3 minute read
Industry News Roundup
Dealer News From Around the Province
BY BRUCE CAMERON, BLACK PRESS CONTRIBUTOR
Creative Communications: Steve Marshall Ford’s “The Weekly” To engage with customers and staff, Steve Marshall Ford in Campbell River has created a lighthearted webcast called The Weekly, which features interviews with staff and customers on a variety of topics. According to General Manager Karl Ebdrup, the series of filmed interviews and Facebook Live streaming sessions was the brainchild of Ben Coyle, who works in the company’s used-truck location. It seems the social media-savvy Coyle thought that a weekly broadcast would push GM Ebdrup to “get more comfortable on camera and get out there more.”
Ebdrup says, “It was a huge fear of mine as it is for many people… so he had me agree to a once-a-week live video. He is still the driving force behind it.”
The series has taken off in surprising ways, Ebdrup adds, with excellent results. “Reaction has been great in all kinds of areas, such as building our brand and culture with clients and salespeople, getting us more noticed on social media, attracting good people into our business and, above all, getting us higher on clients’ list of places to consider when buying.”
At times, Steve Marshall Ford has had to coax participation from staff, but even clients and individuals in the community are now participating. “The running joke on The Weekly is we have to ‘volun-tell’ our staff to be a guest,” says Ebdrup. “But the truth is they all recognize the value; it’s more just getting them over their own fears.” To see some of the fun videos they have created for the #TheWeekly go to: https://www.facebook.com/SteveMarshallMotors/videos/287761798971345
In Memoriam: Frank Affettuso (1926-2020) We have sadly learned of Frank’s passing and extend our sincere condolences to his wife Lisa and his extended family. Frank made real contributions to our business and was known widely as a kind and generous man. He was one of a kind!
Nearly every morning for 44 years, Frank drove across the city to open the doors to Southside Nissan. The first business of the day was to make coffee, greet his 45 employees as they arrived, followed by customers, before handling the challenges of the day and evening (he worked 16 hours a day, seven days per week).
Frank was so essential to Nissan’s early North American market development, he actually purchased luxury cars from domestic carmakers and shipped them to Nissan’s Japan headquarters for dissection, helping them learn about popular features and systems that likely assisted the automaker in its development of larger, mid-size premium models like Maxima, which eventually led to its premium sector Infiniti division. Kudos for Signals
— DAVE S, BPL GROUP
Matcha a Good Match for OpenRoad Toyota Richmond Care for one of the world’s best matcha beverages when you’re browsing for a new vehicle? Well, Open Road Toyota in the Richmond Auto Mall is the spot to go. It recently opened a Tsujiri store, serving matcha frappes, houjicha lattes and kitsune soba for any Toyota customers. Tsujuri has been making and selling the world’s finest matcha for 160 years.
Making Way for Densification: An Automotive Icon to Close in Coquitlam
Bowing to the pressures of development in neighbourhoods all around the Metro Vancouver region, Coquitlam Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership will soon close. The valuable location in the city-centre neighbourhood is being redeveloped into a mix of commercial and multi-family housing options near the ever-expanding SkyTrain route.
According to GM Jeff Kornatowsky, who was interviewed by the Tri City News, “Everyone knew there was a timeline on this property. It is a large property. It is premium placed.”
Kornatowsky said the closing of the dealership after 44 years at that location was bittersweet, but as a resident himself, “it makes a lot of sense for high-density residential.”
Updated Occupational Health and Safety Program Manuals The NCDA has refreshed and updated the Occupational Health and Safety Program Manuals for BC’s New Car Dealers, including important changes for health and safety compliance. Complimentary copies of the Program Manual, made possible with generous support from CADA, are available to member dealers. Contact the NCDA office for your copy.
