THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 6, 1996 TAG: 9605040279
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Talk of the Town
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Like a lot of trends, it began in California. And the moment it reached Tidewater, Steven Graeff saw Ford Escort sales rise 50 percent.
``When the gas price jumps as much as it has jumped, you're going to see more interest in fuel economy,'' said Graeff, new car sales manager at Kimnach Ford Inc. in Norfolk.
Until gas prices rose, Kimnach had sold about one Escort a day. Now the dealership averages 1 1/2 Escort sales a day. Graeff doesn't worry about exhausting his small car supply. He figures the manufacturer can deliver all he needs.
Rising gas prices in the last month coincided with slower car sales. For example, Kimnach had about 60-days worth of vehicles in stock; 45 days is about right. With the back up, Ford Motor Co. had unveiled incentives to spur sluggish car sales.
Graeff senses an opportunity for Kimnach. Manufacturers provide cars based on sales volume. Big dealers like Freedom Ford in Norfolk and Beach Ford in Virginia Beach sell more Escorts and consequently have more in stock. If Kimnach sells more Escorts, it too can get small cars.
``We're constantly trying to creep up'' against the mega-dealers, Graeff said.
Passages: Talk about career shifts. Vernelle Lewis of Chesapeake had spent 15 years in marketing, most recently at Tower Mall in Portsmouth. Then she found herself downed but not out.
Her soldier husband, Terrence, was deployed to Bosnia. And the 600,000-square-foot regional mall was bought by Equitable Life Assurance Society.
``I was working as the assistant marketing director at Tower when the mall was sold and the department was downsized,'' Lewis said. ``When I was out looking for a job, a lot of people were intimidated by my resume.''
Lewis desired short hours to open time for the 5-year-old grandchild who recently began living with her. Unable to find the job she needed, Lewis did what she wanted: She opened Lewis Marketing in her home.
Siemens accolade: Siemens Automotive's fuel-injector plant in Newport News was named a Medallion of Excellence winner in the 1996 U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award program for Virginia.
``This recognition stands as an example to other plants in the state of Virginia that it is possible to upgrade the skills of an existing work force to world-class standards,'' said plant general manager John Olson.
Air waves: Max Media Properties LLC, Virginia Beach, said it signed an agreement to manage ad sales and promotions for WBNU-TV in Charleston, S.C., a Warner Brothers network affiliate. Max Media owns TV stations in Dayton, Ohio; Johnson City, Tenn.; Syracuse, N.Y., and Cape Girardeau, Mo., plus FM radio stations in Norfolk, Greensboro, N.C., and Las Vegas.
Brewmasters: Hugh and Nadia Burns of Williamsburg say they plan to launch Williamsburg Brewing Co. It would be Tidewater's second microbrewery. Lee and Brenda Scanlon launched Steamship Brewing Co. in Norfolk in May '95. Steamship brews about 4,000 barrels a year.
Beach dreams: Tidewater's big tourism competitor, Myrtle Beach, is aiming at Florida. South Carolina's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism recently hosted about 20 German travel agents and tour operators.
``If you've never been to America, go ahead and make Florida your first trip,'' S.C. international marketing director Robert Liming told the visitors. ``But if you've been there and you want something new, we want South Carolina to be at the top of your list. With the entertainment complexes and shopping, Myrtle Beach is no longer just a beach destination or golf destination.'' by CNB