10 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • July 22, 2016
Talking Business: With Stavros Orsaris
By IRA ELLENTHAL Executive Vice President The old saying that youth is wasted on the young doesn’t seem to apply to Stavros Orsaris, who’s making the most of his high energy, innate savvy and tireless desire to succeed in business. The centerpiece of this success-story-in-the-making is Victory Mitsubishi in Larchmont, where Orsaris is turning heads as a high-ranking member of its new management team. Granted, 22 is decidedly young for anyone to become a general sales manager of an automobile dealership, but those who know Orsaris agree that he exudes a maturity well beyond his years. Says a longtime family-friend, “He’s always acted older, carrying himself in a self-assured, confident manner. What’s more, he’s forever asking questions and seeking the advice of elders in an obvious attempt to learn as much as he can, as quickly as he can.” Bob O’Neill, manager of the Victory Mitsubishi account for SPAdvertising in New York City, also declares Orsaris ready and able to light a fire under the operation. Acknowledging that Victory’s previous management encountered more than a few issues, especially on the customer service end, O’Neill says, “Orsaris knows what he has to do
because he grew up in the automotive business and is already doing it. In virtually no time at all, customer service has improved dramatically.” “It’s true,” Orsaris says with obvious pride. “In just a few months, our Sales Satisfaction and Customer Service Indexes have risen from the low 80s to the mid-90s. What’s more, they’re only going to improve further. Our sales and service staffs have gotten the message and they understand clearly that anything less will be unacceptable. Additionally, we updated our service department and hired the best possible technicians.” And he takes the concept of customer friendliness a step further when he adds: “One hundred percent credit approval is our goal. Put another way, those with poor credit will be treated with dignity and respect.” It isn’t going to hurt that the Mitsubishi brand has caught fire; in fact, even the competition has noticed, as evidenced by— among other things—the recent Basic Agreement signed by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan) and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) to form a far-reaching strategic alliance. Following an MMC share issue, Nissan will take a 34 percent equity stake in MMC. The alliance extends an existing partnership between Nissan
and MMC, under which the companies have jointly collaborated for the past five years. The collaboration includes purchasing, common vehicle platforms, sharing of technology, joint plant utilization and growth markets. “We’re sitting pretty on the product front, too,” Orsaris says. “Our leading sellers, the Outlander and the Lancer, are earning high marks and, importantly, we’ve got the inventory—200 new cars and 100 preowned ones—in order to accommodate the growing demand.” Victory’s bright picture intensifies when Orsaris raises the issue of community involvement. “We want to become an integral part of the community, doing everything possible to further its initiatives,” he says earnestly. “You hear about a lot [of] companies that talk the talk on the importance of supporting local initiatives; we’re actually walking the walk. Whatever is of interest to Larchmont and the surrounding area is of interest to us.” With creative help from its ad agency, Victory Mitsubishi is even sporting a new slogan: Everyone Needs a Victory in Life. “I really like it and, based on the feedback we’re getting, so do our customers,” Orsaris says. CONTACT: irathal@hometwn.com
Stavros Orsaris, Victory Mitsubishi’s new general sales manager, is demonstrating strong leadership skills.
Stavros Orsaris has surrounded himself with a team of dedicated professionals. Photos/Andrew Dapolite
The Lancer, top, and the Outlander are among Mitsubishi’s hottest entries. Photos courtesy Mitsubishi