Released on: March 17, 2011, 8:16 am
Author:
The Co-operative Motor Group
Industry: Automotive
The new lease of life which re-branding The Co-operative Motor Group from Sunwin Motors last year gave the business has been recognised by a top national award.
The transformation of the used cars dealer was named ‘Best Marketing Initiative’ at the 2011 Automotive Management Awards, widely regarded as the motoring industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. Mike Austin, Group Managing Director, collected the award on behalf of all his staff from BBC News presenter Kate Silverton.
And the proud workforce of The Co-operative Motor Group know that the award was in honour of much more than the physical work done in transforming that group’s 23 sites spread across northern England and the Midlands.
The Group’s Brand Development Manager, Alison Ottaway, who had been in charge of implementing the project said: “The re-brand was about so much more than simply changing the car dealership fascia or the detail on car number plates.
“It was about communicating the Co-operative difference at every step of the way, with no marketing gimmicks, no hard sell, and no pushy salespeople – just outstanding customer service and the goal of excellence in everything we do.” She added: “This is a great endorsement and recognition from the industry for what we’re achieving in terms of setting the benchmark for what customers can expect from their automotive retailing experience.”
The Automotive Management Awards were celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, and were held at the Birmingham International Convention Centre.
Commenting on the win, Kate Silverton said: “The judges were impressed by The Co-operative Motor Group’s entrepreneurial approach to the rebranding of Sunwin Motors, which led to a rise in showroom enquiries and a boost to mystery-shop scores.”
Ends
About The Co-operative Motor Group
The Co-operative Motor Group is part of The Co-operative Group, one of the largest
retail co-operatives in Europe and one of the top 50 car dealers in the UK. We are
proud to represent 11 major motor manufactures; Renault, Nissan, Land Rover, Range
Rover, Mazda, Peugeot, Fiat, Suzuki, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. We operate from 23
sites around the UK from Blackpool and Preston in the Northwest, to West Yorkshire,
Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire in the Midlands.
About The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group is a unique family of businesses run by over two-and-a-half
million members, and together we each have a say in how these businesses are run. In
2007 we had an annual turnover of £9.4 billion, with 87,000 employees serving around
10 million customers a week in over 4,000 high street branches and through online
shopping. Our values influence the products and services of each of these
businesses, showing that good quality products and value don’t have to come at the
expense of honesty and social responsibility. Ethical trading is what we are about.
Contact Details: Katy Robinson
Digital Marketing Administrator
The Co-operative Motor Group
Media House
5 Staithgate Lane
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD6 1YA
Telephone: 01274 377300
Email: katharine.robinson@co-operative.coop
http://www.co-operativemotorgroup.co.uk/