Otto's BMW

Almost immediately, I discovered that not only did many of my clients have the same level of enthusiasm for BMW's cars as I, they were also very knowledgeable about the product line. Whether from experience or their own research, they had a clear understanding of what distinguishes BMW from other performance luxury automobiles. Even those who may have had financial limitations appreciated the value of these cars and understood why they are worth the investment.

There’s no question that my time as a Client Advisor in combination with three decades in the automotive industry built an empathetic understanding and a depth of perspective on what it means to be a good BMW Sales Manager. From the outset, my goal in this position was to create and maintain a highly professional working environment for our staff as well as very pleasant surroundings for our guests and clients.

I think we do a good job in making people comfortable when they come in. It’s a friendly, intimate setting and I think that puts people at ease. Customers tell me they feel well treated here. We get that comment constantly, and I suspect it’s because we always adjust the pace of the process to suit their timing.

We get a lot of floor traffic from service clients waiting for their vehicles. They walk over to our showroom to lust over the new models, and if their schedule permits we will offer them a product presentation and demonstration drive. They may be two years away from a new vehicle, but we feel they’ll remember their experience here and consider us when the time is right.

When I'm not at Otto's, I enjoy working on my home and have spent considerable time over the years making renovations and improvements. I also enjoy traveling, the Caribbean being a perennial favorite.

Chapter two began rather improbably when a buddy of mine, having watched “Blue Crush” one too many times, suggested we head out to Hawaii. He ultimately lost interest in the idea, but I actually followed through and went there in 2002 to go to college.

One thing I learned early about life in the 50th state is that you need several sources of income to survive. My first three or four years, I had what I would describe as “fun jobs” – surf instructor, restaurant worker – but soon realized you can’t really make it on those.

My transition into the adult world came when I applied for a sales position at the Harley Davidson dealership where I had bought a bike the previous year. A number of great things came from that decision. For one, I discovered I have an affinity for sales, but even more important, it was there that I met the woman I would marry.

By 2010, with one child and another on the way, we decided to relocate to the Philadelphia area, giving me a chance to reconnect with friends and family, and offering my parents their first opportunity to be with their grandchildren. I had concluded that automotive sales made more sense in this climate, and following a lead from my former GM at Harley Davidson, contacted Otto’s.

I liked the vibe here immediately. The people I met were great, the online reviews were very positive, and from what I could pick up in the community, this was a highly-regarded, family-owned operation much like the dealership in Hawaii. I was happy to accept their offer.

One of my strengths – and something that creates an immediate sense of trust with my clients – is my detailed understanding of BMWs, a distinction I worked very hard to achieve. It was a priority I learned as an estate planner, where I was dealing with my clients’ life savings. The numbers may be different here, but the principle is identical.

I find it can sometimes come in handy with clients that I speak Polish. I’m still fairly fluent because it’s the language my parents use with me almost exclusively. My wife, of course, has no idea what they’re saying, which can make family dinners pretty interesting.

The good news is that I did really well with the company, ultimately managing five stores and winning 20 consecutive sales awards. The bad news is that the hours were grueling, the pay was modest, and as is usually the case when people need to rent a car, customer attitudes were often a challenge, to say the least.

I was fortunate in one way, however. My territory included West Chester, and I often found myself providing overflow loaner cars for Otto’s. In working with various members of the management team here, I got very affirming comments about my initiative, dedication, and high level of customer service. They offered me a job on several occasions, but it wasn’t until I finally decided to part ways with Enterprise that I applied and was hired as a Sales Advisor.

In all candor, I wasn’t sure this would be the “dream job” I’d been hoping to find, nor did it seem to be getting me closer to my ultimate goal of owning my own business. But the irony, of course, is that here I am years later, and to my great good fortune, it seems I stumbled upon something I’m good at and like doing.

This position rewards me for hard work and still allows me to spend time with my family. And while before, it always seemed like I was seeing people on their worst day, here it’s the precise opposite: my clients come in because they actively want a BMW, and for them, that makes it a really good day.

Because of where and how I grew up, I find it easy to relate to our customers – and their love for BMWs. My goal is always to make the process fun, and to make sure it’s not only a good buying experience but also an excellent owning experience.

With the birth of my son, I’ve come to realize that being a father and husband is the best job in the world. Spending time as a family, whether at the beach or in our backyard, is absolutely the best.

COMING SOON