management that could not hold onto its trusted employees, a decision was made in my father’s mind. After resting up from double knee surgery in 2023, My father decided to make the jump and open the business in August of 2024, with a lot of help from Moses on kick-starting the business.
With my combined managerial and customer service experience from my tenure in the United States Air Force, along with years of automotive industry experience through my dad and my brother, we have been able to operate at a professional level for over a year and are an exceptional option in comparison to the giants in the industry, at a much more affordable price.
We make an attempt to allow the customer to truly understand the process of repairs for their vehicle and try to be as transparent as possible.
Overall, it takes a team effort with constant learning and mistakes. They say the first year is always the hardest, but in that calamity, we found what works, and what doesn’t. There will be times where we will miss the stillness of the air when we barely had any customers, even during last winter when the thought of advertising and promoting the business (essentially your reputation!) is the scariest and most humbling thing that had to be done. Even to this day we are not perfect, but in the end, the ones coming out on top are the ones that persistently try.
We as a family and as a business could not have done this without leaning on God and the support of our many friends and family!
So big shout out to anyone that reads this.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our biggest struggle was getting on the same page. Owning a business is not easy work, particularly being jointly owned; we have to maintain the respect in a decision that one makes and just considering the process all the way through even if we may not see it work. There is much to learn in the decision-making process since it requires you not only to take the risk, but the responsibilities associated with it. Even if it’s not perfect, improving only happens in moving forward, and you can’t do that by merely thinking about it.
and half of the time, it works out.
As you know, we’re big fans of Silva’s Auto Collision Repair. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Here at Silva’s Auto Collision, we specialize in repairs made to vehicles after an automotive collision. When it comes to anything on the exterior or the frame, to include some of the interior components or the replacement of windshields, we can get it taken care of. We also offer hail repair after storms and work closely with other business in the area.
One of our main goals is to maintain a healthy balance of awareness for the customers about the industry; typically regarding what goes on between ourselves and the insurance agencies when it comes to repairs.
Considering high rates, we make an attempt not to total out your vehicle as we do work in tandem with each agency when it comes to creating the repair estimate.
If repairs costs exceed the value of the vehicle, it may be considered a ‘total-loss’, but ultimately you have the final say on what happens to your car.
We want you to keep it and not lose it though you may be paid out.
Because this work is a trade, it is generally expensive when it comes to repair costs. So, we have lowered our rates slightly to attract more clients; not because we are cheap, but the work already makes a lot of money so long as we have the volume to accommodate the labor.
Time is money, and the more skill and knowledge is accumulated, the shorter it takes to get something done.
Ruben Sr. is a man of his craft, still working repairs even in his 50’s after over thirty years in the industry, so I believe we can proudly say that our work can speak for itself.
Any big plans?
As we continue to grow, our hopes in increasing our reputation throughout the DFW metroplex is still the larger of our priorities. Processes will naturally continue to be improved and ultimately evolve depending on the size of the shop (fingers crossed).
The more vehicles that come in, the more employees that will be needed, the more square-footage and equipment will be required. Each step is only a part of the process. It only takes time.
Just don’t give up, the American Dream still exists!
Pricing:
- flat rate across the board of $62/hr
- body labor, mech labor, paint, and pdr
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silvasautocollisiontx/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNSbnVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE1WGlPNlBtMWp5NnRRcXIzAR6htZsuFgTwrN4ZiOfW_jLMryhkG3p28GdWPapp-WkXq6oRqLgtp6S-Zi0iBg_aem_wxka6LX9ZlGoS70GqdHWBA#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563151173998
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-silva-b43a00318?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/silvas-auto-collision-repair-fort-worth
Image Credits
me
