Brenda Reilly is one of the three longest serving individuals at Murray GM, next to Sheldon Lautamus and owner Charles Vanden Broek, who all started around the same time back in 1997.
Reilly talks about her sales career and the bonds she has formed over her 26 years at Murray GM. Now semi-retired, she continues to help her new and existing clients on an appointment-only basis.
When asked about her retirement, she smiled and said Vanden Broek had other ideas. He said her clients still need her, so she agreed to continue helping.
She got into sales, thanks to a good opportunity, and was inspired by her father’s successful career in a GM dealership. “My dad was a gold grand sales master with GM for 45 years,” she explained. Once she started her career, her dad was there to teach her the ropes.
She didn’t expect to land the role in car sales and wasn’t pressured into it either. “I didn’t grow up to be a car salesman, but I wouldn’t change a thing [after all these years]. I’d do it all again if I had to; it’s been a lot of fun!”
It was when she met Vanden Broek that the opportunity presented itself.
“I was in furniture sales for a long time. I met Charles on the golf course and he encouraged me to come work for him. Actually, he persuaded me to come work with him,” she added, noting that Vanden Broek treated her as an equal and supported a healthy team environment at Murray GM.
Vanden Broek looked past her level of experience at the time and recognized the potential she had.
“I remember him asking me to open a hood on a vehicle while he was doing an appraisal — I had no idea how to open the hood,” she recalled, noting that a lot of her knowledge was acquired on the job.
Reilly recognized the opportunity she was given and extends her gratitude to both Charles and Caroline for all they’ve done for her along the way.
“The opportunity has been outstanding for me as an individual. It provided a very successful life for my family. He [Charles] is very energetic, but of course his wife Caroline is of the same breed. They really go hard,” Reilly said.
Reilly said the best part of her job is neither the awards nor the recognition, but the people she gets to meet and form relationships with. Her favourite part of the job is the people requesting to deal with her.
“It has been such a pleasure to work with someone who was just getting going in life, and then still able to help them (several) years later. That’s a real bouquet, and that’s wonderful,” she said. “And now we’re getting into the next generation by selling their kids a car.
“I’m getting into the third generation with some of my customers, which is fun,” said Reilly.
Reilly keeps in touch with her customers and many of them still come to her for advice.
When she started, she said she was the first female salesperson both at Murray GM and in the local industry.
“It was pretty scary to be a woman in a man’s industry to start with,” said Reilly. “But the support I’ve had from the male employees here has been amazing.”
This support was even more appreciated, Reilly said, because she started off without an extensive knowledge of vehicles.
“My first truck I delivered, a pre-owned vehicle to a gentleman that I’ve known all my life, when we got back from putting plates on it… he asked me what engine was in it. I replied, ‘I don’t know, what are you hoping for?’”
Reilly has seen numerous changes in the industry since starting 26 years ago, from being the first female salesperson down to new technology.
“The new Cadillac Escalade, you don’t even have to hold the steering wheel. It will take you down the highway hands-free,” she explained.
Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com asked Reilly what advice she would give a salesperson just starting out.
“It’s looking after people; that’s what it’s all about,” she said. “Look after people; listen to what they came to get, and help them get it.
“At the end of the day, it’s about people.”
Through her career, Reilly has developed a loyal customer base. Her clients appreciate her willingness to listen and her genuine concern for each individual person.
“They’ve all become my friends. A lot of my senior ladies, if they come in for an oil change, they will call me or text me and I’ll come in for a coffee.”
Reilly currently works by appointment only since she is now semi-retired, but she says she will never turn down an opportunity to meet up with a past client or get to know someone new. She said she would happily schedule an appointment and meet up for coffee and a good talk.
“Any of my past clients, if they contact me, I’m happy to come in and look after them,” she said.
Brenda Reilly can be reached on her cell at 306-631-5994.
