BEST DEALERSHIPS TO WORK FOR IN CANADA

Location: Tilbury, Ont.

Dealer principal: Vince Lally

Dealership group: Lally Auto Group

Number of employees: 84

2017 new-vehicle sales: 993, down 7.2%

2017 used-vehicle sales: 399, down 8%

General Manager Adam Lally on challenges of hiring/retention in the face of dramatic changes in technology and competition for skilled staff: Definitely concerned with fewer people involved in the trades. I also feel that younger candidates are more averse to pay plans that are heavily commission and bonus weighted. We have to look at partnering with local schools with recruitment and education programs. We also have to be constantly evaluating our pay plans and structures to make sure we're getting the right people entering our business.

Lally on staff diversification and attracting more women to the workplace: We hire based on aptitude, but we are happy to employ a diverse group of people and strongly believe that our team's diversity should reflect that of our communities.

Lally on whether the image of working at a dealership has changed in the last five years: I think the stigma that comes with selling cars is on its way out. Making the dealership a great place to work and treating employees with integrity and fairness translates through to how we treat customers. Operating with professionalism and integrity have and will continue to lessen the negative stereotypes associated with car dealerships.

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