DEARBORN, Mich. -
FordDirect and Ford recognized the Ford and Lincoln-Mercury Internet Dealers of the Year for 2011 at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention earlier this week.
Winning the respective 2011 awards were Galpin Ford, of North Hills, Calif., and Hines Park Lincoln, which is located in Plymouth, Mich.
This marked the second straight year Hines Park Lincoln has been honored.
The winning dealers are spotlighted for their strong online sales. The company uses a formula that ranks total 2010 sales and dealer close rates to figure out the recipients.
“Consumers rely on the Internet during all phases of the vehicle shopping process,” noted Leo Hillock, office of the chief executive, executive vice president.
“The Ford and Lincoln Internet Dealers of the Year worked diligently to create a world-class Internet shopping experience that brings online shoppers into the showroom,” he continued. “Dealers who take full advantage of opportunities to connect with potential customers and maintain relationships with existing customers online will see great benefits through increased sales and service business.”
Sharing a bit about the winning dealerships, officials noted that Galpin Ford’s stores are spread throughout the Los Angeles area, including locations in North Hills, Van Nuys, Valencia and Mission Hills.
“We are extremely honored to be named the Ford Internet Dealer of the Year,” noted Galpin Ford owner Bert Boeckmann.
“Our Internet sales have been a major part of our Galpin Ford’s continued success,” Boeckmann further noted. “This award shows no matter where we meet a customer, online or in the showroom, that we are able to provide them with the best possible customer service.”
Meanwhile, Hines Park Lincoln’s presence in the Detroit area goes back more than 40 years.
“We continue to focus on enhancing our Internet process to engage our customers where they choose to shop,” shared Ryan Kolb, Hines Park Lincoln’s operations manager and BDC director.
“As more and more customers look online, sales from Internet referrals continue to grow to be a bigger part of our business,” he added.
The following dealerships were named as honorable mentions in their respective categories:
Ford Internet Dealer: Bill Brown Ford in Livonia, Mich.; Varsity Ford in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Lincoln-Mercury Internet Dealer: Nick Mayer Lincoln in Westlake, Ohio; Crest Lincoln-Mercury in Sterling Heights, Mich.