In with the old, in with the new

Remodeling the house doesn’t mean getting rid of the family. Chuck Nicholson GMC Mazda in Dover got that part right.After 21 years of making car buying a good experience for Tuscarawas County residents, the dealership has overhauled its facility. The showroom area has been expanded to 4,000 square feet, with separate displays for their two lines, Mazda and GMC, and two spacious customer lounge areas. Like any big family project, everybody at Nicholson wants to share it with their friends.To show off their renovated and expanded home, the family at Chuck Nicholson is holding an Open House July 14-18. It’s a great time for everyone to see the new showroom, and take a look at the latest Mazda and GMC models. There will be refreshments, popcorn and balloons for those who just want to browse. For the shoppers, there will be 400 new and used cars with Open House sale prices.The showroom may look new, but they kept the family, the people who make shopping at Nicholson enjoyable. “It’s part of what sets us apart,” said manager Bill Hodous. “Twenty key employees have been with the dealership anywhere from eight to 20 years, and many live locally.” That strength of experience, he said, creates an atmosphere of stability and maturity. Hodous has been working with Chuck Nicholson for more than 40 years, and understands the Nicholson philosophy of taking care of the customer.Nicholson’s new display area is designed to make the whole shopping experience more pleasant. Big windows, high ceilings, tiled floors and beautiful woodwork make the wide open spaces feel comfortable and relaxing. If a customer must wait, there are two new customer lounges with free coffee, a flat screen TV, and a separate area for children to play.But it’s all done with the same Nicholson philosophy, taking care of the customer, according to Hodous. They care about their customers, and want to make the whole experience enjoyable.That caring attitude extends from the start of the shopping and purchase process to the service and maintenance through the life of the vehicle. The sales staff, thoroughly trained in the vehicles they sell, are not simply looking for a sale, but for a relationship with a customer that will extend beyond a single purchase. With a sales staff that is stable, that’s been at the dealership for years, there’s a security in knowing the salesperson cares about how the customer feels about their purchase a year later.The service of their vehicles, before and after a sale, is a point of pride for the Nicholson service department. “All service technicians are ASE certified, and complete specialized training in GMC and Mazda vehicles,” said Hodous. They will service almost any domestic or import vehicle, and also do the specialized work required on diesel trucks. The dealership offers free oil changes for 30,000 miles with the purchase of most used vehicles. This is not just an added value to the sale, but also helps owners become accustomed to maintaining their vehicle properly, thus adding value to the car itself.The expansion project at the dealership includes a covered area for vehicle delivery, so a customer can comfortably take delivery of their new purchase in any weather. The dealership’s business office areas have been expanded and remodeled as well. Even the service department is scheduled for a major expansion soon.Chuck Nicholson probably has motor oil in his veins, having been in the business all his life. “The Nicholson family has been in the automobile business since 1948,” he said. “My father started out in Canton, and my son, Barry, is now the third generation in the business.” Chuck Nicholson grew up sweeping floors, washing cars and pumping gas. So he knows all sides of the business, and he puts it all to use in making sure the customers, and their cars, are well taken care of every step of the way.While Nicholson loves the car business, he really lights up when he talks about customer satisfaction. “We have a full-time customer care manager who contacts every customer of our service department, every new car buyer and most used car buyers,” he explained. “The average customer is over the top happy. And that’s a result of longtime, loyal employees who understand the Nicholson philosophy and adhere to it.”So the showroom has changed dramatically, but the foundation of the business, the people, remains as solid as ever.Find Chuck Nicholson GMC Mazda at 135 W. Broadway St. in Dover, at http://www.nicholsonauto.com, or at 330-343-7781.This article was underwritten by Chuck Nicholson GMC Mazda.