Auto village rides to top business award

The region's leading car dealer, Farmer Motor Group, had high hopes when it moved to new premises across the harbour in Hewletts Rd 16 months ago.
Its $13 million Farmer Auto Village xtreme, modelled on American developments and combining five dealerships and eight different brands of cars, was a first for the country.
When owners, father and son Peter and Michael Farmer, opened the doors in July last year, they looked out on to the biggest recession in 70 years.
Suddenly, they wondered what the future held.
Last night, Farmer Motor Group - operating here for more than 25 years - was crowned the supreme winner at the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards after getting through the recession in good running order.
Within two weeks of opening the smart auto village that included cafe, childcare facilities, onsite carwash and 22-bay workshop, the Farmers took evasive action to reduce costs further.
They laid off 10 of the 70 staff from the sales and service areas, and they already knew combining the operation under one roof instead of three sites, two of them leased, in Cameron Rd reduced their overheads by 20 per cent.
Priding themselves on customer service, the staff continued to sell and service cars, despite new car sales falling 33 per cent nationally.
Farmer Auto Village's new car sales dropped 10 per cent but it increased market share by selling more than the competitors.
The established car dealership is now ahead of budget, selling 35 per cent of all new cars in the Tauranga region and Bay Nissan is the strongest dealership in New Zealand. Last month it sold more Chryslers and Jeeps than Auckland.
"We have developed business systems, and we have a process for customer service," said Farmer group managing director, Michael Farmer.
"Yes, we have smiley faces and happy staff but that's not everything. Whatever we do is being honest to the customer.
"If a customer thinks he has not been treated right, then it will be sorted," said Mr Farmer.
The auto village booked two tables, for 10 staff and partners, at the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce-organised gala dinner held at Baypark Stadium.
Considering the other finalists in the awards, Mr Farmer said he was "absolutely humbled. The last 12 months has been the biggest university (of life) that we've had and we got through with one of the best teams in New Zealand - they are world class".
The judges said Farmer Auto Village has sophisticated business systems, strong corporate values, a market-leading dealership site and an unrivalled commitment to customer service.
The company has not only survived the recession but has achieved significant growth in market share across all of its franchises.
The auto village also won the TrustPower Customer Service Award, the Business Growth and Development category and was a finalist in the Community Service, along with Maketu Pies, Craigs Investment Partners, Realty Services and Crombie Lockwoods. The judges decided not to differentiate in this category; instead recognising all the finalists for their work in the community.
Tauranga Airport, which won the Tourism Bay of Plenty Tourism category, and Waipuna Hospice, winner of the ACC Workplace Safety and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Community Organisation categories, were finalists in the supreme award.
Repertoire, a lifestyle manufacturing and retail operation stocking clothes, body and bath lotion, jewellery and homeware, has opened four stores - two in Tauranga and two in Auckland - in two years, and it won the Cooney Lees Morgan Emerging Business of the Year, as well as the Wave Design Brand, Marketing and Design category.
"It's been a dream and we've taken advantage of the economic downturn by taking on great staff (now 29) and great store frontages," said Meghan Bowker, one of three directors with her mother Debie and Lee Kleiman.
Tauranga identity Bill Holland, who took over the Holland Beckett law from his father and former deputy mayor Bill in 1976, was surprised to collect the Business Leader of the Year award.
It was the first time he had attended the awards gala dinner, and he said he came along to support his clients who have done well in business.
"There are so many people doing good things and flying under the radar," he said.
As well as being senior partner at Holland Beckett, he is chairman of the Acorn Foundation and Tauranga College Old Boys, a director of Priority One and Legacy Trust and a strong member of the Holy Trinity Church.
He was chairman of the Tauranga Boys' College's board of trustees for 12 years, and is a life member of the Tauranga Rowing Club.

Results: Westpac Supreme Business of the Year: Winner: Farmer Auto Village xtreme, Hewletts Rd. Finalists: Waipuna Hospice, Tauranga Airport.
Zespri Business Leader of the Year: Bill Holland, of Holland Beckett law firm.
ACC Workplace Safety: Winner: Waipuna Hospice. Finalists: Farmer Auto Village, Tauranga Airport.
Wave Design Brand, Marketing and Design: Winner: Repertoire fashion store, Devonport Rd. Finalist: Shane Barr Shoe Repairs, Piccadilly Arcade downtown Tauranga and Central Parade, Mount Maunganui.
Results.com Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Winner: Big Shed Construction (BOP). Finalist: Radford Software.
TrustPower Customer Service Award: Winner: Farmer Auto Village. Finalists: Repertoire, Shane Barr Shoe Repairs.
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Community Organisation: Winner: Waipuna Hospice. Finalist: Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club.
United Travel Corporate Retail and Service Excellence: Winner: Radford Software. Finalists: Insight Architecture, Shane Barr Shoe Repairs.
Tourism Bay of Plenty Tourism: Winner: Tauranga Airport. Finalists: Katikati Naturist Park, Mount Classic Cars and Limos.
BDO Spicers Manufacturing/Distribution: Winner: Kiwifruitz, Omokoroa. Finalist: Maketu Pies.
Cooney Lees Morgan Emerging Business: Winner: Repertoire. Finalists: Food Gurus, Brunel Construction.
Aurecon Business Growth and Development: Winner: Farmer Auto Village. Finalists: Big Shed, Tauranga Airport, Mount Classic Cars, Maketu Pies.
Beca Community Service: No winner. Finalists: Craigs Investment Partners, Crombie Lockwood, Farmer Auto Village, Maketu Pies, Realty Services.