In addition to being the home of the oldest transportation company in the country (Hare Automotive), Noblesville, Ind., is also the home of General Motors’ top salesperson in the state of Indiana. Darrell Lee began his career as a sales associate at Hare Chevrolet in 2003, and since 2005, he has claimed the state title for GM sales every year. To reclaim it in 2008, he sold 235 new GM vehicles, which accounted for approximately two-thirds of his sales that year.

Lee, a South Dakota native who migrated farther east in pursuit of higher education, began a career in the automotive industry after working for a telecommunications company. Lee reminisced, “I used to buy all my cars from the same car salesman, and he always told me to get into car sales and that I’d be able to do a lot better than I was at Ameritech.”

Apparently, his salesperson’s recommendation was spot-on, as Lee quickly proved he had a knack for selling vehicles. He sold 39 during his first full month, and he’s remained consistent throughout the years. He sold 37 units in March of 2009 and is currently averaging 33 sales a month. Throughout 2008, he maintained 31 sales per month, which is an outstanding average, considering how tough last year was for many in the industry.

Management at Hare Chevrolet is proud to have Lee on the team not only because he’s a sales leader, but also because he’s a prime example for the other salespeople there. Courtney Cole, vice president of Hare Chevrolet, said, “Darrell’s drive and ambition along with his community networking is what makes him so great! His competitiveness to win along with his ability to make people feel special is an incredible combination.”

General Sales Manager Jason Horack acknowledged Lee’s streak as the dealership’s salesperson of the month, saying he’s claimed that title every month for the past four to five years. Horack added that Lee’s work ethic is what makes him excel, “He’s very driven and single-minded as far as [putting] the focus on the customer, taking care of the customer and reaching a result that’s helping them accomplish what they want [and meet] their automotive needs.”

Even though Lee usually works 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week, he is active in the community. He is a member of the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce and the Harbor Trees Golf Club. “What Darrell does from a social aspect … representing the dealership outside of work … makes a big, big difference and expands his sphere of influence in the community,” said Horack.

In addition to building name recognition through community networking, many of Lee’s sales are repeat customers and referrals. Lee estimated that 30 to 40 percent of his sales are repeat or referrals.

When he’s not at work, he’s usually hitting the links, putting his golf club membership to good use. Even when he’s having fun, he’s networking. “With all the members at the Harbor Trees Golf Club, he’s been able to expand his customer base and his identity in the community,” said Horack.

To make sure nothing falls through the cracks, Lee has a part-time assistant who works at the dealership approximately 30 hours a week and helps with paperwork and follow-up, along with other duties as needed. His assistant, Candice Lee, also happens to be his wife. Horack said she helps keep her husband organized and makes sure he stays in touch with his customers. He added, “When you sell 35 cars a month, you’re really only talking about 25 or 26 business days … To be able to sell and deliver that many vehicles is a pretty incredible feat.”

Simply put, Lee loves selling cars, and his accomplishments have won him some pretty impressive rewards. He won a Chevrolet contest, which awarded the top seller of new Chevrolets a trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There, he was able to hang out with and cruise around the track at 150 miles per hour with NASCAR Driver Jimmy Johnson. He won a similar competition that took him and Candice to the 2006 Super Bowl, which was won by their home team, the Indianapolis Colts.

Congratulations to Darrell Lee, our sales professional of the month, and thank you to Courtney Cole for bringing Lee to our attention.

 

Vol 6, Issue 6