THUNDER BAY - A popular car dealership in Thunder Bay is expanding again, taking their latest product line off-road.
Half-Way Motors will be opening a new power sports facility in the New Year, selling Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP).
“We are really excited to add this dimension to the Half-Way Motors group of companies,” said Half-way Motors president, John Trevisanutto. “It’s the first time for us to be in the power sports industry and we are really looking forward to bringing our philosophy, our customer commitment to Thunder Bay and to the power sport industry.”
Trevisanutto said the Half-Way Motors family has always been interested in the power sports market and were interested in the diversification of the BRP product line, which includes ski-doos, sea-doos, and the Spider motorcycle.
“It’s very diverse,” Trevisanutto said of BRP. “A lot of the power sports industry is either summer or winter, but with BRP we’ve got pretty much everything covered, including a semi-motorcycle in the Spider. So we will be able to have an operation that will be busy and running all year round.”
Half-Way Motors Power Sports will be located on Balmoral Street next to Fresh Air Experience. The show room is one of only two other platinum dealerships in Canada and is more than 9,000 square feet.
“We will have two full time techs, a fantastic sales staff, parts, accessories and clothing,” said incoming general manager, Peter Provenzano. “We will be able to offer a full line of clothing for all aspects of the business.”
Provenzano added that the new dealership will employ 10 staff including himself and is expected to open early Jan., 2017.
Provenzano believes the strong commitment to the customer, which has been a staple of Half-Way Motor’s philosophy, will help set apart Half-Way Motors Power Sports from other recreational dealerships in town.
“Customer service is number one in the Half-Way Motors group, as well as myself coming over,” he said. “The customer is always first in our eyes and we will do everything we can to make them happy and to keep them satisfied.”
The newest addition to the Half-Way Motors family follows the recent acquisition of Target Motors in August. Trevisanutto said it has been a really exciting year for the company, which has grown into a strong family business.
“Years ago, when I was basically on my own, I focused on the one facility, but now with my sons and my son-in-law, and my daughter, we can spread it around a little bit,” he said. “They believe strongly in the philosophy that I’ve always had, which I learned from my dad about treating customers properly.”
“Not that we’re perfect, not that we don’t make mistakes, but as we’ve always told our staff if you make a mistake, that’s okay, but show them how good you are by fixing that mistake. I think my children and my son-in-law live by that philosophy as well.”
