BRITISH COLUMBIA
Marv Jones Honda celebrates 50th anniversary
Marv Jones Honda is celebrating 50 years of operation, though the founder has retired and passed the reins to his son while the original dealership has long since been replaced by a newer one.
The New Car Dealers Association of B.C. (NCDA) recognized the Maple Ridge dealership’s anniversary with a special presentation from President and CEO Blair Qualey to Ryan Jones, who is the store’s General Manager and succeeded his father in day-to-day operations 13 years ago.
Ryan Jones has great memories of things his father said when he began the dealership. Marv took out a loan to purchase the franchise and worked in the showroom as salesman, accountant, and receptionist, while a family friend handled parts and service and another person worked as the technician. Ryan said his father bought all the inventory from Honda Canada and parked the vehicles around his lot to showcase them.
“He was always a big marketer,” said Ryan in an interview with Canadian auto dealer. But Honda was new to the market and consumers were lukewarm to purchasing the Japanese product. Marv did not have a single customer in more than a week and was wondering if he made a mistake.
But shortly thereafter a worldwide oil embargo started, though Canada had excess fuel reserves. Suddenly, customers started scurrying for the Honda product because it had small but powerful engines. Marv couldn’t keep up with the demand.
“I’m telling you that story because, for sure, timing played a big part in that, and obviously the Honda franchise has continued to build on its name and reputation,” said Ryan. He said his father has ingrained in him the importance of making people a priority.
“We’re really fortunate to have a group of long-term employees,” said Ryan. “We have a really low employee turnover (rate) on the sales floor and in the shop. That’s our number one asset. We really believe in taking care of our people and personally developing them through the business — providing them with opportunities. That’s a value that we have and that really lends itself to retention and longevity with the employees.”
He said community involvement is another pillar of the dealership, notably partnering with a foundation to raise money to buy equipment for the local hospital and sponsoring sports teams.
“Things that really grow and support the community are where we really focus our marketing dollars,” said Ryan. “Between (getting involved) with the employees and the community, (this) has really been a real key thing in helping us with the longevity of the business.”
The 41-year-old decided to seriously look at a career in automotive in his 20s, which then kicked off a plan for succession. “It’s his baby, he’s grown it from a three-employee store with little inventory to being the size we are now with about 50 employees,” said Ryan.
In 1991, a new store was built next to the original one to handle the rapid growth in the company.
Dilawri, Volvo Canada open sustainable experience retail facility
Dealer group Dilawri and Volvo Car Canada announced the opening of North America’s first Volvo Retail Sustainable Experience (VRSE) facility, the OEM said in a news release.
Known as Volvo Cars Richmond (formerly Volvo of Vancouver), the VRSE facility is located at 338-10700 Cambie Road in Richmond, B.C. The store is described as LEED-certified, runs on renewable energy sources, and boasts a range of environmentally-friendly features — such as solar panels on the rooftops and the use of sustainable building materials.
“We could not be more pleased to have opened North America’s first Volvo Retail Sustainable Experience facility,” said Ajay Dilawri, Dilawri Co-founder, in a statement. “At every stage, we met or exceeded provincial standards for environmental sustainability, and have built a store that reflects our ongoing commitment to deliver unparalleled customer satisfaction through continuous innovation.”
The 20,383.4 square-foot facility is situated on a 2.1-acre site, just off the Vancouver-Blaine Highway (Highway 99). It is also about a 10 minute drive from Vancouver International Airport. Inside, consumers can browse a six-vehicle showroom and take possession of a new purchase in a dedicated new-vehicle delivery bay. The facility also includes nine service bays and two wash bays.
“In addition, the dealership is ready to welcome visitors in sustainable comfort, with furniture and flooring made from recycled, non-toxic materials and a VRSE clean water and coffee bar that provides beverages in ways that eliminate the use of single-use plastics,” said Volvo Car Canada in its news release.
QUEBEC
Canadian tire distributor Groupe Touchette acquires Fastco Canada
Well-known Canadian tire distributor Groupe Touchette just acquired Fastco Canada, a large manufacturer and distributor of alloy and steel wheels and accessories. Fastco Canada has facilities in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Qué., and Airdrie, Alta.
The acquisition means Québec-based Groupe Touchette can expand its service offering to its customers, while Fastco Canada will be able to benefit from greater access to new markets. “Our collaboration opens new avenues for both companies and allows us to expand our product offering as part of our strategic plan,” said Nicolas Touchette, Co-owner and CEO of Groupe Touchette, in a statement.
In a news release, the tire-distribution group also said it has enjoyed steady growth for four decades, and experienced massive growth and expansion over the last 10 years. Fastco Canada, too, has been growing rapidly.
“Groupe Touchette and Fastco Canada have cultivated common values of excellence that motivate our respective employees. While remaining independent, both companies will continue to operate with common objectives to provide our customers with the best experience in the tire and wheel categories,” Touchette added.
The company said Fastco Canada’s operations in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Qué., and Airdrie, Alta., will continue as usual thanks to the details of the acquisition agreement, which allows Fastco Canada to maintain its brands and management team.
“Both businesses and their respective teams will remain independent while leveraging their strengths together,” said Groupe Touchette.
ONTARIO
Finch Auto Group President donates $5M for mental health research
The President of Finch Auto Group personally donated $5 million to a London, Ont., hospital for mental health research. Ryan Finch, whose company is headquartered in London, recently made the landmark donation to St. Joseph’s Health Care because he feels mental health is an important part of society and the workplace.
The donation is the largest to support mental health care research in Southwestern Ontario. Some 10 years ago, Finch put in place an employee assistance plan, providing round-the-clock access for anyone in the company battling mental health issues. “It really opened my eyes to just how many people are struggling among us,” said Finch in an interview with Canadian auto dealer.
His company subsequently sponsored a program called Breakfast of Champions that has raised about $1 million every year for mental health.
“If you’ve got mental health issues, you should be able to receive the same treatments as someone who was bleeding badly and needed stitches…and yet mental health still has the stigma around it,” said Finch. “I kind of wanted to stay on the right side of that issue and I want to help the community.”
In recognition of the donation, the hospital named its mental health care building the Finch Family Mental Health Care Building.
“I was happy to be somebody that was pushing (for) mental health support, and it felt really good,” said Finch. “It was a great decision when I made it a year or two ago. Leading up to the event, (it) was a bit nerve-wracking. I don’t usually have a problem with public speaking, but this one was very personal.”
He said mental health is a real opportunity for employers to help their company overall. “It’s about helping people first and foremost, but from a business-person’s perspective, maybe you could get something in return because your team is happier and healthier,” said Finch.
“I see mental health as a real opportunity and that’s kind of why I connected my wagon to it ten years ago. That evolution from then until this donation has been incremental steps, and then eventually we saw the light and said, ‘Let’s do this.’” Finch said the money that he has donated will go to research to develop more ways of helping people who are struggling with mental health.
“Mental health affects every family, I don’t think you could find a family that escapes it,” he added. “In my immediate family, we haven’t had any significant mental health hurdles, but to say that it hasn’t touched my family — it certainly has. It’s touched everybody’s family.”
Ontario’s Digital Dealership Registration to include used cars
Ontario is expanding the online Digital Dealership Registration system to include used cars, which means that DDR participating dealerships can register their new and used vehicles online.
The provincial government provided the information in a news release published on July 12. In it, Kaleed Rasheed, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, said that providing self-serve vehicle registration to auto retailers is a win-win — for dealers’ businesses, and for consumers.
“Our government created Digital Dealership Registration to help businesses save time and money by making it easier to sell and purchase a vehicle in Ontario – and now used cars are included with this new, exciting expansion to the system,” said Rasheed in a statement.
The DDR system launched in March 2022 and was made available for new car registrations. It was meant for trade-ins at the time. Now, with the ability to register used cars, participating dealerships will have to complete an online registration of passenger vehicles with ServiceOntario — and issue permits and licence plates “immediately to the purchaser.”
“The Digital Dealership Registration initiative is an example of how technology can assist modern Ontario dealerships in business,” said James F. Hamilton, Interim Manager and Legal Services Director at the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario (UCDA), in a statement.
He added that allowing car dealerships to register vehicles online and issue permits and licence plates, directly to purchasers, cuts down on paperwork, delays, and red tape for both dealers and consumers.
“The expansion of DDR to used vehicle dealerships is a milestone the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario is proud to be part of,” said Hamilton.
