Spring Honda is customer centred

Dave and Corey Spring of Spring Honda in Cranbrook are focused on serving their customers well

Dave (left) and Corey Spring are always welcoming at Spring Honda. — Photo courtesy Dave Spring

Brothers Dave and Corey Spring might sell vehicles at their Honda dealership in Cranbrook, but that’s about as far as any comparison to a stereotypical car salesman can go. Customer service is paramount at Spring Honda—the business won that category in the Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. The Business Person of the Year Award also went to Dave and Corey Spring.

“I think since we purchased the dealership in late 2010 we’ve been able to put together a team of auto professionals that are really caring people,” said Corey. “It’s a big deal for us to have people who truly care about the customer experience. We’ve been able to build a team that works well together. Everyone chips in and does their part and we have a lot of fun.”

The brothers purchased the business with their uncle, Derek Spring, and the three are now partners. Dave and Corey run the day-to-day operations, but they’re quick to point out that Derek has been a supportive part of building Spring Honda. Not that the business is new to any of them; Dave and Corey’s grandfather opened a car dealership in the 1960s. The boys grew up washing cars, moving them around the lots and generally learning the ropes. Still, the learning curve is a constant part of being in the business.

“I think the auto industry has changed a lot in the last five to 10 years,” said Corey. “It’s just constantly evolving with new technologies. It’s a very competitive industry. If you’re not staying on top of it and don’t keep up with the training, you’ll get left behind in a hurry. We do focus on a lot of training and we make sure our staff are aware of the competition, our product and just keeping on top of things.”

The brothers are pleased to be running a successful business in their hometown. It’s a complete honour, they said, to be able to raise their families in Cranbrook and to support and grow with the community and their staff. Spring Honda has added 18 employees since the ownership change just a couple of years ago. With the motto “What matters to you matters to us,” Spring Honda makes quality service a priority.

“Basically, our culture that we’re trying to build here is customer centred," said Corey. "So, everything we do in the store, whether it’s sales, parts, service—whether our customer is another dealership, a body shop or somebody buying their first vehicle—we really try to get our staff to listen to what the concerns are (and) what the customer is trying to accomplish. Every situation is different—every customer is different. We really enjoy getting involved and meeting new people and trying to help people.”