“People, process and product, in
that order,” is what makes the difference
at Atkinson Toyota Scion,
according to Paul Atkinson.
Atkinson Toyota Scion was
named the Favorite New Car Dealer
in the Brazos Valley in The Eagle’s
Readers Choice Awards - a prestigious
honor, to be sure. But there is
concrete evidence to back the label
up. In the latest Auto Dealership
Market Report published in The
Business Digest & Court Review,
which includes information compiled
through June 2, Atkinson
Toyota Scion had sold 965 new and
used cars in 2006. Not only is that
No. 1 among all dealerships in the
Bryan-College Station market, it is
almost double the amount (507)
sold by the No. 2 dealership. The
Atkinson figure includes 549 new
cars and 416 used cars, both of
which are tops in their respective
categories.
In the trucks category, Atkinson Toyota Scion has sold 160 used vehicles, which is also tops in the category. Their combined total of 300 new and used trucks sold is second on the list and only eight units behind the overall leader there.
Atkinson Toyota Scion is clearly doing things right.
“Our associates make the difference,”
Atkinson said. “We are very
selective in who we hire, and we
work hard at getting a people-oriented
staff who will treat customers
as they would want to be treated.
In this business, your integrity and
reputation are all you have. We have
worked hard to develop a reputation
of integrity and high ethics.”
Atkinson is pleased and humbled
to receive the Readers’ Choice
Award.
“This honor gives recognition to our associates from the community they serve, and they are very deserving of this honor,” Atkinson said.“It’s not about me. Our people are fantastic.”
Associates are intricately involved in developing sales plans and goals at the dealership. Their motto is the Japanese word “Kaizan,” which means “continuous improvement.”
Atkinson prefers to refer to his team leaders as coaches, rather than managers. They are the people who direct and lead the talented staff of associates. The three members of the coaching staff at Atkinson Toyota Scion are Bobby Fitzgerald, Director of Sales; Craig Fletcher, Director of Parts & Service; and Gina Byer, Comptroller.
Winning awards is nothing new for Atkinson Toyota Scion. Atkinson Toyota has been awarded the President’s Award by Toyota for six consecutive years, beginning in 1999. The President’s Award is the highest honor given by Toyota and goes to about the top two percent of dealerships in the nation.
Other Toyota dealerships have sent representatives to spend time at Atkinson Toyota Scion to see how they do things and why they have been so successful.
Toyota is one of the fastest-growing manufacturers in the United States and at some point this year is expected to become number one in the world.
The car-buying experience at Atkinson Toyota Scion begins when a customer pulls into the parking lot.
“Customers are met at the front door by a greeter, who will take them directly to the person they need to see,” Atkinson said. “From there, they are introduced to a sales associate who will conduct an interview with the prospective client to get a feel of what they are looking for before they ever go to the lot to look at a car.”
Atkinson understands that people, generally, dislike the process of purchasing an automobile.“Therefore, we want to make it as much fun for them as possible,” Atkinson said.
The Atkinson Toyota Scion family will be growing soon, as a second dealership is scheduled to open in Madisonville in July. It will be located at the busy intersection of Interstate 45 and State Highway 21. “We are extremely excited about the new dealership,” Atkinson said.“And the people in Madisonville are as excited as we are.”
Don’t be surprised if you see Atkinson at the dealership wearing a construction worker’s hard hat. In addition to the new Madisonville store, the existing Atkinson Toyota Scion dealership is undergoing a major renovation project which will increase the square footage from 19,000 to just over 40,000.
Included will be an additional 200 parking spaces and a showroom almost triple the size of the existing showroom, making it capable of showcasing six vehicles at a time. For added convenience, 14 new service stalls will also be added.
Atkinson has a message for the voters who cast ballots for his dealership in the Readers’ Choice Award:
“Thank you for putting your trust and confidence in the associates of Atkinson Toyota Scion. We look forward to many more years of servicing your needs.”
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