J
ake Parsons is recognised as one of Porsche Centre Brighton’s most outstanding sales executives, and with good reason. He shares some of the insights and interests which are taking him to the top of his game. When Jake made his start with Porsche Centre Brighton just over a decade ago, everything just … clicked. ‘While working with another European auto group in 2009, I saw an ad for a position available at the dealership,’ he remembers. ‘I made the decision to apply, got the job, and here I am!’ On joining, Jake initially ran the dealership spare parts department for a year, and with management suitably impressed with his skills and initiative, they then asked him to run the service department. ‘I worked in service for eight years and really enjoyed it, as it involved tackling a completely different challenge each day,’ Jake recalls. ‘I oversaw getting cars back on the road, providing loan cars for customers as needed, with our key focus to offer exceptional customer care. It was a fulfilling, fast-moving role requiring rapid, instantly workable solutions.’
Jake Parsons
A passion for machinery
After filling in from time to time in a sales role as needed, Jake eventually took the plunge and moved into the position full-time. It’s a decision that’s always sat well with him. ‘My enjoyment of Porsches really comes across when talking to potential buyers, so I guess I never seemed like a salesman to them,’ he speculates. ‘Over the years, though, I’ve developed a reputation as someone who knows what I’m talking about.’ Jake’s career highlight to date has been the ultimate driving experience in the most spectacular setting. ‘In 2020, I had the opportunity to visit Finland and drive a range of Porsches on ice around a number of obstacle courses,’ he notes. ‘It was held in an experience centre with six or seven different tracks, including figure 8s – definitely an experience I won’t forget in a hurry.’ Even in the midst of this snowy wonderland, Jake didn’t take his eye off the ball. ‘I was there with a small group of Porsche employees and paying customers,’ he says. ‘I sold cars to several people on the trip, and still talk to some of them to this day.’ Jake was recently honoured to become a Globally Certified Porsche Ambassador, an achievement he's genuinely proud of.
Porsche Sales Executive Porsche Centre Brighton
Of course, Jake’s many achievements at Porsche wouldn’t have been possible without his deep passion for speed and engineering. ‘I’m a parts person at heart,’ he says. ‘I’ve always been into racing of various kinds, including go karts and vintage motocross. ‘After racing a 1977 Suzuki RM125 bike some years ago, I moved on to racing Porsches,’ he continues. ‘I first owned a 944 S2, then a 987 Boxster, which was the most fun to race. I've had about six different Porsches now, with many work colleagues and clients equally sharing my passion for racing. I’ve even convinced several customers to take their cars on the track and get involved in the Porsche Car Club!’
As a dedicated family man, Jake still makes time to savour the Porsche experience. ‘We now have two Cayennes, perfect for fitting the two kids on our journeys while offering memorable yet practical driving experiences for the whole family,’ he notes. ‘I balance my interest in cars and motorsport with spending time with family,’ adds Jake. ‘The biggest challenge of the sales role has been the time demands, so it’s important to keep everything in perspective.’ As a ‘people person’, Jake enjoys his daily involvement with clients from all walks of life and interests. ‘I deal with a huge range of customers from a multitude of backgrounds,’ he observes. ‘With such diversity, you can never really pick who may buy which car ahead of time, a sense of variety which I enjoy.’ The unexpected arrival of Coronavirus proved to be an unexpected boom time for Jake. ‘I sold 40-odd cars in lockdown, which is a testament to the Porsche brand’s enduring strength,’ he reflects. ‘During lockdown, interest actually increased – Porsche is an extremely nice car to travel around in if you can’t go overseas!’ From chauffeuring the kids to pummelling a 911 around an icy Finnish racetrack, Jake has proved himself as a singularly hands-on Dad and super salesman. •
‘On achieving set criteria, the dealership put me forward for the title,' Jake explains. 'I will then visit Germany towards the end of this year for the Ambassador role to become officially sanctioned. I’m very proud of this achievement, but getting there was challenging – especially conducting the interview via Zoom!’
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