Dealers' new president grew up around car talk
My name is Bob Attrell, and I'm the new president of the Toronto Automobile Dealers' Association (TADA).
I was born into the retail auto business. My father, Bob Attrell Sr., operated a successful Toyota franchise for more than 30 years. Needless to say, there was always lots of car talk around the dinner table.
In my early teens, I often visited my father's dealership. I've always been fascinated with the retail side of the business – the new styling and performance features of vehicles, the busy service department and the interaction with customers. At 18, I began selling cars part-time and I loved it.
Selling cars is about forming relationships with customers, and earning their trust. I'm outgoing by nature, so sales seemed like a good fit for me.
After high school, I studied business at the University of Windsor. I also attended Northwood University in Michigan to enhance my automotive education.
By 26, still unsure of my future, my father approached me with an offer to operate a new Hyundai franchise. This was a defining moment in my life. I accepted the challenge, not really knowing what I was getting into.
My father has been a terrific role model and mentor to me (and still is). He probably had more confidence in my abilities than I did back then.
The first few years as a dealer were tough. As a rookie, I made plenty of mistakes and struggled to make a success of it.
For years, I worked from dawn to dusk, six days a week, but I persevered.
I had great support from my father, my older brother (who operates our family's original Toyota franchise), and many colleagues who gave me advice and encouragement as I learned the ropes.
After five years, I moved the franchise to larger premises, and took on a second franchise (Subaru) under the same roof.
Growing a car dealership (or any business, for that matter) isn't achieved just by increasing sales or hiring more staff.
It requires a diverse set of skills, such as assessing risk, managing costs, establishing budgets, increasing sales, hiring the right employees, etc. In my case, growing the dealership into an established franchise has been a thrilling experience.
Through the late 1990s and the first years of this century, my Hyundai dealership continued to grow. Hyundai evolved into a world-class brand, and our customer base expanded by leaps and bounds.
In June 2006, to better serve our customers, we moved into a brand new building in the Brampton Auto Mall.
The new facility is a state-of-the-art automotive centre that is efficient, comfortable and eye-appealing for our employees and customers.
I've been involved in the car business for about 25 years, and it's still an exciting and dynamic industry. In today's competitive market, it's all about customer satisfaction.
My father taught me that serving the auto industry outside of the dealership is an important component to being successful.
He served on many industry boards and committees, and he was heavily involved in the community.
I'm looking forward to serving the 350-plus members of our association with the same commitment.
When I'm not at work, I love spending time with my sons, Connor and Quinn, as well as playing golf and hockey. I also love skiing and travelling.
In this column, I'll explore a range of topics that will be of interest to consumers.
I'm looking forward to providing information that will help people to make wise decisions about buying, leasing or servicing their vehicles.
This column represents the views of TADA. Email: president@tada.ca
or visit www.tada.ca.
Bob Attrell, president of the Toronto Automobile Dealers' Association, is a new-car dealer in the GTA.
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