By Eleanor Sevigny
Published May 6, 2021 in The Burg
For years Clark Taylor had been driving from Woodhull to Peoria to work as a car salesman for Bob Lindsay Honda. Recently he chose to join Galesburg Nissan at their new used car lot.
The Galesburg Nissan Pre Owned Center opened April 5, 2021 at 1687 N Henderson Street. It is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..
“I started as a car salesman in Arizona. Since then I moved to the area and started working at Bob Lindsay Honda. One day I was approached at the gas station about what it would take for me to leave the car dealership I was currently at for another. I’m at a time in my life that family and time are more important than money for me. I joined the Galesburg Nissan team because of the hours and being closer to my family. I’m very grateful for this opportunity.” explained Taylor.
Taylor is already seeing an increase in time with his family by his shortened commute to work.
“It’s a nice drive only 15 minutes and then I’m home. It gives me more time with family and friends.” Taylor stated.
Taylor loves his new job at Nissan. The best part for him is, “meeting new clients, making new friends, and putting a smile on someone's face.”
For Taylor working in sales is exciting, fun, and interesting.
“My driving force to come to work is to support my family.” Taylor stated.
The pandemic changed the way car sales work. Since the pandemic started masks have had to be worn, social distancing observed, and the handshake is no more. Despite these changes Nissan has been a very successful local car dealership.
How was Nissan able to open a second location and hire Taylor as we see other car dealerships closing because of the Covid-19 pandemic? Jeff Klinck, the owner of Galesburg Nissan, took the time to explain his secret to running a successful car dealership during a pandemic.
“The people who work here focus on the customer and take care of them not only during the sales process, but also after they leave the lot. Once a customer, always a friend is our motto. We see a very low turnover rate because I take care of my employees. In turn they take care of our customers. That creates a good environment. Our service man has been working for over 38 years. Every used car that comes in he spends two hours on finding things that are wrong with it. We then repair all of those things. However, if the car has too many things wrong with it we sell it at wholesale value so it never makes it on our lot. We don’t want cars like that associated with our name. Even used cars are a new car to someone else. We care about our customers.” explained Klinck.
As a part of the Nissan family, Taylor will be “providing the community with his 32 years of automotive sales and help support not only to Galesburg, but the surrounding community as well.”
You can reach Taylor at 309-344-2151 or his cell 309-712-3638 for any of your car buying needs.