people’s cars. I’ve had success with this approach in a non-disaster aftermath and it’s worth trying because not everyone in your market was affected by the storm. Some vehicle owners might see an opportunity to sell their car.
The price you pay could be lower than what cars are going for at the auction. AND, you’ve created a transaction with someone in the community that can have ripple effects for years to come.
Pro Tip: Document your transactions with images or video and post on social media. You want others to know you’re doing this!
4. Brainstorm ways to help survivors afford a car.
Obtaining down payments from those customers who were flooded is a major challenge, especially if they had no insurance. What can you offer in those situations?
Talk with your banks about creative ways to assist customers. Are there short-term loans available? Is there any type of assistance they could leverage in this dire time of need?
Are you in a position to finance in-house? Even if you’re not regularly doing this, the one or two people you help will make a huge difference to those one or two people.
…and those one or two people could write 5-star reviews.
5. Help your community.
Stories are pouring in about local companies who are helping the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Think about ways you can genuinely help your community in time of need.
Provide links to resources for survivors. The North Houston Chamber of Commerce has an outstanding page for all types of relief:
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Employees are your community too. If they’re lost everything, or even a few things, offer support to help them get back on their feet.
Harvey caused and will continue to cause emotional trauma throughout Houston and the surrounding areas. Consider holding an event at the store, whether it’s a fundraiser or just a get together to forget about struggles for a few hours.
The devastation of Hurricane Harvey will continue to affect dealers and their customers. But Houston is strong and resilient. Hope floats. And, there’s nothing like a World Series win to make the world brighter, right?
By Kathi Kruse