Changing dealership name!!

[Steve@Tasca]

Hey all, Steve here.

Just wanted to give you guys the heads up that we're changing the dealership name from Tousley Ford to Autonation Ford of White Bear Lake.

NO other big changes, we've been an Autonation store for almost 15 years now and they're finally changing the name along with about 20 other dealerships that they've owned for a while now.

Mike and I aren't going anywhere, the discount and service we provide are staying the same and none of our management is changing.

Please spread the word and let people know, word of mouth is everything and we really appreciate all the business we get from you guys and truly enjoy helping you all build and maintain your cars

-Steve

[Louis Zerr]

That's a horrible name.

I will let people know about the change when it comes up.

[oldoutboardjim]

Does that mean they will do away with that hideous windmill logo?
"Tousley Ford" is an absolutely iconic name. There is sooooo much brand recognition there. I'm assuming that the marketing gurus considered this, but it does seem weird. Maybe there's more negative brand recognition than positive!?!
In Los Angeles, it seems like every car dealership is under the "Power" name: Power Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chevrolet, Fiat, Ford, Etc., Etc. Is that what's gonna happen here too?

[Steve@Tasca]

The windmill is staying out front, I doubt it will be on any of the branding any longer though.

Autonation owns something like 220 dealerships across the country but we're the only one in the region so I don't think you'll run across any more around here any time soon.



.

[Steve@Tasca]

One other thing to keep in mind, if we didn't have that massive backing with Autonation we wouldn't be able to keep our $4m inventory and we certainly wouldn't be able to do the deals we do for all our (my) favorite customers around the world.

[bflesher]

^------ I get the feeling he may be trying to get us to buy stuff.

[Redlineracer12]

This is unacceptable, now I will be forced to take my business elsewhere.

[Macky21]

I'm still calling it Tousley

[iminhell]

I'm of the poor decision category.
There's much more to a name than corporations know and want to admit, and this changes region to region. For instance, in town here there are people who won't shop at NAPA because it is a corporation, vs the other parts store being privately owned. "Tousley Ford" implies that it's a family owned dealership. Weather people know that or not is not the issue, we know that unless they ask they'll never know. That 'feeling local' aspect of business is very important in the current, IMO.
That's besides the fact it's an iconic name with a ton of history. Though not that of Mills or Tenvorde.


and I see the website has changed already ...



Then there are the things noone even thinks about, what do I tell my GPS?
I doubt it'll know where Autonation Ford of White Bear Lake is. And someone who only knows that new name won't find you by GPS.

[Patalrob]

I think "Powell Ford" is way more fitting. I mean Business would flock in from all over the world!!

[oldoutboardjim]

What are the commercials gonna sound like? The 'Tousley guy' used to say, "Tousley Ford, White Bear Lake". What's he gonna say now: "Autonation Ford, White Bear Lake"? Doesn't have the same ring to it.

[focinite]

Thats it! I quit!!!! I cant work for autonwtion now that there autonation!!!!!