Best Dealerships to Work for
West Herr Automotive Group
West Herr Toyota-Scion of Williamsville
Williamsville , NY
Overall Rank for 2014: 98
*Dealer: Scott Bieler
*Dealership group: West Herr Auto Group
*Full-time employees: 100
*2013 new-vehicle sales: 1,956, up 3%
*Cool perk: Raffles to support co-workers. The company purchases raffle items, such as a Kindle or iPad Mini. Raffle tickets are sold, and the money collected is given to an employee in need.
*General Manager Bethanne Hollis on how to retain sales employees: "We have successfully implemented a 40-hour sales schedule, which is unusual. Our feeling was that it if the eight-hour day was filled productively, we could give the four hours left of a 12-hour day back to the employee to spend with their family and friends. The theory turned out to be true. Over 60 percent of our sales team is averaging over 17 cars per month, and 30 percent is averaging over 20. They have tremendous repeat/referral business, great customer service scores and are engaged and happy employees."
*Hollis on showing employees that they are valued: "Everyone has a voice in our store. Regardless of your tenure or position, you can affect direction and change. If it's good for the team, it happens. Of course there are bonuses, there are personalized gifts for the employees, there are lunches and dinners and so on, but I believe above all that they feel their value in the way we listen and respond to them. Our employees know that whatever they need, we are there to support and encourage them."