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Service Manager Ger Dunne, Sales Manager Alan O’Callaghan and General Manager Niall Cotter pictured in Blackwater Motors, Fermoy. Photo: Sandra Quinn

A welcoming smile, warm handshake and friendly atmosphere are the things that make people want to come back to Blackwater Motors time and time again.

Driving by the Fermoy dealership, with its impressive showrooms and dominant signs, it’s easy to think of it as being a large anonymous enterprise, but that couldn’t be further from the reality.

Niall Cotter, Alan O’Callaghan and Ger Dunne have all worked in Blackwater Motors from a young age and now hold the positions of General Manager, Sales Manager and Service Manager. They have all grown up with the business.

Niall is from Kilworth and started at the age of 19 working in parts and he has also worked in car hire, services, sales, as the commercial manager for the three Blackwater Motor locations in Fermoy, Cork and Skibbereen.

He has a vast knowledge of the whole business and since April, he has been General Manager.

Alan started with Blackwater Motors at the age of 20 and is from Fermoy. He started as a Volkswagen junior sales representative, then worked his way up to senior position, was a sales specialist in Audi Cork and is now the Sales Manager in Fermoy.

Ger Dunne from Lismore has been there since he was 17 when he started as an apprentice mechanic, he was Audi master technician status and now he is the service manager.

As the company is managed by three local and familiar faces, Niall said that he’d love to see more local people coming through the door and they have a lot of clients who travel great distances for the services they offer.

“We’re all local and we’ve all progressed through the company. When people come in, they can deal with local people and know that the dealership in Fermoy is being run by local people.”

Niall added that when people come in first, the experience can seem daunting, so they welcome people, put them at ease and make sure that the experience is enjoyable and relaxing.

He stressed that for them, it’s not about an easy sale or quick fix, it’s about leaving a lasting positive impression that will make the customer want to come back again, tell their friends and family about the experience and develop a relationship with the team they deal with.

Niall explained that car sales are on the increase and a lot of people are getting cars through PCP finance.

Sales manager Alan, told The Avondhu that the launch of the new Passat recently was very well received.

“When people come in, we want to create a non-pressurised sales environment and make it fun – everything is very customer focused, with the ultimate aim of them coming back to buy again.

“It’s about making them feel at home and now more than ever, with the wide use of internet, customers are better informed and many have a good idea of what they want before they come in, so our job is to make the experience memorable and positive.

“Anyone can sell a car once, but it’s the after sales that will sell the next one and the way that people are looked after will make them want to return.” They provide commercial vehicles to the likes of Guinness, DHL, Eircom, Bulmers and An Post and the fact that those companies who cover so much mileage trust their fleet to Blackwater Motors speaks volumes.

“We’re here all the time, it’s not a different face with every visit,” Niall added.

Ger explained that many people who buy their cars from them would get it serviced there regularly and for Blackwater Motors, this means that if they ever want to trade it in, they can stand over the work that’s been done on it.

“When people come in for services, you build up a rapport with them and get to know them and their families. There is good value for money, but it’s about the smaller touches and it’s all down to the way the staff deliver the service.”

He added that people are very loyal and they’ve had customers travel from all over Munster to ensure that the work is done to the highest standard.

Ger said that when they work on a car, they are supplying the parts that the car was built with and the technicians and mechanics know each vehicle inside out.

Their collection and delivery service also makes things more convenient, as customers can get a car serviced while they’re at work.

Their workshop is also the only one in Ireland with a franchise for Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial, Seat, Audi and Skoda.

Niall said that he would encourage people to come in and take a look around, chat to the team, take a tour of the premises and see what they have to offer.

Contact Details: Blackwater Motors, Dublin Rd, Fermoy, www.blackwatermotors.ie, 025 49500, 1890 449500. 

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