ON THE JOB
In the ten years since Fort Collins Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram opened for business, the dealership has been on a growth trajectory. It is co-owned by Doug Moreland, known for his “Dealin’ Doug” family of dealerships throughout Colorado, and Mike Downey, a longtime Fort Collins resident who serves as vice president. General Manager Steve Hardy says the dealership outgrew its midtown space long ago. The Jeep brand in particular, with SUVs and off-road vehicles well-suited to an active Colorado lifestyle, has been in increasing demand.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Because of the dealership’s steady growth and the need to enhance and enlarge the service facilities to meet the needs of customers and manufacturer, Moreland and his team began planning an expansion several years ago. When the nearby property at Mason and Harmony became available, they jumped at the chance to build a state-of-the-art Jeep dealership on the site. The new operation, which opened in August, is one of only a handful of stand-alone Jeep dealerships in the country. It was built with amenities that cater to car owners, including dedicated indoor delivery bays where customers receive their vehicles after purchase and are shown everything from how to hook up Bluetooth phones to setting up the navigation system.
With Jeep moving, the existing space will have much-needed room for inventory and service to better accommodate the needs of customers. This will allow for faster service for the quickly growing Ram brand, says Hardy.
CLAIM TO FAME
“The previous dealer sold less than 100 vehicles per month, and we have now more than doubled that regularly,” Hardy says. “We’re very proud to have been able to grow with the community that we serve, and it’s because of our customers that we have been able to do so.” The dealership had fewer than 50 employees when it opened but now has more than 140.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN
The dealership won the J.D. Power Customer First Award For Excellence in 2018, and Hardy says the company is on track to win it again this year. When J.D. Power interviewed employees about their processes, a common theme that emerged was that employees viewed the dealership as being an extension of their family, which carries over to the way they treat customers, says Hardy.
The dealership must be doing something right: It pulls in four-star-plus reviews on almost every sizeable .com, including Google, DealerRater, Cars.com and Facebook.
Motor Trend magazine named the 2019 Jeep Wrangler the SUV of the Year and the 2019 Ram 1500 its Truck of the Year. It’s noteworthy because it’s the first time one car company has nabbed both those awards, says Hardy.
“Our business philosophy is simple,” he says. “We believe in taking care of our employees, and taking care of our customers. When you do those two things, everything else falls into place.”
BUSINESS HOURS
Open Monday through Saturday
Sales: 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Service: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
Chrysler Dodge Ram
3835 S. College Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-226-5340
www.fortcollinsCDR.com
Jeep
224 W. Harmony
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-632-9770
www.fortcollinsJEEP.com
