Women in Retail: Rebecca Friel of Country Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2022 Women in Retail honorees in the current issue of the magazine and at Used Car Week this fall in San Diego.
With these awards, we specifically recognize top leaders on the retail side of the auto industry, including honorees from dealerships, dealer groups and third-party providers/vendors
Over the next few weeks, AR will be posting Q&As with each of the honorees on this website.
Next up is Rebecca Friel, who is finance manager at Country Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.
Auto Remarketing: What do you enjoy most about working in retail automotive, and what would you change?
Rebecca Friel: I enjoy the challenge of making a deal come together. There are so many pieces, it’s like a puzzle. Each deal presents its own challenges, some are credit issues or payment limits, some are time constraints or inventory limitations. I like using all of the tools at my disposal to make the pieces fit together.
My job is keeping my dealer profitable and safe and our customers happy. The past few years have posed new challenges in the retail space, but the goal is the same. If I could change anything, it would be the hours. Retail hours are when other people aren’t at work, so they can shop. The 5-9 pm part of the day, after everyone else goes home, is always the hardest. I wish that could change, but it just comes with the territory.
AR: What is the top trend you’re watching in retail automotive this year?
Friel: Pricing is the top trend this year. Will new inventory continue to maintain MSRP sale prices with little to no rebates? Will inflated trade values continue to hold used inventory pricing high? Will the fed continue to raise rates to slow buying? I feel that pricing across the board is becoming more than a trend but possibly an industry transition. The overall business plan is shifting to less sales but higher pricing and profit margins.
AR: What piece of career advice would you give your younger self?
Friel: The advice I probably needed a very long time ago is that I don’t need a college degree to have a successful career, stay the path that works best for me without regret. Like most people I have met in car sales, we didn’t aspire to sell cars. We all happened into this industry and stayed for better and for worse. This isn’t what I thought I wanted to be when I grew up.
Looking back over 27 years, over many diff erent job titles, this is a great career that has all of the potential you want. Commission pay isn’t for everyone, but for me, it is the best. You get what you give. In retrospect, I didn’t realize how fortunate I was to fi nd this kind of career.
AR: What has been the top key to your success in retail automotive?
Friel: Being flexible, hard-working and resilient is a requirement in the auto business, especially for a woman. I have a saying posted in my office, “The ability to persevere separates the winners from the whiners.” I believe that, and I read it often! I have support at home and from management, my success isn’t about just me. My husband and kids support my career. My colleagues and boss support me being there for my family. Overall, I enjoy my job, so it doesn’t seem like work most days.