53.8 F
Laguna Hills
Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024
-Advertisement-

Ward’s ’05 List: Fletcher No. 2; Crevier Debuts at No. 8

Fletcher Jones Motor Cars of Newport Beach ranked as the second largest dealership in the country by 2004 sales, according to Ward’s 2005 list of the largest dealers.

The Mercedes-Benz dealer again placed second to the nation’s perennial No. 1, Penske Automotive Group’s Longo Toyota in El Monte.

The gap between Longo and Fletcher widened a tad, from $73 million last year to $76 million this time around, according to Ward’s, part of New York-based Primedia Inc.

Longo counted $572 million in 2004 sales, up from $535 million in 2003. Fletcher came in at $496 million in sales, up from $462 million in 2003.

New to Ward’s list: Crevier BMW of Santa Ana, which came in at No. 8 with $282 million in 2004 revenue.

Right behind Crevier is AutoNation Inc.’s House of Imports in Buena Park with $278 million in sales last year.






Fletcher Jones: No. 2 by about $75 million

Like last year, Ward’s is missing the second largest auto dealer on the Business Journal’s yearly list, Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel. The dealership counted $303 million in 2004 sales and would have ranked just ahead of Crevier as No. 8 on Ward’s list.

Ward’s also omits others from the Business Journal’s list: Caliber Motors Mercedes Benz Anaheim Hills, No. 7 on our list with $199 million in 2004 revenue; Lexus of Mission Viejo and Lexus of Westminster with $140 million in sales each last year; Elmore Toyota of Westminster at $131 million; Shelly BMW of Buena Park, $129 million; and Connell Chevrolet, $110 million.

Orange County dealers in the top 100 of Ward’s list are: No. 34, Toyota of Orange with $197 million in 2004 sales; No. 64 Power Toyota Irvine, $166 million; No. 83 Tustin Lexus, $158 million; and No. 92 Power Chevrolet Irvine, $146 million.

In all, 17 local dealerships made Ward’s list, including five that were too small to qualify for the Business Journal’s list.


Hey Mr. Wilson

Ward’s also recently talked with David Wilson, owner of four dealerships on the trade publication’s list,Toyota of Orange, Tustin Lexus, South Coast Toyota and Toyota of Huntington Beach.

Wilson is serving as president of the state’s New Motor Vehicle Board, which regulates dealerships.

“It’s payback to the industry for all the good things that have come my way after I began selling cars in Waterloo, Iowa,” Wilson told Ward’s.

Former Gov. Gray Davis appointed Wilson to the California New Motor Vehicle Board in 2001.

Wilson said he has added Scion dealerships to his five Southern California Toyota dealerships and one in Scottsdale.

But Wilson’s big expansion is a planned Lexus dealership near Fletcher Jones on Newport’s Back Bay.

“We’ll go after those Mercedes customers who buy from Jones when the Lexus store opens up in 2006,” he said.


Hear No Hair Cut

Kids have been heading to First Cut’s “screaming room” at Fashion Island since 2003.

Now parents have another option. First Cut has opened its second kids hair salon at The Shops of Mission Viejo next to the Discovery store.

Both sites have soundproof screaming rooms, where children can holler in peace and parents can save face.

First Cut also has a 12-foot walk-in rocket that blows away trimmings after a haircut. Even teens like to spend time goofing around in the big rocket.

Kids who don’t scream when getting their hair trimmed can sit in a rocket chair in the front of the shop. Each station has its own TV.

First Cut also does haircuts for dads. They sit in big chairs and watch videos along with their kids

“A lot of dads go for SpongeBob,” said Lance Fogel, who owns First Cut 4 Kids Inc. of Newport Beach with his wife Leora.

The idea for First Cut came from the Fogels’ middle child, who would do anything to avoid a haircut, including throwing up, Lance Fogel said.

The Fogels offer a $75 package that includes a DVD of a child’s first haircut and before and after photos. First Cut also sells its own shampoos, conditioners and styling products.

Neither Lance Fogel nor his wife is a stylist. He said he worked in marketing and business development in the construction industry. His wife is a part-time pharmacist.

The couple plans to open another store in two to three months at Victoria Gardens, an upscale shopping center in Rancho Cucamonga. The Fogels are considering franchising, having received more than 300 unsolicited inquiries at Fashion Island, Fogel said.

There has been a lot of interest from Las Vegas, Arizona and Utah, he said. But they plan on sticking to California.


Wamu’s Retail Push

Washington Mutual Inc. says it has opened a “store” in Rancho Santa Margarita.

The new branch is part of a push by Washington Mutual. There are no tellers, just customer service people, according to Wamu spokesman Gary Kishner. The walls are decorated. The music is oldies and classic rock.

No one handles money at the Rancho Santa Margarita and other new branches, which fall under the name Occasio, Latin for favorable opportunity.

If a customer comes in to cash a check, a customer service worker enters the information in a computer and gives the customer a receipt with a code.

The customer then takes the receipt to a machine (not an ATM), where they would withdraw the exact amount of a check.

All of Wamu’s new branches are set to be Occasio stores, Kishner said. This year, the thrift plans to open 220 Ocassio locations nationwide.

The first Ocassio opened in Las Vegas in 2000. The company plans on converting branches where feasible, according to Kishner.

Want more from the best local business newspaper in the country?

Sign-up for our FREE Daily eNews update to get the latest Orange County news delivered right to your inbox!

-Advertisement-

Featured Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Related Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-