Suzuki services second to none

Suzuki have made a huge impression in the Irish market over the last decade due to their dedication to quality and a network of highly impressive dealers. We speak to James Tomkins, Managing Director of James Tomkins Suzuki.

A glance at James Tomkins’ website (www.jamestomkinssuzuki.com) gives an idea of the range of services which the Wexford car dealer provides to his customers. The company has proven itself as the number one dealer in Ireland for 5-year sales, parts and accessories. They also have a 24-hour breakdown service and can be contacted on 053-9420060/086-2604097 or 087-72604097. The company is now well-established in Gorey, Wexford and other areas in the county. In delivering a quick and effective service to all who come to the garage, the firm has created a good reputation for itself in the car sales sector. The quality of Suzuki cars which James can provide is second to none. The company has worked hard to build up its reputation and is now seeing the results of its labour.

When the company’s managing director James Tomkins took some time to talk to Irish Trucker about the developments in his company, he explained that the business had made major strides since it was first set up.
“We were set up eleven years ago. We are very busy in sales at the moment and don’t just confine ourselves to the Gorey or Wexford area. We also try to look outside the local area and recently we sold cars in Tipperary and Dublin. We would do a fair amount of training for technicians and then send them off to college in Waterford,” he says.
So with a busy car sales business and breakdown unit are there any days that are particularly busy in the firm?
“At the moment Monday and Tuesday would be very busy. A lot of people would be contacting us with breakdowns and crashes on those days. We have a busy recovery section and go everywhere with that. We have two lads who work hard in that area. One of the men is on call all the time while the other is on standby. We would be very busy the rest of the week with the car sales,” he says.

Another indication of the company’s success is that it has been the top Suzuki dealer in Ireland for the last four years. James’ wife Caitriona also works in the office and in total the company employs a total thirteen people. This also includes their office and store staff. The company also does some valeting work.
James’ commitment clearly involves unsociable hours. So does the work have any real impact on his personal life?
“Well I usually end up doing a certain amount of work at the weekend. I would often get a few calls every night but even though I’d be out at work, it doesn’t really affect family life.
“However there are a lot of after-sales involved in the job. I would normally be in every day at seven o clock in the morning and not finish until after nine. On Saturday I would be in until five so I am kept busy with the job.”

Location can be an important factor in operating from a particular area. Local knowledge can help somebody in business move the company forward. A Gorey native, the purchase of a premises meant a lot of hard work before it became a successful car sales company. As he explains, there was a considerable amount of labour involved in the company.
“This place was an old garage so when it came up I just went for it and bought it. There were about nine people involved in converting the place into what it is now. I had to knock it down so it ended up that I started from scratch really. So it took a while before it got off the ground,” he says.

James was given a good early grounding for his work. As a teenager, he acquired a taste for the car sales business. From the age of 15, he worked in a Peugot garage. Having completed his Inter-Cert, he left school and began working in the same garage. He started in the mechanic’s trade and remained working there for fourteen years. He then left to establish his own business.
At the moment Suzuki is proving a very popular marque for the company. The three-year warranty really sells the car and helps to maintain the business. There are a number of Suzuki cars which have proved particularly popular wth the public. The Swift and the Vitara Jeep are among the best sellers which the firm has at the moment. What then sets the Swift apart as a car?
“Aside from its reliability, it is a very comfortable car with eight air bags. This year it was voted the car of the year and the company has brought out a new SX model this year.”

Nevertheless although the outlook for the company is good, a few garages in the town continue to provide competition for the company. A Toyota and Peugeot garage in the area ensure that James Tomkins is kept on his toes all the time.
What then manages to sustain his interest in the job?
“When sales go well that keeps you in business. There is a good buzz in it and I enjoy meeting people,” he says.
The company also has connections with major finance houses such as Woodchester, Friends First and Bank of Scotland. These financial links ensure that the company is able to provide the most competitive finance deals for new or used cars.

With a well-trained staff, a reliable service and a committed service to its customers, James Tomkins Suzuki is in a good position to continue to serve the people of Wexford well. The hard work involved in establishing the business has paid off. James Tomkins will be hoping that the firm can continue to progress in the right direction.