By Gerrie du Plooy – Dealer Principal
We bought Sterling Delta (previously known as Sterling Motors) in August 1998 during a challenging time when the interest rate was at an all-time 25% high, market share was less than favourable and the premises needed a serious upgrade together with changes to structures, professional work ethics and new business management systems. In 1999 we started with th
e approved Delta Motor Corporation and Engen Forecourt upgrade which lasted approximately four months while we still had to attend to daily business. This facility upgrade aided in substantial growth in market share and with a market leading customer satisfaction score in Sales and Service, resulted in us being awarded Dealership Honours in 2000. Over the next ten years we achieved many different individual staff and company accolades like Dealership Management Honours, Service Dealership of the Year, several Service Management Honours and Used Vehicle Honours. Progress and change have become synonymous with Sterling Auto in striving for better customer service and in June 2009 we went through another upgrade which was substantially bigger with the closure of our forecourt to accommodate a more customer friendly environment to Sales and Service and allow for further growth. As a privately owned family business, we understood since inception, that we had to play a part in the community that Sterling Auto had served for many decades before us, and we are still very involved with activities that support our community, ie. Golf Day Fundraisers, Round Table Initiatives, School and Sport Sponsorships and NSRI Support. We also form part of the General Motors South Africa Childlife Foundation, and together we have contributed substantially over the past five years to the welfare and care of children in our community, as we base our future on the development of ourselves and the youth of Hermanus.
