KEN HOPE MOTORS GOING STRONG AFTER 50 YEARS

1

968 was the year Kylie Minoguewasbo rn, jim clark died and the first manned Apollo space mission was launched. it was also the year that a fresh-faced Ken Hope opened a used car business in Newtown St Boswells.

Now, 50 years on, Ken and the team at Ken Hope Motors are celebrating a half century in business.

While brands have come and gone and car technology has changed beyond all recognition Ken has remained a stalwart in the Scottish car scene. His focus on great value and a friendly,no-pressureapproach has seen him attract customers who return again and again.

Ken started out with a used car site in new towns tbos wells in 1968 where he began to build up his enviable reputation for a great-value, customer-friendly service.

In 1971 he moved to a larger site in Kelso before growing demand saw him take the leap and build a brand-new showroom on the site of the former Kelso railway station in 1978.

Ever since then, Ken and his sales and servicing team have worked tirelessly from their site at Maxwellheugh to offer car buyers in the Borders the best possible service.

“The basics of our business plan are, and have always been, to provide value-formoney products and a personal, friendly service,” says Ken.

That value-for-money approach was reflected in ken’ s first choice of new car franchise when, after 15 years specialising in used cars, he became a Lada dealer in 1983. Despite the publicimage of lad a, ken enjoyed a successful 14-year relationship with the Russian brand while also taking on the Proton franchise in 1989.

In 1996, spotting another low price, big-value brand, Ken started his relationship with Kia – a successful partnership which continues to this day, with Ken Hope Motors acting as an approved service dealer for the Korean brand.

While Lada and Proton are no longer imported into the UK, Kia is going from strength to strength and its awardwinning products, combined with Ken’s exemplary reputation for service and expertise, have made it a big hit with Borders buyers.

“Customers want reliability, strong build quality, the latest technology and a wide choice,” says Ken. “We’re able to offer that through our range of highquality used Kias.”

Ken and his knowledgeable, experienced sales team specialise in nearly-new and used Kia models. From the compact, high-tech Picanto city car and award-winning practical Sportage family SUV to the Cee’d hatchback and Sorento seven-seat SUV Ken Hope Motors has a car to suit every need. Vehicles start from less than £5,000 and any younger than seven years old come with the balance of Kia’s industryleading seven-year warranty.

For any business to survive as long as Ken’s is impressive but he insists that there’s no big secret to his success, rather a simple focus on the most important part of the business – the customer.

“No-one is more important than our customers,” he explains.

“Bo rd erersar every loyal people and so our mantra of treating everyone as we’d like to be treated ourselves has been fundamental in ensuring our customers keep coming back.”

It’s an approach that clearly works and customer testimonials are full of praise for the excellent advice and service offer by Ken and his team.

Alongside the sales operation Ken Hope Motors is an approved Kia Service Dealer. The expert technicians are able to offer a full range of maintenance packages to Kia owners, backed by the manufacturer.

Whether your car needs a simple air conditioning service, new tyres, a full service or fault-finding and diagnosis, the experienced and knowledgeableworkshop team at ken hope Motors can complete the work quickly and professionally.

And they are able to work on all makes and models, not just Kia, so whatever you drive you can be sure your car will receive the highest standard of care, using only the best quality components.

Having started out in business when you could still buy a Citroen Dyane new, Ken has seen some major changes in the motoring world over the years.

“There have been massive changes with the products over the period,” he says. “The vehicles being sold now come with all sorts of equipment which would have seemed space-age back in 1968.”

Yet, for all the technological advances it’s good, oldfashioned customer care and an attention to detail that mean Ken Hope Motors is still going strong after 50 years. l Ken Hope Motors, Maxwellheugh, Kelso, TD5 8DQ, 01573 224016, www.ken-hope-motors.co.uk