Aaron Zeigler has transformed his family's single dealership into a nationally recognized automotive powerhouse with 41 locations and 88 franchises across four states while fostering an exceptional workplace culture with remarkably low turnover.
• The Ferrari dealership in Lake Forest is one of the largest in the country, spanning 70,000 square feet with vehicles that can sell for over $3 million
• Zeigler's father started the company in the mid-70s after saving money from selling cars to purchase a small Ford dealership out of bankruptcy
• Building a world-class culture starts with their "Keys to Success" program that teaches new employees expectations and empowers them to make customers happy without manager approval
• Promoting from within and strong development programs are key strategies that have enabled the company's growth
• Technology enhances the car-buying process but relationships still drive sales - very few customers purchase completely online without human interaction
• Mobile service has been enormously successful with 14 vans at 100% capacity, while the Ferrari dealership will pick up and deliver cars within a 500-mile radius
• Zeigler started their own technician school graduating 40 techs annually to address the industry-wide technician shortage
• The automotive market remains strong with luxury brands showing particular resilience, and Zeigler predicts the second half of 2024 will outperform the first half
Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick.
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