The story of Pat’s Body Shop & Towing in Winston-Salem has been a journey of milestones – each chapter fueled by the passion of dynamic owner Sandra Scarlette.
Owning and managing a business that falls into a seriously male-dominated category has not been without its unique obstacles, but those have only driven Sandra to achieve even more success. Shying away from challenges is simply not her style!
Sandra is proud of the growth of her popular trio of businesses in the last several years and feels blessed by the strong community that’s been present every step of the way.
From celebrating 61 years of Pat’s Body Shop serving the Winston-Salem area to five exciting years of Scarlette’s Performance, each milestone has been meaningful.
Last July’s opening of the new paint shop marked a particularly challenging three-year journey of endless rezoning issues, building delays and politics.
“We had been trying to buy the building for the paint shop for literally 15 years,” Sandra shares. “I would walk out of the shop in the evenings and tell my guys ‘we’re going to have those two buildings one day!’ So, getting these two new buildings up and going represents 15 years worth of dreams!”
Overcoming so many setbacks just made the dream realization sweeter – as details fell into place, and all three businesses are thriving. Under Sandra’s savvy leadership, Pat’s Body Shop is literally bringing cars back to life on a daily basis – both mechanically and cosmetically – from service and repairs to custom interiors.
As Sandra had envisioned, Pat’s Body Shop & Towing, Scarlette’s Performance (the best local resource for all performance parts), and the paint shop are all within walking distance of each other!
Sandra has also welcomed her daughter and son-in-law onboard – Hope and Tim Taylor – and is thrilled to build on the family ties that launched the business. That adventure began when Sandra’s brother, Pat, started the business back in 1964. He was determined to teach her to love and, most of all, respect the industry – both lessons she took to heart. Sandra bought Pat’s Body Shop from him in 1997. It’s been 20 years since Pat passed away in a plane crash in 2005, but carrying on his legacy continues to be Sandra’s mission.
The super fast pace at all three businesses is more than enough to keep the adrenaline flowing, for both Sandra and her impeccable team who’ve built a strong bond through the years. Customers appreciate their genuine attention to detail and dedication to exceptional service that includes collision repair, interior work, mechanical work, custom painting and restoration work. (Fun Fact: Scarlette’s Performance also showcases Sandra’s personal passion for drag racing, and it’s no secret she’s well known in the area for her custom car collection!)
Even breaking into the typically “good ‘ole boy’s game” of towing – although an often tedious, hard-fought victory – has truly brought Pat’s Body Shop to another level.
Also recognized as the largest single-woman owned body shop in the United States, Sandra admits there are flashbacks to the 70s and 80s, when she will tell you many men didn’t even welcome a woman writing an estimate for them. But, relying on steadfast faith and determination, she leads a talented team whose excellent service and dedication to the highest quality work speak for themselves. When she meets other budding female entrepreneurs, Sandra is quick to reveal the challenges along the way have been the part of her journey of which she’s most proud.
When you’re visiting the shop, ask Sandra about her time as an award-winning bodybuilder! It’s no surprise you might find a few weights being lifted around the shop from time to time – and Sandra’s natural competitive streak touches every aspect of her busy schedule.
As a woman in management and ownership in a previously male-dominated arena, the road to where she is today has been filled with surprises. But, Sandra will tell you that’s what she loves most! Her trio of business ventures is the perfect balance of smart partnerships and community interaction – and Sandra plans to stay keenly focused on quality, dependability and the significant difference her success has made in the local industry.
On the community front, Pat’s Body Shop & Towing is an avid supporter of a variety of kids’ sports leagues in the Winston-Salem area, as well as sponsoring races and advertising with both Farmington Dragway and North Wilkesboro Speedway. They also participate in shows at Piedmont Dragway.
Pat’s Body Shop & Towing is a full service collision repair facility located in Winston-Salem and is also a direct repair facility for most insurance companies. For free estimates on all your collision repairs, interior or mechanical needs, call 336.945.3767 or stop by 5720 Country Club Road. For 24/7 towing, please call 336.999.3000, and learn more about their services online at pats-bodyshop.com. For all your automotive performance parts needs, call Scarlette’s Performance at 336.946.9007, learn more at Scarlettesperformance.com and stop by to visit the showroom at 5730 Country Club Road. Follow Sandra and her team on Facebook and Instagram @pats_bodyshop and @scarlettes_performance. Both shops are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
