TOP executives from Groupe Renault UK made a special visit to one of the brand’s most successful and longest-established franchise partners to congratulate it on representing the manufacturer for half a century.
Bells of Crossgar, in County Down, welcomed managing director Vincent Tourette and network operations director Louise O’Sullivan to celebrate the milestone.
Tourette gave it a commemorative award to mark the occasion, while the family-owned dealership recognised the outstanding contribution its team had made to its 50-year success with the presentation of several long-service awards.
The showroom has gone from strength to strength since it was opened by Kevin Bell in 1969, regularly triumphing in the Groupe Renault UK Dealer of the Year Awards and being the brand’s current Small Dealer of the Year.
One of the very few solus retailers in the Groupe Renault UK network, which encompasses nearly 150 dealerships, Bells of Crossgar has consistently performed to a level that belies its size, said Groupe Renault. It attributes its success to putting people first, the breadth of the Renault model range and its long-standing relationships with a loyal customer base.
Over the five decades, it has matched thousands of drivers to their ideal Renault, with customers enjoying the familiarity of a long-established team and a location that has been the same since 1969.
Congratulating the dealership, Tourette said: ‘Bells of Crossgar can be exceptionally proud of what it has achieved, and we would like to thank its team for the excellent representation of our brand over the past 50 years.
‘Significant role’
‘Its knowledge, expertise and experience are second to none, which is officially recognised by its success in our annual awards and its ability to deliver an excellent customer experience and a strong commercial performance.
‘Bells of Crossgar has played a significant role in the growth of our brands and we very much look forward to continuing our partnership.’
Charlie Bell, managing director of Bells of Crossgar, which is a nominee in the 2019 Car Dealer Used Car Awards, said: ‘We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with Renault from day one, and its support and strong model range, particularly in the highly competitive small car sector, have helped us to reach where we are today.
‘We have witnessed a great deal of change in the automotive industry, both in terms of retailing and vehicle technology, and while we have adapted, we have always stayed true to our ethos of family values. We have three generations of our family in the business and we are very proud that we have assisted many local families with their motoring requirements for 50 years.’
He added: ‘There have been many highlights over the years, including winning a number of awards and launching some fantastic models, but the advent of PCP finance and the internet do stand out as game-changers for the business. They have allowed us to introduce more and more customers, many from further afield, to our service and the Renault brand.
‘We would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the past 50 years and look forward to continuing to deliver a level of service that exceeds customers’ expectations.’
Louise O’Sullivan and Vincent Tourette are pictured centre with Bells of Crossgar staff and family
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