learned what systems are most efficient. “It’s exciting to develop this store in a way that increases how efficient our whole organization is run,” he said.
Big plans ahead
Headquarters of Burritt Motors on the east side of Oswego. The only auto dealer in the city of Oswego now has plans to expand.
Burritt Motors Expands, Plans a Superstore
BUSINESS UPDATE
Dealership plans to have six auto franchises in one location
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urritt Motors, led by president Rich Burritt, is gaining a significant market share in Oswego County thanks to its ability to change with the times. Burritt Motors recently acquired Shapiro Motors, 410 W. First St., Oswego. “It’s going to be very exciting,” Burritt said. “We are working on plans right now and developing it.” Burritt is leasing the building from Shapiro Motors, which expires in November of 2019. The acquisition of the cross-town
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Burritt intends on constructing a new superstore adjacent to his existing Chevy location. It will be located between the current store at 340 state Route 104 East and Lake Ontario Prompt Medical Care, 300 state Route 104 East. The Chevy store will remain intact and is expected to complement the new facility. “It will be a whole new facility and we are going to be sharing some individuals, so there will be some economies of scale that we will have there,” Burritt said. Added amenities include a Touchless Car Wash, an Express Quick Lube and tire center, multiple car wash bays, a rust proofing and undercoating facility, and a food truck for customers and the public. The facilities will feature a combined inventory showcasing six franchises. There will be about 600 vehicles available for sale. Burritt said he wants to delve more into dealing in commercial vehicles as well. The $5 million, 25,000 square-foot facility is going to be only one of three dealerships in the state to feature the new Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram prototype building. The facility will have an exclusive stand-alone showroom for Jeep and also a showroom designated strictly for Dodge-Chrysler-Ram products. Burritt said he would like to see construction complete by November of 2019.
dealership mimics a nationwide trend that has larger organizations scooping up smaller, family owned establishments. Rich joined Burritt Motors in 1997 and represents the fourth generation of business ownership within his family. He is in full control of the dealership after his father Chris transferred ownership in the fall of 2016. “We’ve been cultivating, changing and tweaking the current Chevy store. We did a remodel about five years ago, and have kept tweaking it,” Burritt said. During that process, the staff has OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
Changing landscape Burritt said profit margins are getting compressed in the auto sales industry thanks to factors such as the internet. “What dealers have to do is pick up different business models. We have to constantly make our organization more efficient,” Burritt said. “We have to be so well run and keep adding on things just to make enough money to be in survival mode.” As a result, the smaller mom-andAPRIL / MAY 2018