Cooke & Arkwright
News
Two new car dealerships open in Bridgend
06/01/2010
Cooke & Arkwright’s Industrial agency has signed up two new car dealerships in Bridgend on behalf of Wyndham Commercial Properties in the past two months, at a time when there are signs that market conditions appear to be improving.
On Cowbridge Road, Gills has opened a used car dealership with a 3,000 sq ft showroom, in an expansion from its premises in Maesteg where it has had a presence for 20 years. The dealership is concentrating on the market with a price range of £9,000 and under, although selected top range models such as Mercedes, Land Rover and Jaguar are also available.
Managing director Wayne Gill said, “We have been open since the beginning of October and have been very pleased with the interest that the showroom has attracted. It occupies a unique position, fronting onto Cowbridge Road near traffic lights, so we benefit from a captive audience most of the time. The site also backs onto Bridgend Industrial Estate, where a steady flow of traffic waits to join Cowbridge Road. Twenty percent of our enquiries have come from passers by and we have maintained steady sales since we opened.”
Dealers say that strong values for used cars have helped profits either increase or remain stable in the recession despite a fall in sales, and that there is a shortage of nearly new cars that are one to three years old feeding through to the market.
Steven Mullane, sales manager at Gills said, “Despite government incentives, the new car trade isn’t selling as much. As a result there is a general shortfall in the trade-in of used cars, making them more expensive.”
Commenting on the Government’s used car scrappage scheme, he said, “It hasn’t really affected us because we don’t market vehicles older than ten years. However, after the scheme ends in the New Year, buyers who may have been attracted to it might be more likely to look at the second hand market. Looking ahead, we are quite optimistic about the used car trade in 2010.”
In addition to the letting to Gills, the 10,000 sq ft former Corona building on Bridgend Industrial Estate has been leased for 15 years to Bassetts Motor Group, specialist dealers in new and used Citroen and Honda cars and the largest Citroen dealer in South Wales.
Jeremy Symons of Cooke & Arkwright said, “We are extremely pleased to have achieved two lettings at a time when it is generally perceived to be a difficult market. The lettings are testament to the hard work and dedication of the agency team and the client.”
Pictured: Jeremy Symons, Cooke & Arkwright; Steven Mullane (sales manager) and Scott Jenkins (Sales Executive), Gills Cars.