New owner wants to exceed everyone's expectations
By Sharon Stone
Staff Reporter
Jim Hall is the third owner of the Five Star Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealership in Fenton and said he plans on being in town for a long time. Hall took over on May 10.
Hall, who has been in the automobile business for 19 years, is president of Hall Chrysler Jeep Dodge, located at 15123 North Rd. He said he is building the once struggling dealership "one customer at a time." The Grand Blanc resident and Michigan State University graduate is instilling his philosophy of "the customer comes first," to all of his employees.
Hall's brother, Time Hall, is general sales manager. The brothers worked together in Chicago for seven years and have been back in Michigan for the past 12. He said while they were in Illinois, they took the Feeny Dodge dealership in Palatine, which was under performing and turned it around. He said they turned the Feeny Chrysler Dodge dealership in Midland around as well.
Hall brought Nick Gorton, who was successful with the Halls in Midland, to Fenton to be a part of their team.
"People we hire generally like people", said Hall. I want people to care for people. You can't teach that. "We're here every day to serve the customer and to please the customer."
The dealership features a complete service, parts and body shop, and a new and used department. The body shop, at 10,00 square feet, is the nicest body shop in the region, according to Hall He said all of his technicians have earned I-Car Gold Level Certification, which is the highest level of certification for body shops.
"We have the best body shop from a technology standpoint, plus facility," said Hall. "We have a lot to offer customers."
Hall said he has learned through his years of experience, if a business takes care of its customers, they'll come back. He said the dealership offers a shuttle service, the service department is open from 8am-12 pm on Saturdays and they've extended business hours on Mondays and Thursdays until 7pm. "We want to exceed everyone's expectations," he said.
Hall said buying a vehicle should be a cooperative effort between the salesperson and the customer. He said he doesn't want his customers to have to worry about purchasing a vehicle and he wants to make it more fun.
Hall said during the past two to three years, he had looked at several dealerships to purchase. He said he almost moved to South Carolina, but at the end of this past January, he met with the previous owner of the Fenton dealership and said he felt Fenton was a good fit for him and his family.
With three children attending Holy Family in Grand Blanc, Hall said buying the Fenton dealership meant the family did not have to move.
"We're both local guys", said Hall when referring to his brother Tim, which lives in Fenton. This was a blessing to have all three Chrysler products and to stay in the community.
"I think we?re a good fit for this community and we plan on being here a long time. We're entrenched here.
"We have extensive experience and it's all been with Chrysler."
Hal said the Fenton area is a real family community. He said the Durangos and minivans are very popular with families and pick-up trucks remain in big demand.
"We have the best cars made." said Hall. "The Chrysler 200 is Motor Trend Car of the 2005."
The Chrysler Pacifica is a hybrid, combining the features of a minivan and a sport utility van, according to Hall. "It's all packaged into one," he said. "It has so much versatility."
Dealership's new owner emphasizes quality service
May 27, 2005 Flint Journal
By James M. Miller
FENTON- Jim Hall of Grand Blanc commuted to his job as general manager of a Midland car dealer for 12 years. When he decided to buy his own dealership, he looked closer to home, and this month bought the former Fenton Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership at 15123 North Road in Fenton, just off the southbound exit from U.S. 23.
Hall said he plans to expand the inventory of used cars, and is interviewing to hire more employees at what will be called Hall Chrysler Jeep Dodge. His brother Tim is the general sales manager of the dealership, the third one the brothers have worked at together. They worked at Feeny Chrysler Dodge in Midland, and at a Chicago dealership before that.
Jim hall said their business plan is simple: customer service. "We're going to do whatever we can to put the customer first, he said. One handshake at a time, one customer at a time, one introduction at a time, you've got to let the customer know that they're No.1."
He said he plans to quadruple the number of used cars offered at the dealership, for a total of 80 to 100 on the lot. The dealership has about 33 employees, and he said most of the former employees were retained. He has advertised for more detailers, a service writer and sales people.
He said the Chrysler 300 sedan has been selling well to a wide variety of buyers, and the new Dodge Charger- a car on the same platform- also is expected to sell well. Hall said his dealership will deliver a car to a customer's home and pick up the trade-in.
"You can sign the paperwork in your kitchen," he said, "It's a nice, easy transaction- you don't have to leave your house."
The dealership has a 10,000 square foot body shop and an indoor write-up area for service. It is open later two days a week until 7pm on Monday and Thursdays for service, and until 8pm for sales.
On Saturdays, it is open from 8am-noon for service and 9am-3pm for sales.