Third Generation Dealership Flies škoda Flag
Eamonn Tarrant & Sons has held the škoda franchise since 1993. On a recent visit to Banteer, Co.Cork, John Loughran dropped in on the triving dealership and spoke with Connie Tarrant, who ran the rule over the company's aftersales and service activities.
The Tarrant name synonymous with the motor trade in Cork going back to three generations to 1955,
to when Connie's grandfather Con first set out in business. Nowadays the company business, Eamon Tarrant & Sons, is headed by Connie's father Eamonn, who carries out a proud family tradition, which stretch's back 56 years. "My grandfather is in his 80's now, and takes a back seat role, but it is still a common sight to see three generations of the family on the premises at the same time," Connie enthused. A škoda dealer for the past 18 years, Eamonn Tarrant & Sons has seen the brand's popularity grow year to year, to the point where, it is now amongst the top seven brands in the country. "We have witnessed the rise in the brands popularity from a point where škoda was seen as an Eastern European car maker, to today where it is a highly regarded brand in the Volkswagon Group Ireland stable," he said.
Back in 2005, the company gave its premises a total overhaul. "We built onto our existing premises and developed a huge showroom, with parts department and workshop under the one roof. We now have a state of the art premises to showcase the škoda brand," Connie revealed.
As one of the longest established škoda dealers in the country, Eamonn Tarrant & Sons is ideally placed, on the Mallow - Killarney road, to take advantage of the brands popularity. "The family has been involved in the motor trade going back to 1955, so we are well known in the area. škoda rising popularity is also important to our ongoing success."
The state-of-the-art facility contains a modern parts department and fully equipped workshop on a par with the best facilities to be found anywhere in the škoda dealer network. Connie elaborated: "We have a large workshop, with four fully equipped bays, a dedicated diagnostics area, and all the equipment you would expect to see in a modern škoda dealership."
The company sets its stall out to deliver high levels of customer satisfaction in every aspect of the business. The company continually performs well in škoda Customer satisfaction surveys, testiment to its dedication to customer service.
Connie remarked: "We won the coveted škoda Dealer of the Year in 2008 and again last year. We pay great attention to our performance in škoda Customer satisfaction surveys, and continually strive to improve our customer service offering."
"We always look forward to getting the feedback and we focas on the areas where we need to improve. The škoda Customer Satisfaction Survey is very important in that respect," he added.
Connie admits that keeping the workshop busy can be challenging at times. However, the company meets the challenge head on by tapping into national škoda campaigns, such as the "Free Any škoda", any age, any time health check campaign, backed up its own local marketing initiatives.
"We are currently participating in škoda's 'Free Any Skoda', any age, any time campaign which helps to keep the workshop busy. We'll also be running our own local campaigns to increase the flow of work through the workshop," Connie noted.
With 18 years škoda experience under its belt, the company is able to tap into an extensive customer base. "We have a loyal customer base, and we have a system here, where we can contact customers on an individual basis, issuing service reminders etc. We have a great database of customers, and we would be foolish if we didn't exploit it."
Eamonn Tarrant & Sons is now operating škoda's latest innovation - the Quick Quote system, which generates instant quotations. "We just installed the Quick Quote system, which enables us to quote for repairs i an instant. When a customer comes in say for a what work needs to be done, what parts are required and at the touch of a button, he can create an instant quotefor the work. The Quick Quote system is certainly helping to turn the winter health checks into workshop bookings."
The company is also acutely aware that price is a significant factor, in the purchasing decision, when it comes to vehicle servicing. This is particularly true with the owners of older škoda vehicles.
škoda's Economy range of parts comes into its own in these circumstances. "The Economy range of parts allows us to quote very competively for work on older vehicles, which again has a positive effect on the volume of work going through the workshop," Connie remarked.
Accessory sales is also seen as another important revenue stream. "škoda has a very extensive range of accessories, which represent a profit opportunity. Our sales staff are happy to introduce potential customers to the range and make them aware of what is on offer."Connie remarked.
The sale of "hard parts" to the local independent garage staff is also another important revenue stream for the company. "We have always had a good working relationship with the local independent garage trade. We recently got involved in škoda TradeLink programme, which puts a structure to the way we sell to the independent trade."
He added: "We have a Volkswagon Transporter descked out with the TradeLink logos and it is proving to be a great advertisement for us and the area."
"Our independent garage trade is continuing to grow on the back of a good working relationship that has been developed over many years. The TradeLing programme will only add to this relation," Connie remarked.
"The independent garage trade is looking for quality parts at the right price, backed up by high levels of of service, and we are able to meet those expectations. TradeLink will enhance that." Connie concluded.