It has been an ongoing joke among staff at The Brown’s Volkswagen dealership in Charlottetown that the next hired salesperson will have their office in the showroom car.
Tammy Roach, general manager at Brown’s Volkswagen, said their growth over the years has prompted her to get creative on where to put a desk and phone outlets.
“We are bursting at the seams. We’ve continually grown every year,” said Roach. “I have offices where there shouldn’t be offices.”
Jamie Brown bought the dealership 11.5 years ago and started with seven employees. That number has since grown to 29
The staff can’t all work at the current location. Administrative and detailing personnel are located in another building across the parking lot.
However, that is all about to change.
The Volkswagen dealership will have a newer, nicer and bigger facility next door from the current location in 2017.
“It’s going to be beautiful,” said Roach.
Shovels hit the ground July 18 and a large structure is now in place where the new 24,000 square foot dealership will be.
This new building will be able to accommodate their current staff with room to grow in numbers.
“We thought we would build for the future.”
The new location will boast ten bays, a showroom for seven vehicles, a sizeable lounge area and a large two-lane service drive-thru.
“You don’t have to get out of your car in the rain or snow,” said Roach in talking about the drive-thru. “It will be nice.”
Roach said she went to some Volkswagen dealerships in Toronto and Montreal who have this “white framed look” to help plan for the new location Charlottetown.
“We have done a lot of research as to what it looks like in real life and what would work good for our flow and our customers.”
Roach said a huge part of their success is owed to their “super team” and processes at their dealership.
“We treat our customers like royalty and we treat them like we want to do business with them again and not just that one sale.”
Roach said she hopes this new facility will encourage more people to look at Volkswagen and put it on their list.
“We want to earn people’s business. We have confidence in this fabulous brand and we want the opportunity to show them.”
Roach said building plans are running on schedule and they anticipate the new location will open by February 2017.
Roach adds they will be hiring new staff in all areas as they continue to grow and will advertise positions on Facebook and P.E.I. Job Bank.
“Volkswagen’s plan is to grow in Canada so we are just going to keep growing along with it.”
Twitter.com/MaureenElizaC