Local dealerships survive GM cuts

The doors will remain open at the Glen Sain dealerships in Rector, Kennett and Paragould, and for most local folks, it's time for the celebrating to begin.

Glen Sain owner Danny Ford said his local dealerships were not among the 1,000 to 1,200 that recently received notice from General Motors their contracts would not be renewed for 2010.

"The way we understand it, GM graded their dealerships," Ford said of the notification. "They're looking at all the dealerships and their history to determine which contracts to renew and which to not."

The three Glen Sain dealerships are known for their high marks in sales effectiveness and customer satisfaction, the two main points examined by the manufacturer. In fact, Glen Sain in Rector was the top ranked store in both categories in Arkansas. The dealership also has won three consecutive prestigious Customer Satisfaction Leadership awards recognizing the business for having the highest rate of customer satisfaction in this zone. The zone includes 55 dealerships in Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi.

"I've said many times that what makes us stand out is how much our employees care about our customers," Ford said. "Our people are experienced and they're dedicated to our customers. That's a big part of what has made us successful. The best way to do business is to surround yourself with people who will work hard and genuinely care about their work."

The Glen Sain dealerships also have met other requirements previously set forth by maintaining nice, top-of-the-line showrooms and facilities.

While the local dealerships have been able to remain strong, GM still is battling its economic struggles.

"The sad part about it is that when they do the streamlining there are going to be jobs lost," Ford said. "I believe they will ease some of the better products into the Buick and Chevrolet lines."

While there have been many negative comments in the national media in regards to U.S. automakers, Ford said he feels America has the best manufacturers and products.

Founded in 1954, Glen Sain is the oldest GMC truck dealership in the state. Ford purchased the original Glen Sain in Rector in 1983. Glen Sain opened its initial Kennett dealership in 1989 before moving to a new location in 2005 and purchased the Paragould store in 2005.