Earl Scheib

Earl Scheib was a company which specialized in repainting and collision repair of automobiles, with locations in 23 states in the United States. It ceased operations nationwide on July 16, 2010.

Founded by Earl Scheib (February 28, 1908 – February 29, 1992) in Los Angeles in 1937, the company grew quickly following World War II and by 1975 had branches in Germany and England, all company-owned, with Scheib manufacturing his own paint through a wholly owned subsidiary.

Earl Scheib's paint-coating systems were used by its company-owned paint and collision repair shops. The paint also was sold to original equipment manufacturers and architectural construction firms.

Scheib's policy of one-day service and production line techniques flew directly into the face of state-of-the-art professional auto body standards and caused the company to become a national joke at the time.

Scheib was plagued with a high employee turnover rate due to the demands of attempting to paint up to five cars a day. The company's main criterion in hiring and promoting management trainees was sales skills only. Knowledge of auto body repair or painting techniques was not required. Trainees underwent a short training period and were then assigned to their own shops. Managers who failed to increase sales for three successive months were fired, regardless of seniority.

In the 1950s, Earl Scheib expanded his company with locations across the nation and started a national advertising campaign. Sheib wrote the commercials and became the company's spokesman. He became famous for his slogan, "I'm Earl Scheib, and I'll paint any car, any color for $19.95. No ups, no extras." This campaign and slogan were maintained until Scheib died. However, the price was slowly increased over the years.

In 1997 the company devised a "fast-track" management training program and recruited college and business school graduates for immediate placement in upper middle management positions, requiring relocation to another state upon completion of the program. Scheibs' corporate office and shareholders were dismayed to find that 85% of those participating in the program resigned upon relocation. After Scheib's death, the company was sold to former college basketball champion Chris Bement and Dan Siegal, who made his fortune in Las Vegas winnings, and other investors. Improvements were made in the quality of paint and a corporate restructuring.

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