Today we’d like to introduce you to Jermaine Chambers.
Jermaine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I met Ed Williamson one night a little over 14 years ago in the bathroom of the Biltmore Hotel during a University of Miami Athletic Awards Banquet. At the time, I was employed in the mortgage business but things were beginning to slow down just prior to the Recession in 2008. Being the networker that I am, we exchanged business cards and because I lived walking distance from his dealership, I sent him a follow-up email a few days later. We ended up scheduling an in-person meeting at his office and I had this weird thought that it may be possible for me to ask in for a job working in his Accounting department since I had majored in Finance and Management at UM.
After about an hour’s conversation, he told me that he had something better in mind for me and introduced me to his General Sales Manager about possibly becoming a sales consultant. I had no knowledge about cars and couldn’t change my own oil in my car (I still can’t) but having learned discipline, teamwork and persistence from my years of playing football at UM, he thought I’d be able to apply those skills and become successful in the automotive industry. I’ve been with this company for 14 years and I’ve learned so much about building my personal brand within the Williamson family business.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Leaving one industry (mortgage) when I was under the impression the automotive industry was better, was a huge misconception I had when I first began working here in 2006. It took two years but eventually, the Recession caught up to me here at Williamson, as well. When I started working here, we had Cadillac/Hummer franchises. In the midst of the Recession, General Motors decided to drop 4 of their eight brands, which left our dealership with only the ability to sell Cadillac and pre-owned vehicles because Hummer didn’t make the cut. Things were rough but I weathered the storm and recovered over the years but I always look back to 2008-2010 as a reference point in my career.
As I look forward and monitor the effects of COVID-19, I anticipate another shift in the automotive industry, so psychologically, I’m preparing myself for another downturn in our business. Hopefully, our inventory gets stabilized, missed payments doesn’t affect clients as it did in 2008, and Cadillac maintains their edge with technology and innovation as we navigate through yet another shift in the economy.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Working here at Williamson is pretty easy because the family business and reputation were established long before I began working here as a Sales Consultant. What I’ve done over the years is to use the company’s reputation to establish and grow my own personal brand. Similar to how people have been known to rave about the treatment and service here at the dealership, it’s edifying when I receive surveys and they say the same things about me. I often feel that my biggest asset to the company has been my work ethic. I get most of my production outside of the dealership rather than sitting at the dealership waiting for the business to come to me. Oftentimes, you’ll see me utilizing my charm as a Board Member of Chamber SOUTH, Arts Festivals, golfing tournaments, or charity events where I serve as the dealership’s community liaison to assure that we’re represented in the community, visible and professional at all times.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, to me, is where Opportunity meets Preparation. Success, to me, also means thriving when things are good and learning to survive when things get turned upside down, as they sometimes do. Having a background as a former football player, I realize that football is the only sport that teaches/prepares you to keep your head on a swivel and to always bounce back up after being knocked down. I have survived and thrived in this business because I do my best to produce more positive months than I have mediocre months and to always stay abreast as to what’s going on with our economy that may potentially hinder my production. I fully understand that there may be months that I must go through 10 “NO’s” before I receive 1 “YES” and not to take those “NO’s, personally. I do my best to focus my attention on the “YES” that I receive and I’m not bashful about asking clients for referrals once they’ve felt the “Chambers Experience.” Word of mouth is the best advertisement, so I welcome as many referrals as possible.
Pricing:
- We retail NEW vehicles from as low as $25000 upwards of $110000.
- We retail PRE-OWNED vehicles from as low as 10000 and up.
Contact Info:
- Address: Williamson Automotive Group (Cadillac, Buick, GMC)
7815 SW 104 St
Miami, FL 33156 - Website: www.williamsonautomotivegroup.com
- Phone: 7863086626
- Email: jchambers@wagmiami.com
- Facebook: Jermaine Chambers
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