Huge strides in five years october 2006

Five years after its inception, Mallow Road Motors in Cork is growing steadily in popularity. Offering a quality product and a comprehensive back-up service, the fledgling business has already carved a stellar reputation for itself. With commercial sales on the up and a DOE test centre in place, Irish Trucker simply had to take a closer look.

Cork city was given a new motor dealership in November 2001, when Stephen Ferriter and Pio Cafferkey established Mallow Road Motors. As the name suggests, the business is located on the Mallow side of Cork, just off the N20, on the outskirts of the city. Encouraging progress has been made since the genesis of this relatively new dealership/garage.
A main dealer for both Isuzu and Kia, Mallow Road Motors offers an impressive range of new and pre-owned cars, light commercials, four-wheel drives and small trucks. A variety of financial packages are available, including leasing, and these can be tailored to suit individual customer requirements.

As well as sales, a full servicing and repairs service is provided through a full-equipped workshop, which is manned by a team of fully-trained and highly-motivated technicians, while a large stock of spare parts is carried in the stores at all times. There is also a DOE test centre for light goods vehicles.
The two dealerships are at the heart of Mallow Road Motors’ success. Between them, they provide customers at the Cork outlet with a wide choice of vehicles to suit every need. Offering a range of vehicles that is second to none as well as an exceptional back-up service, all provided by competent and dedicated staff, Mallow Road Motors is actively consolidating its strong position in the marketplace.

Kia offers a good range of passenger cars, while the Sorento is an extremely popular four-wheel drive. But it is mention of the word Isuzu that will pique the attention of the commercial user. The Isuzu Trooper, NPR, NQR and D-Max are among the leading brands in the European commercial motor industry, regularly topping the 4 x 4 and truck markets. Isuzu trucks have an unrivalled reputation and are highly-sought. These trucks can sell themselves on name alone. Coupled with the personal touch and strong back-up service supplied by Mallow Road Motors, it’s clear that this business is here for the long haul.

“Commercial sales account for about 30-40% of turnover and it’s a very important part of the business,” Stephen confirms. “In addition to the new Isuzus, we also have a strong selection of used commercials in stock at any given time. The coverage is excellent and we have something here to suit all business users, as well as a lot of four-wheel drives, both new and used.”
As the world’s largest manufacturer of medium-duty trucks, the Isuzu range goes up as far as seven-and-a-half tonnes. This range of commercial vehicles is ideal for both tradesmen and light haulage, deliveries etc. Stylish heavy-duty trucks and tractor units has been designed under the concept of "Tough and Harmonious.", offering the ultimate in durability, power and performance, not to mention friendliness to work with the environment and the driver by using low-emission engines and total safety and comfort. The result is a redefinition of what trucks should be.

Using only quality genuine parts and the latest diagnostic equipment, Mallow Road Motors is committed to providing quality service and repairs at competitive prices and is approved by many major fleet and leasing companies for vehicle maintenance.
Mallow Road Motors boasts a 4,000 sq. ft. five-bay workshop, with four mechanics on hand around the clock to look after customers’ every needs. All jobs are carried out on site and promptly, with no unnecessary delays, only the best parts used and an understanding of clients’ budgets. Altogether, a total staff of twelve is employed at the Isuzu/Kia dealership on Cork’s Mallow road.

Stephen and Pio are currently in the process of expanding the business at the present site. Extra land has already been purchased adjacent to the existing site and this will be used to create a dedicated commercial vehicle centre. At the moment, vehicles are displayed together in a 3,000 sq. ft. showroom, which is more than adequate. However, by separating the cars and commercials into different areas, the directors can focus more specifically on the two separate facets of the business (as, indeed, can customers).

“The business has been very well received,” Stephen notes. Prior to the genesis of Mallow Road Motors, both he and his business partner had worked previously in dealerships in Cork: “We only purchased the original site five years ago and we have outgrown it already, which is great. We carried out a feasibility study before we set the business up and we knew that Isuzu was a strong traditional brand, while Kia was an exciting new one that would grow with us. If the next five years are as good then we’ll be happy.”

The philosophy on the Mallow road has always been to look after the customers and afford them the respect they deserve: “We try to look after them in every way possible,” says Stephen. “We have good facilities and here and we treat customers well from the minute they walk in. It’s hard to get a customer and it’s even harder to keep one. You have to do very little to get rid of them. We’re fully aware of this and we know that a strong back-up service is vital. We provide very strong customer relations and we pride ourselves on our aftersales care.”

Have the soaring fuel costs had any impact on sales? “Fortunately we sell a very good product, which is renowned for value. Maintenance costs are very low on the vehicles we sell and people are aware of that. There is a three-year maintenance warranty with both Isuzu and Kia, and the vehicles also carry a high residual value. Most of our used vehicles also come with a twelve-month warranty.”

The staff at Mallow Road Motors has played a key role in the success enjoyed thus far, while both directors also make themselves available to deal with customers openly on a one-to-one basis. Stephen concludes: “Our staff are exceptional. You need people you can depend on, who will do their job well and look after our customers. We’re very lucky in that regard. All the workers are friendly and courteous and they provide the same level of service that Pio or myself would.
“As directors, we take a keen interest in our customers and we succeed in having personal relationships with them. We are here in a hand-on capacity and the customers know they can rely on us to look after them.”
Mallow Road Motors has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. One senses that this is only the beginning…