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More and more businesses are reporting sales increases, expansions and other positive signs of a recovering economy. Here are some of Oakville‘s latest success stories. Presented by Odbuille‘s Awardâ€"Winning Commurity ’\imsmm Renovation speeds dealership into ‘90s mode ADVERTISING FEATURE By Stephanie Henderson T here have been some radiâ€" cal changes at the Budds‘ Saturn, Saab, Isuzu dealerâ€" ship recently, and owner Chris Budd can‘t wait to welcome cusâ€" tomers to completely revamped premises. After a major renovation begun in June which added 2,400 square feet to the well known Speers Road site, Budd and his staff are more than ready to face the ‘90s and beyond. Far from mere gimmicks, the extensive changes here reflect a desire on the part of Saturn Corporation â€" one strongly echoed by this member of the Budd family â€" to offer potential car buyers and past customers a very different buying and repair service experience. "The changes are part of the retail environmental design which was a requirement for every new and existing store in the U.S., and is now being introduced in Canada," he explains. "We are the fifth Canadian store to do this, and the second established dealership to do a refurbishment." In addition to bold new sigâ€" nage on the west portion of the building, passersby will notice another distinctive change â€" every renovated or new Saturn dealerâ€" ship sports a sloping, interlocking brick "Saturn Circle"in front of the building‘s main entranceâ€" a new cantilevered canopy. A completely revamped Budds‘ Saturn Saab Isuzu dealershlp awalts customers old and new. Owner Chrls Budd says the renovation reflects a proactive shift in Saturn‘s business philosophy. The Saturn Circle will be used to display vehicles, and is a strikâ€" ing visual enhancement in conâ€" trast to the clean, modern lines of the building‘s exterior. A new delivery pod, built into the front of the showroom, is designed to give new car recipiâ€" ents a boost. Inside, customers are greeted by a welcome sign with their name on it. The staff take it from there. "When customers pick up their new car, they can get into it in the warmth of the showroom, and as they drive it away, the staff is clapping and cheering. We want them to feel as excited about owning a Saturn as we are about selling them," Budd comments. Emphasis on service . But the new design also reinâ€" forces an emphasis on service. Unlike many dealerships, the service department is also accesâ€" sible from the front of the buildâ€" ing. And it has the same "they‘ll love this in winter" convenience as the delivery pod â€" just drive in, and step out of your car in a warm bay only a few metres away from the service desk, and a parâ€" tially secluded, extremely comâ€" fortable waiting area with televiâ€" sion, etc. "I just know customers are going to respond. We‘re the only import dealer in the area with driveâ€"through service." Rather than the traditional sepâ€" aration, the showroom is designed (Photo by Peter McCusker) to flow into the parts and service area. Bells and whistles aside, cusâ€" tomers will likely find the most refreshing change when they are finalizing the details of their purâ€" chase. "Sales consultants" do busiâ€" ness "the ‘90s way," and are no longer seated facing the customer in an officeâ€"like setting. The more informal arrangement is intenâ€" tional; staff and car buyers sit more or less side by side at tables. Sales materials, records and othe: essentials are stored in bullpen/board room at one end 0 the showroom. "Other companies are strug gling to change, and Satur already knows where it‘s going The idea is to offer the best facili ty, and to take care of your cus tomers. If there are, say, five card which suit their needs, most peo ple choose one of them becausd of the way they are treated,‘ asserts the owner. Outside, you‘ll also noti¢d fewer vehicles on the lot. Thd showroom itself is larger, and it minimalist decor includes custo Saturnâ€"styled furnishings Perhaps most notably, there ard fewer windows. "We will not be putting a lot 0 signs up and running a lot of dis count offers. We want to look likd a business that isn‘t constantl promoting a new deal," Budd explains. The renovations will bd wrapped up in about two weeks| and Budd says the "shortâ€"ter pain" will have been well wort it. Every Saturn store that ha undergone the renovation ha experienced an increase in sales he notes. "The changes are all consisten with Saturn‘s longâ€"term vision a hundredâ€"year company, and think that with this new design| we‘re ready to help the compan achieve that goal." Budds‘ Saturn Saab Isuzu i located at 507 Speers Road, Te 845â€"1610. A SAFETY CONSCIOUS FAMILY SAFETY FEATURES * Dual Air Bags * Impact Door Beams it Rigid Safety Cage * Energy Absorbing Crash Zone * Child Proof Door Locks SAFETY FEATURES Safety Cage 507 SPEERS RD saturn: (905) 845â€"1610 *« Crash Protection System * Soft Panel Crumple Zones «* Dual Air Bags * Passenger Compartment * Rigid Body Panels * Safety Belt Preâ€"Tensioners Starting From * Plus Fren:ht Lic. Taxes Starting From * Plus Fremht Lic. Taxes Budds' COMPANY {«"S'Er »I .,:. i: 2l3 ©26,995