Hendrick Way: Continued Expectation To Hit Moving Target Of Excellence

It's a common saying that "Excellence Is A Moving Target."

It's also an appropriate saying in the world of Rick Hendrick, who has been able to enjoy excellence throughout time in the face of many continually evolving and changing obstacles.

His Hendrick Motorsports racing operation is the best in the business. It has been argued that Hendrick driver Jeff Gordon is the best driver in NASCAR history because of his incredible longevity at the highest level of achievement in spite of seemingly constant rules changes, multiple driver styles and personalities, track and equipment makeovers and the occasional change in crew memberrs.

The Hendrick Automotive Group, an empire of nearly 100 dealerships nationwide, has been able to hold its rank at the top of its industry because of its ability to maintain the status quo in an industry that has been confronted by more change and reconsruction than perhaps any other walk of life over the last 10 years.

Both Hendrick Motorsports and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall are in the process simultaneously of marking the end of one era and beginning of another. In spite of the uncertainty of the unknown, of the coming of new faces and implementing of new business strategies, you can count on the usual excellence to continue - because that is the Hendrick Way.

That already has been evident this month in Daytona Beach, Fla. - site of Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup season-opening Daytona 500. Gordon will begin his final season of full-time racing in a very familiar position - the pole position.

No matter that he is stepping aside for the newest young gun, Chase Elliott, to take his place in the No. 24 Chevrolet starting next season, Gordon has maintained excellence.

Even at age 43, after 92 career victories and four series championships, with enormous wealth in hand, Gordon enters his final season holding himself to the same standard of excellence that he had when he won his first championship in 1995 - the year Elliott was born.

Even though he may feel it is time to retire and hand the reigns to a 19-year-old hotshot who is set to inspire other future racers the way Gordon has inspired throughout his career, Gordon intends to keep his standard of excellence and work ethic to the very end.

Just as Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports are embracing this time of transition as an opportunity to write another chapter for the record books, so, too, is the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

After more than two decades of operatng its business from downtown Durham, the dealership is set to move to a $25-million state-of-the-art facility across the street from the Southpoint mall - one of the busiest and most successful retail malls in the Southeast, situated on the second-busiest intersection of road in the state.

The new Hendrick Southpoint, which will sell and service a complete line of General Motors vehicles out of multiple showrooms and service centers, will represent Hendrick's largest investment in a dealership facility.

You can not only count on the excellence to continue at the Southpoint location, but you can count on it to rise to a new level.

That's the Hendrick Way.

Rick Hendrick No Ordinary Car Guy

It's been a Hall-of-Fame week for Rick Hendrick.

First, he was chocen for induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

Then, he was chosen for induction into the National Corvette Hall of Fame.

The honors show that he is much more than just a "car guy."

Hendrick is a familiar personality to anyone who follows the American automotive industry or auto racing at any level. His dealership empire, which includes the Hendrick Durham Mall, encompasses 13 states and nearly 100 dealerships. His NASCAR operation has won 15 championships.

Perhaps more impressive than his business success could be his killer car collection - of which the most recent addition is the first Z06 Corvette Stingray that he purchased for $1 million at an auction benefitting cancer reseatch.

In an article posted to the Hendrick Motorsports Web site, Hendrick is described as one of the "most influential individuals in the history of the Corvette."

He said he considers induction into the Corvette Hall of Fame a bigh honor:

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be selected," Hendrick said. "My love for Corvettes goes back to when I was a teenager, and it was the love for the car that got me into racing and the automobile business."

Hendrick, a car collector for more than 30 years, owns a large collection of Corvettes that includes many of the first and last in models and generations.

As reported in a 2014 article in USA Today, Hendrick's grandchildren ultimately will own three of Hendrick's Corvettes. He bought each of the cars on the day a respective grandchild was born and plans to present a Corvette to each grandchild on the landmark 16th birthday.

The Corvette Hall of Fame was founded in 1998 by the National Corvette Museum Board of Directors. Entry into the Hall recognizes "those people who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, each having reached the highest level of accomplishment. Inductees must also possess the highest standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the prestige of the Corvette and the National Corvette Museum."

Hendrick is entering the Hall in the category of Enthusiast, in the Racing and GM/Chevrolet categories, respectively.

"To be honored at a place where so many of the Corvette greats are honored (is) just humbling," Hendrick said. "I never dreamed that I'd be recognized in such a way."

The Corvette Hall of Fame announcement kept Hendrick in the automotive spotlight just days after his induction into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame was announced. Given what Hendrick has meant to the sport of auto racing, that announcement was no surprise.

In the 30 years since he started Hendrick Motorsports in 1984, the organization has grown from five employees to more than 500. It has achieved victory in at least one Winston/Sprint Cup-level race in each season since 1986 - the longest active streak in the sport.

A native of North Carolina, born in Warrenton, Hendrick in 1996 won the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers, and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award.

Hendrick's Corvettes may mean more to him than any honors or accolades. And there is at least one other big fan of his collection.

"A lady called me about 10 years ago and said she had heard that I collect Corvettes," he told USA Today in 2014. "She said her husband had died. She wanted to sell his 1957 Corvette, but she wanted it to have a good home. She wanted me to promise that she could come here to see it and that I wouldn't sell it at (the well-known) Barrett-Jackson (auction). I said: 'You've got a deal.' Every year, she brings her friends down from Virginia Beach to look at the car."

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Stays Atop Auto Industry Entering New Era Of Sales

Rick Hendrick and his staff at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall know that if the dealership cannot execute business in the nanner today's consumer is looking for, it's irrelevant to the consumer.

Being relevant, being prepared for a consumer's visit, and being able to execute on information quickly are becoming paramount to success in today's automotive industry.

What car consumers are looking for these days are ease of doing business, transparency of transaction and dealership cooperation with their plan about how to purchase.

This is not about the greatest generation and the old way of buying cars. It's about the latest generation and the new wave of car buyers.

With the influx of Gen-Y customers into the car and truck market, dealerships are having to change their business model and habits to remain successful. The ability of the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall to stay at the forefront of that change is essential to its ability to stay ahead of the competition.

Fortunately for those consumers considering Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, the dealership staff has been able to prepare for and adapt to the change without missing a beat.

According to reports, the Gen-Y demographic, also known as Millenials, could represent as many as 75 percent of car buyers over the next 10 years. They are considered tech savvy and educated and may determine where they will buy a vehicle based solely on their shopping experience: How is it from a digital standpoint? How is it when I get to the dealership?

Millenials reportedly may visit as many as 25 Web sites before coming to a dealership. Social media also is an influence on Mellenial consumers - a study from eBay Motors indicated that more than half of Millennial car buyers are strongly influenced by what their friends have to say on Facebook.

One way the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is staying on top of its game and appealing to today's consumers is with the "Shop-Click-Drive" program - a simple, innovative way to shop that enables the consumer to combine the convenience of the Internet with personal customer service. An easy-to-use tool helps shoppers find the perfect vehicle, pick the trim and accessories, select extended warranties and even schedule delivery.

Furthermore, visitors to the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Web site can estimate their trade-in value and monthly payments, find the latest incentives and apply for credit from the comfort of their own home.

It's not only about convenience, but also about allowing the customer to be able to control his or her own buying experience and make it easier for the dealership to form a relationship with them.

Another important step the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall has taken to stay relevant is not a small one, nor inexpensive. The completion of a brand-new, state-of-the art facility in the Southpoint area of town is just weeks away and will utilize the latest, greatest technology and resources to make for a customer experience that will rate second to none.

Thank You, Jeff Gordon

Perhaps the biggest advantage that the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall holds over other dealerships is the Hendrick name.

Being part of the Hendrick empire proves positive in maany regards: core values, knowledge, experience, resources, customer focus and the employees themselves.

Hendrick is synonynous with success - be it a car dealership or NASCAR team.

Synonymous with the Hendrick name is Jeff Gordon, perhaps the most fanous name in NASCAR racing since he signed with Hendrick Motorsports in 1993. He has won four NASCAR championships, won the Daytona 500 three times and ranks third in all-time victories.

Gordon has visited the Durham dealership. There are photos of him adorning walls in the showroom, hallways and parts department. There are photos of him on sales desks, posing with sales reps. His car has been on display in the showroom. His likeness has been worn on many hats and T-shirts of customers who have come to the Durham dealership to buy Chevrolets like Gordon drives and owns.

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall has benefited from the Gordon-Rick Hendrick relationship in many ways, for many years - parlaying their success and popularity into success for the dealership, which soon will move into a new upscale state-of-the-art facility in the Southpoint area of Durham.

Thursday morning, Gordon announced that he will retire as a full-time driver following the 2015 season that starts next month.

On behalf of the dealership, we say: "Thank you, Jeff." You have helped us thrive in Durham. Congratulations on your career, and good luck in your final season.

For the story of his announcement and what he has meant to Hendrick Motorsports, the Durham dealership, and the sport of auto racing, Click Here.

Understanding, Planning, Adapting

Alvin Toffler is a world-renowned futurist - a strong believer that the awareness of our need to understand, plan and adapt to the future forms the foundation for everything we do.

He is famous for a quote being coined by many of today's businesses and corporations:

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

Although Toffler first made that statement several years ago, his words appear to be ringing true today more than ever as the country, consumers' habits and lifestyles continue to evolve and change.

Change has been great in the automotive industry, as well as at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall. Our business is moving toward a new level of trust and transparency.

Consumers are more knowledgeable than ever before, with so many more research resources available to them than ever before. Dealerships are forced to be knowledgeable, straightforward and consumer-oriented like never efore.

That movement is fine with Rick Hendrick and his staff at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, which trains and focuses every single day on giving its customers the shopping experience they want.

Among Hendrick's and the dealership's core values are "Commitment to Customer Enthusiasm" and "Commitment To Continuous Improvement."

Whether it's the construction of a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility near Durham's Sreets of Southpoint, to which the dealership soon will move its operation, or scouring the Internet and the used-car market to determine accurate and competitive vehicle values, or researching the shopping ways of today's consumers, or taking time to simply ask every vistor what we can do to enhance their experience, or training the sales staff on "Selling the Hendrick Way," everything that's done is done for the benefit of the consumer.

The goal is to ensure our clients' complete satisfaction - "Completely Satisfied" is the only passing score. Anything else is a failiing grade.

In this ever-changing time, it's the right thing to do.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, General Motors To Carry Momentum Into New Facility, New Year

As the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall prepares to move to its spectacular new facility next to The Streets of Southpoint Mall and General Motors continues to move back into prominence as an automaker, the stage is set for 2015 to be an outstanding year for those two entities locally.

Less than 10 years removed from a record plunge that saw GM stock reach a 20-year-low of $18.33 a share, the manufacturer recently has been mentioned on the list of Forbes' top-10 favorite stocks in 2015. As of Dec. 29, 2014, GM stock prices were up to $34.51 a share.

That's great news for fans and followers of GM and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, which sells and services the entire line of GM vehicles, including Cadillac, Buick, GMC and Chevrolet.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2015, the dealership will be conducting business out of its spacious new, state-of-the art location that will feature not one, but two service drives and a regular shuttle service to and from the busy mall across the street. This facility was designed and built with our incredible Hendrick customers in mind, and will be a great benefit to our customers.

The new facility has been in the works for some time, which is a good thing given how brisk business has been in 2014.

The success of the dealership has mirrored the 2014 success of General Motors. Widely publicized recalls have done little to diminish sales or service volume at the dealership's current downtown Durham location. The recalls actually have given us an opportunity to reconnect with many of our customers. We feel like this interaction has built a lot of value with our customers, both in our company, and the GM brands that we represent.

We think that most of our consumers have seen our excellent customer service, and GM’s commitment to them.

An outstanding new product line, a visionary executive branch of leadership, an emphasis on an impeccable business process, reputation management and accountability all have combined to propel the national GM resurgence. Add to that mix unprecedented sales discounts and incentives, as well as strong communication with and resources for its local dealers, the success only can continue.

At the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, its employees are its greatest asset.

"It's all about the people," said Rick Hendrick, owner of the Durham dealership and its parent Hendrick Automotive Group - a network of nearly 100 dealerships nationwide. "I don't care what you're doing or what your business is; it's all about the people. They have to be able to work together, believe in each other and be able to share information. They have to be motivated to come in and go through it every day."

Mr. Hendrick also requires of the dealership a high-level of transparency, accountability at all levels, and commitments to customer enthusiasm and continuous improvement. In a time of change at General Motors in particular and the automotive industry in general, those Hendrick hallmarks will continue to make both the Durham dealership and its flagship manufacturer standouts in their field.

Furthermore, Mr. Hendrick rarely has a conversation in which he does not stress the importance of our customers. We are here to serve our customers, whether it be from our current location or at the new place.