As drivers shift into spring, Barrie Nissan has a new location and building to start them on their way.

"We came out of a four-car showroom that was probably the equivalent of 1,200 square feet," says president Drew Tilson, who has owned the 30-year-old dealership (originally known as Oakley Nissan) for the past four years.

"Our showroom now has 4,000 square feet for vehicle display. We can house 10-12 cars comfortably.

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"We can place almost one of everyone of our model line-up inside in the comfort of a climate-controlled environment."

In fact, the entire facility has been designed to provide comfort and convenience for their clients. "The drive-through reception is a double-lane drive through that allows customers the comfort of driving right indoors without being touched by inclement weather."

Once inside, a customer bringing in a car for service can enjoy the wait with a gourmet coffee in front of the large-screen plasma television, or take advantage of the courtesy shuttle service. "We are totally committed to providing an environment conducive to a good experience for the customer," says Tilson. "The expectations of the consumer have increased and the expectations of the manufacturers have increased as well. It made sense to us to move into a location that supported our mindset."

Although he understands that to be competitive, he has to provide the amenities that are expected, he also knows that people don't do business with a building.

"We strive to build the strongest relationships possible," he adds.

To that end, "We endeavour to train and motivate our people. We have an exceptional team of individuals with a number of years of experience."

To better serve the commuting population, they also decided to expand the hours, especially in the service area. Additionally, they are now open on Saturday mornings as well.

Barrie Nissan joins the other automotive dealerships who have established grand new facilities in Barrie's south end.

Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Pontiac and Ford all have locations nearby.

The Honda dealership may demand a biggest presence, due primarily to the shadow cast by the nearby Alliston plants, but Tilson acknowledges that challenge as a normal business consideration.

"There are definitely some unique market dynamics in this community," he admits. "But we don't feel overwhelmed. Every business has its challenges and you just plan accordingly."

At its former location, Barrie Nissan boasted a body shop. Now he has the same convenience for his customers, but with a shared responsibility that allows him to offer better services.

South Barrie Collision Centre, located at 72 Caplan Avenue, is a 40,000-square-foot shop that is the result of a partnership with four other area dealerships. "It also has a drive-through appraisal area."

Beginning the new construction in the winter, typically the slow season, Tilson's immediate goals upon opening were modest. "I used the slow time to get acclimatized. Now that everyone's comfortable, we've really noticed an increase in traffic, in existing clients and new ones.

"It certainly seems like we're poised to take advantage of what we believe the facility can offer our customers," says Tilson.

He expects to see a 40-per-cent increase in business over the course of the next two years. "Finances always matter, but customers are interested in value. Most people keep a car for four or five years, people want to know that they're getting good value."

While the new cars are the core of the business, Tilson recognizes that used cars also play a significant part.

"We pride ourselves on maintaining top quality used vehicles," he says.

"Everything is inspected, refurbished and detailed. We're very selective of those cars we keep in our inventory. We want to ensure that our reputation is spotless.

"When I bought the business in July 2002 (from Bob and Betty Oakley), my mandate from the outset was to maintain and grow the business without compromising the cornerstones that have gone into making the reputation for those many years."

Tilson and his staff would like to invite the community to drop by the new space on Saturday, April 22 to celebrate their grand opening. He's planning a day filled with activities. For more information, Barrie Nissan can be reached at 705-726-0649.