ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, July 2, 1996 TAG: 9607020053
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
One of Pulaski's major new-car dealerships will absorb one of its neighbors on Bob White Boulevard in August.
Hudson Chevrolet-Geo-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Toyota Corp. will be buying the Heritage Buick-Olds-Pontiac-GMC dealership, Hudson Chevrolet President Robert A. "Bob" Hudson Jr. said Monday. The price was not disclosed.
Hudson said W.H. "Rocky" Schrader Jr., who has been with Hudson Chevrolet for 16 years, will become the general manager of the acquired dealership. Hudson's son, Robbie Hudson, will become executive manager.
Both of those positions at Heritage are now held by R.B. Duncan, who will move to one of the other Heritage dealerships in the New River Valley. Duncan has been with the dealership for 11 years.
Bob Hudson said he planned to keep all the other employees now working at Heritage. "We definitely want to keep those employees with us," he said.
"Over the next several weeks, we will be very busy making plans to have a smooth transition," he said. "All of our sales personnel will have the opportunity to sell any of our products. Both dealerships will operate complete service, body shop and parts operations."
Heritage will be selling as many as possible of its new and used vehicles in the next 30 days, before the sale becomes official. The used inventory is not part of the sale, and Hudson will buy only what remains of the new vehicle inventory after the 30 days.
With the purchase of Heritage, Hudson Chevrolet will have grown from one new vehicle franchise to 14 over the past 26 years. The total organization in Pulaski will have six new truck and sport utility franchises and 10 new vehicle passenger car franchises, plus used vehicles.
"We stress volume, but at the same time we stress service," Hudson said. "We don't want to sell the customer one time and not get them back."
Hudson said it had been important to his organization, "when expanding our automobile business here in the Pulaski area, to include a dealership that had an excellent tradition of high principles, quality products and excellence in all areas of the automotive business with an excellent customer base."
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB