RALPH LOVELL

Findlay’s Galleria Mall location proves an ideal alternative when buying vehicle

By Mike Henle

                HENDERSON – Ralph Lovell was certain when he entered the car business in 1994 that there had to be a better way to shop for a car. The traditional dealership setting with sales consultants was due for a change, and the energetic native of Huntington Beach, Calif., came up with an idea that has since evolved into Findlay Automotive Group’s dealership inside the Galleria at Sunset mall.

                What started out as display of two cars in the mall in November of 1998 has since grown into more than 2,000 square feet representing 21Findlay Automotive Group dealerships with manufacturers that include Saturn, Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota, Cadillac, Volkswagen, Lincoln Mercury, Hyundai, Subaru, GMC, Land Rover, Acura, Audi and Kia.

                Without question, this may be the best examples of one-stop automobile shopping in the country where clients include customers and employees of the Galleria Mall not to mention the shoppers which commonly stop by to consult with 49 year-old Lovell to purchase a car in an environment very different from the traditional automobile buying experience.

                And considering that Lovell is on a first-name basis with every general manager in the Findlay Automotive Group chain, he’s able to maintain an invaluable communications network to secure the best deal possible for his customers.

                “First off, this is the biggest mall in Henderson,” said Lovell, who serves as the sales manager of the mall location. “Many people may never walk into a car dealership, but they’ll visit us while shopping in the largest mall in Henderson. Many people are simply intimidated when having to walk in off the street to purchase a car at a dealership. This is totally different especially when you consider that people are fearful of the buying experience that can include issues with the weather.”

                In the climate-controlled location within the mall, buyers are more at ease many times because they have already become one of Lovell’s customers over the years. Then, too, with so many models under one roof, they don’t have to spend valuable time and money traveling all over the city looking for the vehicle.

                Add in the fact that that the location also includes a fascinating display of  inductees into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame and it’s easy to see why a basic idea has turned into such popular and profitable venture.

                “Rich Abajian (part owner of Findlay Toyota) and Tyler Corder (Findlay Automotive Group CFO) gave me their blessings to do this,” explained Lovell, whose customers now include an assortment of people ranging from doctors and lawyers to shopping housewives and athletes.”

                Lovell, who might be the biggest promoter in the car business, also gives away a car every month at the location.  That in itself draws both current and future customers.

                “I talk to everyone who walks buy,” he said. “The people are more relaxed when they are here and I make friends with them. They love this store and while they might not buy a car right then, they’ll usually come back in the future.”

                As is the case in any automobile venture, the mall location requires many hours of work. The store is open seven days a week; from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday.

However, Lovell seems right at home working many hours. He undoubtedly had no idea where he was headed when he became used car manager of Findlay Oldsmobile 13 years ago.

                “I just enjoy this,” he said. “However, a sales consultant in the car business cannot wait for the phone to ring. You have to be on your toes all the time because people appreciate the fact that I’m always trying to help them while also removing the stress that can be included in the purchase of a car. I don’t try to push any particular car on someone but rather make this an experience they will remember for years to come.”

            In fact, one of Lovell’s customers liked him so much that she introduced him to his wife, Julie. The couple has been married for more than two years.

            “Julie is very supportive of me in this business,” Lovell said adding that he sold four cars to his wife’s family. “She worked in the casino business for many years, so she is used to the long hours and appreciates what I do for a living.”

                Dianne Darcy, a hair stylist at Regis hair salon in the Galleria Mall, bought a car from Lovell about three years ago.

                “He treated me like I was family,” said Darcy, a four-year resident of Las Vegas and a native of Santa Barbara, Calif., “He sat with me to see what kind of car I needed before setting me up with one of the Findlay reps. His representative Michael Brock at Findlay Toyota picked me up and took me to various lots to find my car. I saw the car I liked took it for a test drive and closed the deal. Mike brought all the paper work to my place of employment so I didn’t have to do anything. They took care of me with kid gloves.”

            Kurt Postma, a 13-year resident of Las Vegas, has been involved in the purchase of seven cars from Lovell in the past 10 years. Everyone in his family has purchased from Lovell at one time or another.

                “I come here because Ralph makes it so much easier,” explained Postma, 57, and native of Los Angeles. “We come down here, he takes care of the paper work, has brochures on all the cars and we don’t need to go anywhere else. In addition, my in laws are up there in years, so we don’t want them under a lot of sales pressure. They trust him and they always come over here before we do anything. Ralph sets it up everything for them.”

                There isn’t much that Lovell won’t do help his customers. In fact when a customer visited one morning needing a Spanish speaking sales consultant, he immediately found a bi-lingual member of the Findlay Automotive Group staff.

           “We’re here to build relationships for a lifetime,” said Lovell.

           For further information, call 702-434-6888.

            Findlay Automotive Group was founded more than 48 years ago by the late Pete Findlay, whose son, Cliff, now heads operations in Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Arizona.

 Ralph Lovell, right, sales manager for the Findlay Automotive Group location in the Galleria at Sunset mall, is shown with customers, Kurt Postma and Dianne Darcy.