New Direction, New Brand, New Name for Nutley, N.J. Chevrolet in 2010

NUTLEY, N.J., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The family-owned and operated Nutley Chevrolet has announced it will be making a series of new additions to its dealership in Nutley in 2010. This expansion will broaden the level of service to its customer and continue to build on vastly improved customer satisfaction. Nutley Chevrolet, which retails new and pre-owned cars, trucks, Crossovers and SUVs, will be adding KIA, GOODYEAR GEMINI Tires and Service and CARQUEST Auto Parts to its line-up. KIA, (a division of Hyundai), is one of the fastest growing brands in the world.  The dealership's brand and marketing campaign includes an updated logo, brand name and signage.  In the spring, Nutley Chevrolet will be changing its name to Nutley Auto.  The foresight to reinvent themselves comes on the heels of what industry analysts called the worst year since 1982 for U.S. car and light-truck sales.

"This will be a very exciting time for our customers and us to solidify our business in the local communities. The task of moving forward to integrate the new businesses into a multi-branded center and making it a smooth transition will be a welcomed challenge to our entire staff," said Jim Russomano, dealer principal at Nutley Auto. "We are now in a very unique situation in a very special community. With the addition GOODYEAR GEMINI and CARQUEST, we will continue to service our General Motors customers and now be able to perform service on all makes and models, even if our customers didn't purchase a vehicle at our dealership. We now have a complete auto care parts and service center." Nutley Auto will continue to offer auto body and collision repair out of the same facility.

This progression for Nutley Auto started in December with the addition of the KIA brand.  Nutley Auto will be offering the full line-up of fuel efficient, value-priced KIA Cars, Crossovers and SUVs.  "KIA has impressive models, carrying the best warranty in the industry, has award-winning quality and it's a perfect fit for us," said Russomano. "So far, our sales of KIA models have been brisk and we are ahead of plan four weeks into the new business." Additionally, the dealership they will now offer their own certified pre-owned vehicles which will be backed by Nutley Auto.  Russomano expects 2010 sales to be split evenly between new and pre-owned vehicles.

Next month, Nutley Auto welcomes its GOODYEAR GEMINI Service Center to the dealership location, one of the few GOODYEAR GEMINI centers located in a new vehicle dealership. GOODYEAR will be returning to the community after a previous center was destroyed by fire several years ago. The service center will enable Nutley Auto to expand its service offerings for all makes and models, while adding signature GOODYEAR tires and new, state- of- the-art service equipment including a high-tech alignment machine, road force tire balancing and best-in-class tire mounting machines to accommodate all wheel sizes and configurations, all at a better price point. The GEMINI designation brings with it the total care service concept backed by a national warranty honored by over 1300 centers across the United States for repairs performed at Nutley Auto.

In March, Nutley Auto makes its second major service upgrade with the addition of CARQUEST, the auto parts auto-supply store.  In addition to offering customers genuine KIA and GM parts, Nutley Auto will broaden its parts and service outreach for all makes and models. "We will quadruple our parts inventory with the addition of CARQUEST," said Russomano. The addition of CARQUEST also marks the return of the brand to the Nutley and surrounding area after a two year absence.  

The service and parts expansion puts the dealership in a different category of business, as well as direction.  Russomano is optimistic for 2010 and expects a 75 percent increase in his service business. The new direction for Nutley Auto will lead to expanded hours on evenings, Saturdays and more jobs.  "We expect to increase personnel by 25 percent between sales, service, parts and body shop."

In an era of impersonal customer service, Nutley Auto prides itself on being known for offering unsurpassed customer service, as well as personal service. Russomano's business philosophy is simple. "In the 21 years I've worked in this business, I've never forgotten what it's like to be a customer," said Russomano. For the past several years, Nutley Auto has received customer satisfaction awards (CSI) from GM.  

Long-time employee Renee LaFiura, office manager and comptroller, agrees.  LaFiura worked for the previous owner, Book Chevy Buick. "I've seen a lot of transition over the years and the one constant since Jim took over is that there is a lot more customer satisfaction," said LaFiura.

Dealer principal Jim Russomano and his wife, Anne, purchased Nutley Chevrolet Buick in 2005, where it had been a Chevy and Buick dealership for 30 years (Book Chevy Buick Dealership).  The Buick division was sold back to General Motors in 2008.  

Anne Russomano currently manages the integration of the parts, service and body shop operations, which will be critically important under the new company.  A graduate of the University of Delaware as a design major, she spent most of her career as an interior design consultant and project manager on historical residential renovations.  Anne is well-versed in the automotive business as her family established the successful Fette Ford Dealership in Clifton, N.J.  

Jim Russomano has worked 21 years in the automotive business, starting his career in 1989 at Fette Ford.  In 1998, he opened a consulting business, traveling the country advising dealerships on how to improve their businesses.  He is a graduate of Villanova University and holds an MBA from Drexel University.

Nutley Auto is located at 66 Washington Street, Nutley, N.J., 07110; Ph: 888.564.4095.  For more information, please visit www.nutleyauto.com.

SOURCE Nutley Auto