While local car dealerships have been experiencing some battering over the last few years due to the recession, Courtesy Garage Limited says it has been able to maintain its market share.
In addition, the 125-staff-strong company, a member of the Goddard Enterprises Limited group, has opened its new showroom, 24-hour drop off repair operation and new servicing area, following an $8 million investment in the upgrading of its Wildey, St Michael facility – about $4 million spent on physical upgrade and the same on inventory, spare parts, technical capacity and improvements in the after-sales division. Work is still ongoing.
Regional product manager Samuel Gaston said yesterday that despite the “hardship” faced by the industry (new vehicle sales reportedly dropped by 38 per cent between 2007 and 2011), the company was still able to keep its head above water. Calling the car dealership enterprise “a very risky business”, he attributed Courtesy’s success to strong customer service.
Gaston’s comments came during a tour of the improved facility by some of the Parish Ambassadors and their attendants, who got a first-hand view of what made up and went on in various aspects of the industry. (MM)
