Best Dealerships To Work For in Canada 2019

Location: Brossard, Que. 

Dealer principal: Norman Hébert

Dealership group: Groupe Park Avenue

Number of employees: 62
2018 new-vehicle sales: 983, up 15%

2018 used-vehicle sales: 379, up 20% 

Communications Officer Caroline Sergerie on steps taken to ensure the dealership reflects the community’s cultural and demographic diversity: Park Avenue is extremely fortunate to be located in a highly diverse community and prides itself on having team members from many different cultural backgrounds. In addition to hosting recruiting events in these specific communities, Park Avenue hosts events to encourage women to join the team and grow within the organization. Park Avenue is proud to have female representation in all employment categories, from technicians to general managers. 

Sergerie on how staffing requirements have changed over the last five years: The biggest shift at Park Avenue has been on the showroom floor. We have reorganized sales departments from individual contributors to team structures that focus on product knowledge and customer experience. Internally known as our “sales cells,” this new approach has allowed Park Avenue to attract different types of talent and focus on the most critical parts of the sales funnel, creating a lasting customer experience. 

Sergerie on how the image of working at a dealership changed in the last fiveyears: Customers are realizing that Park Avenue is trying to democratize car shopping through a no-pressure environment where individuals on the showroom floor are passionate auto experts looking to provide an exceptional experience. It will take time to overcome the perception that car dealerships, in general, focus on pressure sales techniques, but Park Avenue is convinced that this approach will win over the hearts of customers.