When a hailstorm hits town, Damian Cox knows his world is about to change. Damian and his wife Kaylene are in the paintless dent repair business and for them there is no busier time, with 15-hour days not uncommon to keep up with the workload.
DKC Dent Removal is one of the original dent removal businesses in the Shire and after six successful years of operation they remain very much the leader in their field and the ones who can be counted on to get the job done efficiently.
Their brother-in-law, who is in the smash repair industry, first introduced Damian and Kaylene to the paintless dent removal concept. Before taking the step of setting up business Damian took the necessary courses and spent many hours in his garage practising his newly found skillset. A trade background and a keen eye for attention to detail meant that the transition was relatively smooth.
According to Damian the appeal of being his own boss was the biggest drawcard. “I take pride in my work and I always get the best result for the customer,” he says. “Working for yourself, you get complete satisfaction in what you do.”
A growing reputation
A large number of new and used car dealers and smash repairs in and around the Shire clamour for Damian’s services. However, his reputation isn’t restricted to the Shire. For the last 12 months, Damian has commuted to Newcastle three days a week to service a client who heard about Damian and wanted no-one else for the job.
With the Newcastle opportunity too good to pass up, Damian and Kaylene developed a system that would continue to provide the high level of service their clientele have grown to expect and maintain the business while Damian was away.
Working together for success
Hard work and success hasn’t come without sacrifices. With 15-hour days not uncommon after hailstorms, it means that little time is spent at home with Kaylene and the kids. “I miss my family a lot, especially late at night or weekends spent in the factory,” explains Damian.
Damian unashamedly points to his wife as his biggest influence as she has been there from the start. Kaylene helps to look after the administrative side of the business, as well as providing an enormous amount of support. “She knows I like to do things properly the first time every time, so if I have to spend more time on a car to get it right, I will. This means longer hours and without her support and understanding, it would be a lot harder than it is.” Looking to improve technique
Not all dents are the same according to Damian and, with different metals on different cars, sometimes the technique used to repair a vehicle needs adjusting accordingly. Damian says that due to the type of industry he is in, he is always coming across new ways of improving skills and techniques.
Damian’s attention to detail and wanting to ‘get it right the first time’ has helped his business to be the success it has. He credits these same attributes with why he has been able to remain injury free during his pursuits of motorbike riding and go-karting.
With his work hours unpredictable, committing to a team sport or social club is difficult so all action sports such as go-karting and motorbike riding fill any voids that may be there.
Having spent all of his 36 years living in the Shire and family and friends still living here as well, Damian doesn’t see a reason to live anywhere else.
Dean loves living in the Sutherland Shire. In fact he was born, raised and schooled in the Shire and currently lives with his
young family at Engadine. In his younger days he was an accomplished sportsperson and is still actively involved in local amateur
sports administration. Dean operates his own business in the area and is keen to support and promote the wider community in any
way he can with his new role. | 
