CONCORD, Calif. -
While acknowledging that import brands have the lead in the San Francisco Bay area where her family dealership resides, dealer Carolyn Lehmer Anderson contends that the product her store offers is stronger.
 
Concord Buick-GMC chief financial officer Darren Anderson — her son — even boasts that the “right marketing” can help the dealership grab even more conquest sales.
 
“I think the GM market share in the Bay area, they’ve got an uphill battle here, but I think they’re doing the right thing with the new products that are coming out,” Darren Anderson said. “We’re seeing more conquests this year than we have in several years.”

He added: “I think it’s world-class. I know that’s a GM term, but I think it fits appropriately. The product that’s coming out today is definitely on par with the imports and it’s just a matter of marketing. Getting the right marketing behind the product to drive more conquests into our dealership.”

Russ Anderson, general manager and husband to Carolyn Lehmer Anderson, chimed in: “The Buicks are just a phenomenal success for us.”

 
“Our cars are better than those, the imports,” claimed Carolyn Lehmer Anderson.

It’s a family affair for the Andersons. Carolyn Lehmer Anderson explained that her grandfather started selling cars back in 1928. Then, Erv Lehmer, her late father, opened an Oldsmobile franchise back in 1936. He gained a GMC franchise two years later.

Carolyn Lehmer Anderson said her automotive career started when she began working summers during high school at the dealership’s office. Eventually, she made it a full-time job after college before moving to the dealer’s role in 1987.

And now, under the watch of her family, the store is poised to help GM become more of a player in the region.

Carolyn Lehmer Anderson also noted that the dealership has changed quite a bit during her time in the field.

“Our mechanics used to be the technicians under the hood working on the cars,” she stated. “Now our techs are all computer savvy. Everything is computerized.”