Forman Honda buys local Mazda dealership

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/06/2011 (5406 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s a win-win deal that those involved say really was too good to pass up.

Come July 1, Forman Honda dealer principal Kent Forman will take the reins of what is currently known as Northside Mazda and introduce Westman to Forman Mazda.

Once renovations are complete, Forman Mazda will operate out of Currie Place, in the spaces next door to Forman Honda and Forman Collision Centre on Currie Boulevard. Current Currie Place tenants — Drover Power Sports, Spectrum Coatings and Manitoba Farm Life — will vacate at the end of June.

The largest tenant, Drover Power Sports, has worked out an agreement with Precision Auto Group to take up residency at the space Northside Mazda will soon vacate.

Introducing another dealership to the south end of Brandon had long been on Forman’s radar, but he says the timing was right for the shuffle now as it appears to work in favour for all those involved.

"I think that was sort of the attraction of the whole thing," Forman told the Sun. "The Mazda building I think is better for Drover’s business and … we’ll get some efficiencies by growing our automotive business on this property. Bringing another brand to this lot increases the product offering for our customers."

All Northside Mazda employees were given the option to stay on with Forman Mazda and a dozen have chosen to do so. Forman Mazda and Forman Honda will operate as separate dealerships.

"They’ll have to compete with each other for customers," Forman joked.

Extensive renovations at the 12,000-square-foot space at Currie Place are expected to wrap up mid to late fall. Mazda customers in need of warranty service or shopping for new wheels shouldn’t be affected by the change.

"Our intention is to be able to offer a seamless transition. Obviously there could be challenges because we’ll be selling out of a trailer probably for some time and our service reception will (temporarily) be at Forman Collision," Forman explained.

Meanwhile, for Chris Drover of Drover Power Sports, he says the shuffle definitely works in his favour. The Precision Auto Group, which operates Precision Toyota and owns the adjacent property where Northside Mazda is currently situated, has offered the space to Drover for the next three to five years.

"We’ll be there for three years for sure," Drover said. "We’ve been looking for some land or a space that’s more in town so this is really a good move for us. We’re totally excited about it. There’s more traffic, more visibility and we’ll have a bigger lot and bigger shop space."

The move will also allow the adrenalin-fuelled shop to expand its inventory, although Drover was tight-lipped on which new products will be introduced. Drover officially opens for business at 424 18th St. on July 5.

For Precision Auto Group owner Ron Ball, the short-term commitment with DPS is exactly what the group had been looking for.

"(Northside) Mazda was needing a new facility and we weren’t looking at committing our existing facility property for the next 15 years because we need to expand our Toyota store into that neighbouring lot," Ball told the Sun.

"I’m just happy we’re maintaining a Mazda dealer in Brandon to look after all of the Mazda customers. That was a big reason and we’re happy that (Forman) is going to take it on."

 

A BRIEF HISTORY

Forman Honda opened for business in 1998.

Ron Ball founded Precision Toyota and Precision Auto Group in 1979. Precision Auto Group introduced Northside Mazda to the Brandon market in 1992.

Today, the Precision Auto Group operates Precision Toyota, House of Nissan and Advance Auto Body in Brandon, Viking Motors in Winnipeg and Westshore Marine and Leisure in Arborg.

» Brandon Sun